How to Convert Between Time Zones

A step-by-step guide to converting times accurately

Understanding UTC Offsets

Every time zone is defined by its offset from UTC. For example, New York is UTC-5 (or UTC-4 during daylight saving time). This offset tells you how many hours to add or subtract from UTC.

The Basic Formula

Local Time = UTC + Offset

Add hours for positive offsets, subtract for negative

Example: NYC to Tokyo

Find UTC time: 14:00 UTC
Find NYC offset: UTC-4 (during EDT)
Find Tokyo offset: UTC+9
Calculate: 14:00 - 4 + 9 = 19:00
Result: 2 PM in NYC is 7 PM in Tokyo

Daylight Saving Time Complications

Offsets change twice a year in DST regions
Always check if DST is active for both locations
Use IANA timezone names (America/New_York) for automatic handling

Quick Reference

NYC to London: +5 hours (or +4 during DST)
LA to NYC: +3 hours (or +2 during DST)
London to Dubai: +4 hours
NYC to LA: -3 hours (or -2 during DST)

Using Our Converter

Our time zone converter handles all these calculations automatically, including DST adjustments.