Daylight Saving Time Dates
by Country
The world's most comprehensive reference for DST start & end dates, country-by-country rules, hemisphere comparisons, and everything you need to stay synchronized across time zones.
What Is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) — also spelled Daylight Savings Time — is the practice of advancing clocks by one hour during the warmer months so that darkness falls later in the evening, and setting them back one hour in autumn to return to standard time.
The phrase "spring forward, fall back" summarizes the practice: clocks are moved forward in spring (losing one hour of morning light, gaining an evening hour) and moved back in autumn (gaining one hour of sleep, losing an evening hour).
DST is observed by approximately 70 countries — about 40% of the world's nations — while the majority of countries, particularly near the equator where day length varies little, do not observe it at all.
How Clocks Change Through the Year (Northern Hemisphere Example)
Daylight Saving Time Dates by Country
The table below covers the major DST-observing nations and their transition dates. Times shown are local time. Where exact dates are fixed by law as a calendar rule (e.g. "second Sunday of March"), those rules are applied. Countries marked No DST maintain a constant UTC offset.
| Country / Territory | Standard UTC Offset | DST UTC Offset | DST Starts (Current Rule) | DST Ends (Current Rule) | Rule | DST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌎 North America | ||||||
| 🇺🇸 United States (most states) | UTC−5 to UTC−8 | UTC−4 to UTC−7 | 2nd Sunday in March at 2:00 AM | 1st Sunday in November at 2:00 AM | 2nd Sun March / 1st Sun Nov | Yes |
| 🇺🇸 Arizona (USA, except Navajo Nation) | UTC−7 | UTC−7 | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🇺🇸 Hawaii (USA) | UTC−10 | UTC−10 | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🇨🇦 Canada (most provinces) | UTC−3.5 to UTC−8 | UTC−2.5 to UTC−7 | 2nd Sunday in March at 2:00 AM | 1st Sunday in November at 2:00 AM | Same as USA (federal rule). 🆕 British Columbia permanently on UTC−7 from Mar 8, 2026 — no fall-back in Nov 2026. | Yes |
| 🇨🇦 Saskatchewan (Canada) | UTC−6 | UTC−6 | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico (most states) | UTC−5 to UTC−7 | UTC−4 to UTC−6 | Abolished nationwide Apr 2023 | — | DST abolished 2023 | No DST |
| 🌍 Europe | ||||||
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | UTC+0 (GMT) | UTC+1 (BST) | Last Sunday in March at 1:00 AM | Last Sunday in October at 2:00 AM | Last Sun March / Last Sun Oct | Yes |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | UTC+1 (CET) | UTC+2 (CEST) | Last Sunday in March at 2:00 AM | Last Sunday in October at 3:00 AM | EU Directive: Last Sun March/Oct | Yes |
| 🇫🇷 France | UTC+1 (CET) | UTC+2 (CEST) | Last Sunday in March at 2:00 AM | Last Sunday in October at 3:00 AM | EU Directive | Yes |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | UTC+1 (CET) | UTC+2 (CEST) | Last Sunday in March at 2:00 AM | Last Sunday in October at 3:00 AM | EU Directive | Yes |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | UTC+1 (CET) | UTC+2 (CEST) | Last Sunday in March at 2:00 AM | Last Sunday in October at 3:00 AM | EU Directive | Yes |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | UTC+1 (CET) | UTC+2 (CEST) | Last Sunday in March at 2:00 AM | Last Sunday in October at 3:00 AM | EU Directive | Yes |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | UTC+2 (EET) | UTC+3 (EEST) | Last Sunday in March at 3:00 AM | Last Sunday in October at 4:00 AM | EU Directive | Yes |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | UTC+2 to UTC+12 | — | — | — | Abolished DST in 2014 | No DST |
| 🇹🇷 Turkey | UTC+3 | — | — | — | Abolished DST in 2016 | No DST |
| 🇮🇸 Iceland | UTC+0 (GMT) | — | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🌎 South America | ||||||
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | UTC−3 | — | — | — | Abolished DST in 2019 | No DST |
| 🇨🇱 Chile (mainland) | UTC−4 (CLST standard) | UTC−3 (CLST summer) | Sun after 1st Sat of September at midnight | Sun after 1st Sat of April at midnight | Sun after 1st Sat Sep (start) / Sun after 1st Sat Apr (end). Easter Island: UTC−6/−5. | Yes |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | UTC−3 (permanent) | — | — | — | DST abolished Oct 2024 (permanent UTC−3) | No DST |
