Iowa time zone and daylight saving time

Central Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Des Moines, UTC−5Sunrise 7:43 a.m. · Sunset 6:13 p.m. · 10 h 30 min of daylight

Iowa 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
None. Iowa is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted one.

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

Time zones in bordering states

Iowa and all six 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 Iowa 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.KansasMinnesotaSouth DakotaMissouriIllinoisWisconsinNebraska

Current time in each zone

  • Central
  • Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota: same time all along the border.

What permanent time would mean for Iowa

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 Des Moines.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:38 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:38 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 5:48 p.m. (now 4:48 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:52 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:52 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:41 a.m. (now 5:41 a.m.).

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

Iowa and permanent daylight time

Iowa has not enacted a law to adopt permanent daylight time; it is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having done so.

Lawmakers have proposed permanent daylight time: in 2025, two bills to make it the official time of the state (House File 66 and Senate File 90) did not pass, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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 Iowa in?

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

Is Des Moines on the same time as Omaha?

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

Is Iowa on the same time as Chicago?

Yes. Illinois also uses Central Time.

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

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