Massachusetts time zone and daylight saving time

Eastern Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Boston, UTC−4Sunrise 7:14 a.m. · Sunset 5:41 p.m. · 10 h 27 min of daylight

Massachusetts 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. Massachusetts is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted one.

All of Massachusetts uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time: UTC−4 in summer and UTC−5 in winter.

Time zones in bordering states

Massachusetts and all five 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 Massachusetts 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.MaineNew JerseyPennsylvaniaConnecticutNew HampshireNew YorkVermontRhode Island

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire: same time all along the border.

What permanent time would mean for Massachusetts

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 Boston. Because Massachusetts is near the eastern edge of its time zone, its sunrises and sunsets come earlier in the day than in most of the Eastern zone.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:10 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:10 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 5:15 p.m. (now 4:15 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:25 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:25 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:08 a.m. (now 5:08 a.m.).

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

Massachusetts and permanent daylight time

Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts has studied a different route. A 2016 law created a special commission, which reported in November 2017 that under certain circumstances the state could make a case for moving to the Atlantic Time zone year-round. That would keep Massachusetts on the equivalent of daylight time all year without waiting for Congress, though it would need approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

A bill from Senator John Keenan (Senate Bill 2157) would make that change. It would take effect only if at least two of New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and Maine also act. Bills to keep standard time year-round instead have also been filed, 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 Massachusetts in?

All of Massachusetts uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time.

Could Massachusetts switch to Atlantic Time?

It has been proposed. A 2026 bill would move the state to the Atlantic Time zone year-round, which would need approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Is Boston on the same time as New York?

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

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

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