| 🌏 Oceania / Pacific | ||||||
| 🇦🇺 Australia (NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas) | UTC+10 (AEST) | UTC+11 (AEDT) | 1st Sunday in October at 2:00 AM | 1st Sunday in April at 3:00 AM | 1st Sun Oct / 1st Sun Apr | Yes |
| 🇦🇺 Australia — South Australia (+ Broken Hill) | UTC+9:30 (ACST) | UTC+10:30 (ACDT) | 1st Sunday in October at 2:00 AM | 1st Sunday in April at 3:00 AM | Same dates as eastern states, different offset (half-hour zone) | Yes |
| 🇦🇺 Queensland (Australia) | UTC+10 | — | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | UTC+12 | UTC+13 | Last Sunday in September at 2:00 AM | 1st Sunday in April at 3:00 AM | Last Sun Sep / 1st Sun Apr | Yes |
| 🌍 Middle East & North Africa | ||||||
| 🇮🇱 Israel | UTC+2 (IST) | UTC+3 (IDT) | Friday before last Sunday in March at 2:00 AM (springs forward on a Friday) | Last Sunday in October at 2:00 AM | Fri before last Sun Mar / Last Sun Oct (Time Determination Law 2013) | Yes |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | UTC+1 (WET+1, permanent) | UTC+0 during Ramadan | Sunday after Ramadan ends at 2:00 AM (→ UTC+1) | Sunday before Ramadan at 3:00 AM (→ UTC+0) | Permanent UTC+1 except Ramadan (reverts to GMT) | Ramadan |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | UTC+3:30 (IRST) | — | — | — | DST abolished Sep 2022 (permanent IRST) | No DST |
| 🇯🇴 Jordan | UTC+3 (AST, permanent) | — | — | — | DST abolished Oct 2022 (permanent UTC+3) | No DST |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | UTC+3 | — | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | UTC+4 | — | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🌏 Asia | ||||||
| 🇨🇳 China | UTC+8 | — | — | — | No DST (unified time zone since 1991) | No DST |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | UTC+9 | — | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
| 🇮🇳 India | UTC+5:30 | — | — | — | No DST observed | No DST |
Northern vs. Southern Hemisphere DST
One of the most common sources of confusion: the Southern Hemisphere observes DST at the opposite time of year. When the US and Europe "spring forward" in March, Australia and New Zealand are heading into autumn and ending their DST period.
DST Observance by World Region
Not all regions treat Daylight Saving Time the same way. Here's a continent-by-continent summary of where, when, and why DST is — or isn't — observed.
Rule: Last Sunday in March (start) → Last Sunday in October (end) — synchronized by EU Directive 2000/84/EC
Notable: The EU voted to abolish DST in 2019, but the measure has been indefinitely stalled in the European Parliament. Currently, all EU nations still observe it.
Exceptions: Iceland (no DST), Russia (abolished 2014), Turkey (abolished 2016), Belarus (abolished 2011)
Rule: 2nd Sunday March → 1st Sunday November (USA/Canada)
🆕 Breaking (March 2026): British Columbia (Canada) sprung forward on March 8, 2026 for the last time ever, adopting permanent UTC−7 ("Pacific Time"). The fall-back in November 2026 will not occur in BC.
Exceptions: Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands (no DST); Saskatchewan & Yukon, Canada (no DST); Mexico (abolished 2023)
Rule: Most of Asia has never adopted, or has long since abandoned, DST
Notable: China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand — all fixed offsets year-round
Exceptions: Israel (UTC+2/+3) still observes DST. Iran and Jordan both abolished DST in 2022. Mongolia observes a form of DST.
Notable abolitions: Iran abolished DST in September 2022 (now permanent UTC+3:30). Jordan abolished DST in October 2022 (now permanent UTC+3). Iraq abolished it in 2008.
Still observing: Israel (UTC+2/+3), Morocco (adjusts for Ramadan, not seasonal DST)
Never observed: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain — all fixed offsets year-round.
Rule: Africa's proximity to the equator means day length varies little through the year — no practical need for DST
Notable: Egypt maintained DST until 2011. Namibia recently switched to permanent UTC+2 year-round. Most sub-Saharan nations have never adopted DST.
