FUNDAMENTALS
PST vs PDT: What's the Difference?
PST and PDT are both Pacific time. Learn when each applies, their UTC offsets, and which cities use Pacific Time.
March 1, 2026
pst pdt pacific time dst
Quick Answer
- PST (Pacific Standard Time) = UTC−08:00 — used November to March
- PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) = UTC−07:00 — used March to November
When Does the Switch Happen?
| Event | Timing |
|---|---|
| PST → PDT | Second Sunday of March at 2:00 AM |
| PDT → PST | First Sunday of November at 2:00 AM |
Who Uses Pacific Time?
Pacific Time covers the US West Coast and parts of Canada:
- Los Angeles, California
- San Francisco, California
- Seattle, Washington
- Portland, Oregon
- Vancouver, Canada
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Exception: Arizona
Arizona does not observe DST (except the Navajo Nation). It stays on MST (UTC−07:00) year-round, which means:
- In winter, Arizona is 1 hour ahead of PST
- In summer, Arizona is the same time as PDT
PST vs PDT: The Key Difference
| PST | PDT | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Pacific Standard Time | Pacific Daylight Time |
| UTC Offset | −08:00 | −07:00 |
| Active | Nov–Mar | Mar–Nov |
| Difference from EST | 3 hours behind | 3 hours behind |
Use “PT” to Avoid Confusion
Just like “ET” for Eastern, you can say PT (Pacific Time) to refer to whichever is currently active. This is what most tech companies use when scheduling.
Convert Pacific Time Now
Try our PST to EST converter or PST to GMT converter for instant conversions.