Understanding PST to EST Conversion
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST). This means that when it's 9:00 AM in Los Angeles (PST), it's already 12:00 PM in New York (EST).
During Daylight Saving Time (DST), the time zones are called PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time), but the 3-hour difference remains the same.
Business Communication
When scheduling meetings between the East and West coasts, remember the 3-hour gap. A 9:00 AM meeting in New York would be 6:00 AM in Los Angeles, which might be too early for some participants.
Travel Planning
When flying from PST to EST, you'll "lose" 3 hours. A 5-hour flight departing at 8:00 AM PST will arrive at 4:00 PM EST, not 1:00 PM.
Similarly, when traveling from EST to PST, you'll "gain" 3 hours. This can affect your perception of travel time and jet lag adjustment.
Daylight Saving Time Considerations
Both PST and EST observe Daylight Saving Time, typically starting on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November. During DST, they become PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time).
The 3-hour difference remains constant throughout the year since both regions change their clocks on the same dates.
Quick Facts About PST and EST
- PST UTC Offset: UTC-8:00 (Standard) / UTC-7:00 (Daylight)
- EST UTC Offset: UTC-5:00 (Standard) / UTC-4:00 (Daylight)
- PST Coverage: Parts of western USA and Canada including California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada
- EST Coverage: Parts of eastern USA and Canada including New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ontario
- Population Difference: Approximately 47% of the US population lives in the Eastern time zone, while about 16% lives in the Pacific time zone