DST observing: NSW, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania (→ UTC+11), South Australia & Broken Hill (→ UTC+10:30), and New Zealand (→ UTC+13)
No DST: Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory
Notable: Lord Howe Island (NSW) uses a unique 30-min DST shift (UTC+10:30/+11). Fiji abolished DST in 2022. Samoa and Tonga do not observe DST.
Rule: Chile still observes Southern Hemisphere DST (roughly Sep–Apr)
Notable: Brazil abolished DST in 2019. Paraguay abolished DST in October 2024, adopting permanent UTC−3. Argentina has used fixed UTC−3 since 2000. Colombia, Peru, Ecuador — no DST. Venezuela uses UTC−4 year-round.
⏰ Key Facts About DST Transitions
A Brief History of Daylight Saving Time
From Benjamin Franklin's satirical proposal to modern debates over abolition, DST has had a turbulent 200-year journey through global politics, energy policy, and everyday life.
Benjamin Franklin's Satirical Suggestion
Franklin wrote a tongue-in-cheek letter to the Journal de Paris suggesting Parisians could save candle wax by waking up earlier. He never seriously proposed changing clocks.
George Hudson's Proposal
New Zealand entomologist George Hudson formally proposed a 2-hour shift in a paper to the Wellington Philosophical Society — motivated by wanting more after-work daylight to collect insects.
William Willett's Campaign
British builder William Willett campaigned tirelessly for DST in his pamphlet "The Waste of Daylight," urging a 20-minute shift on four consecutive Sundays each April. He died in 1915, never seeing it adopted.
Germany and Austria-Hungary First to Adopt
During WWI, Germany introduced DST on April 30, 1916 to save coal. The UK and many allies followed weeks later. DST became a wartime energy measure across Europe.
United States Adopts DST
The US adopted DST as part of the Standard Time Act of 1918, also establishing the modern time zone system. After WWI, it was made optional — leading to a patchwork of local rules.
Uniform Time Act (USA)
The US Uniform Time Act standardized DST observance, requiring states that observe it to follow the same dates. States could opt out entirely (as Arizona did).
OPEC Oil Crisis & Year-Round DST
During the Arab oil embargo, the US tried year-round DST for 15 months (1974–75). Public opposition — especially parents sending children to school in pitch darkness — ended the experiment.
US Extends DST by 4 Weeks
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended US DST: spring change moved from the 1st Sunday to the 2nd Sunday of March; autumn change moved from the last Sunday of October to the 1st Sunday of November.
Global Abolition Wave Accelerates
Brazil abolished DST in 2019. Iran and Jordan abolished it in 2022. Mexico followed in 2023. Paraguay adopted permanent UTC−3 in October 2024. In March 2026, British Columbia (Canada) announced it would permanently adopt DST, making March 8, 2026 its final clock change. The EU Parliament voted to end DST but has not implemented it. The US Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act but it remains pending in Congress.
Pros & Cons of Daylight Saving Time
The debate over whether DST is beneficial has intensified in recent decades. Here are the strongest arguments on both sides, supported by research:
- Extended evening daylight encourages outdoor activity, retail spending, and tourism — estimated economic benefit of $400M annually in the US alone.
- Reduced lighting demand in evenings can lower electricity consumption, particularly in higher latitudes.
- Lower rates of pedestrian accidents due to better visibility during peak commute hours in evening.
- More after-work daylight benefits leisure industries: golf, barbecue, theme parks, and outdoor sports report significant DST-season revenue increases.
- Aligns work/school schedules more closely with natural light cycles for populations in higher latitudes (50°N and above).
- The spring transition causes measurable increases in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents in the days immediately following the clock change.
- Modern air conditioning means summer afternoons are peak electricity demand — DST shifts load into the hottest part of the day in southern regions.
- Disruption to circadian rhythms, sleep loss, and productivity decline are documented effects of clock transitions.
- Reduced usefulness near the equator — most tropical countries have never adopted it, and research shows minimal energy benefit below 35° latitude.
- Coordination nightmare: businesses, airlines, healthcare, and financial markets all experience temporary confusion during transition weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daylight Saving Time
Answers to the most common questions about DST, clock changes, and how they affect time zones worldwide.
TimeTranslator.com Tools & Resources
Use these free, always-updated tools alongside this guide to stay on top of time zone changes, DST transitions, and world time: