Washington, D.C. time zone and daylight saving time

Eastern Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Washington, UTC−4Sunrise 7:32 a.m. · Sunset 6:11 p.m. · 10 h 39 min of daylight

District of Columbia at a glance

Time zone
Eastern
Daylight saving time
Observed. UTC−4 in summer, UTC−5 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
None. The District of Columbia has not enacted one.

All of Washington, D.C. uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time: UTC−4 in summer and UTC−5 in winter.

Time zones in bordering states

Washington, D.C. and both of its neighbours use Eastern Time, 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 District of Columbia 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.New JerseyPennsylvaniaWest VirginiaDelawareMarylandVirginia

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Maryland and Virginia: same time all along the border.

What permanent time would mean for Washington, D.C.

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 Washington, D.C..

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:23 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:23 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 5:49 p.m. (now 4:49 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:37 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:37 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:43 a.m. (now 5:43 a.m.).

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

Washington, D.C. and permanent daylight time

The District of Columbia has not enacted a law to adopt permanent daylight time.

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 Washington, D.C. in?

Washington, D.C. uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time.

Is Washington, D.C. on the same time as New York?

Yes. Both use Eastern Time and change their clocks on the same dates.

Who decides when the clocks change?

Federal law sets the dates. Congress is considering the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide.

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

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