Mississippi time zone and daylight saving time

Central Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Jackson, UTC−5Sunrise 7:15 a.m. · Sunset 6:13 p.m. · 10 h 58 min of daylight

Mississippi at a glance

Time zone
Central
Daylight saving time
Observed. UTC−5 in summer, UTC−6 in winter.
Upcoming clock changes
  • Sunday, November 1, 2026: clocks fall back
  • Sunday, March 14, 2027: clocks spring forward
  • Sunday, November 7, 2027: clocks fall back
  • Sunday, March 12, 2028: clocks spring forward
Each change happens at 2:00 a.m. local time.
Permanent daylight time law
Enacted in 2021. It needs federal approval before it can take effect.

All of Mississippi uses Central Time and observes daylight saving time: UTC−5 in summer and UTC−6 in winter.

Time zones in bordering states

Mississippi and all four of its neighbours use Central Time where they meet, so the time is the same across every border, all year.

Select a state on the map to see its time zone details.

Time zone map of Mississippi and surrounding states. Each state is a link to its page.Counties are shaded by time zone. Hatched counties are split between two zones; dotted areas do not observe daylight saving time.AlabamaFloridaGeorgiaNorth CarolinaOklahomaTexasMissouriArkansasKentuckyTennesseeSouth CarolinaLouisiana

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Central

County split between two zones; the exact line isn't drawn

  • Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana: same time all along the border.

What permanent time would mean for Mississippi

Ending clock changes would mean keeping one time all year: either permanent daylight time or permanent standard time. Here’s how each would shift sunrise and sunset in Jackson.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

7:58 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 6:58 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 6:00 p.m. (now 5:00 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:11 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:11 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:54 a.m. (now 5:54 a.m.).

Times for Jackson, calculated for 2026. Actual sunrise and sunset can differ by a few minutes with terrain and weather.

Mississippi and permanent daylight time

In 2021, Mississippi enacted a law to observe daylight saving time year-round. It takes effect only if Congress allows states to adopt permanent daylight time; until then, Mississippi keeps changing its clocks. Mississippi is among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted such a law.

Any switch to permanent daylight time would need Congress to act first. The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July 2026, and it is now with the Senate.

Common questions

What time zone is Mississippi in?

All of Mississippi uses Central Time and observes daylight saving time.

Is Mississippi on the same time as Memphis?

Yes. Memphis, Tennessee uses Central Time, the same as Mississippi.

Didn’t Mississippi pass a law to stop changing clocks?

Mississippi passed a law in 2021 to observe daylight saving time year-round, but it takes effect only if Congress allows it. Until then, clocks keep changing.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation (49 CFR Part 71); Congressional Research Service; Congress.gov.

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