Daylight Saving Time: When Do Clocks Change?
A comprehensive guide to daylight saving time — when it starts and ends, which countries observe it, and why it exists.
What Is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of advancing clocks by 1 hour during warmer months so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less.
- Spring Forward: Clocks move ahead 1 hour (lose 1 hour of sleep)
- Fall Back: Clocks move back 1 hour (gain 1 hour of sleep)
2025–2026 DST Dates (United States)
| Year | Spring Forward | Fall Back |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | March 9 at 2:00 AM | November 2 at 2:00 AM |
| 2026 | March 8 at 2:00 AM | November 1 at 2:00 AM |
DST Around the World
Different countries switch on different dates:
| Region | Spring Forward | Fall Back |
|---|---|---|
| United States / Canada | 2nd Sunday of March | 1st Sunday of November |
| European Union | Last Sunday of March | Last Sunday of October |
| Australia (most states) | 1st Sunday of October | 1st Sunday of April |
| New Zealand | Last Sunday of September | 1st Sunday of April |
Important: Southern hemisphere countries switch in the opposite direction — their “summer” DST starts in September/October.
Which Timezones Change?
Here’s how DST affects the most common timezones:
| Standard | DST Equivalent | UTC Offset Change |
|---|---|---|
| EST (−05:00) | EDT (−04:00) | +1 hour |
| CST (−06:00) | CDT (−05:00) | +1 hour |
| MST (−07:00) | MDT (−06:00) | +1 hour |
| PST (−08:00) | PDT (−07:00) | +1 hour |
| GMT (+00:00) | BST (+01:00) | +1 hour |
| CET (+01:00) | CEST (+02:00) | +1 hour |
Why DST Exists
DST was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 and was widely adopted during World War I to save energy. The idea was simple: shift the clock so that people are awake during more hours of natural daylight.
Today, its benefits are debated. Studies show mixed results on energy savings, and DST transitions are associated with:
- Increased car accidents in the days after the spring change
- Temporary sleep disruption
- Confusion in international scheduling
How to Handle DST in Your Schedule
When scheduling meetings across timezones that observe DST differently, use our timezone converter — it automatically accounts for DST based on the date you select.