New Mexico time zone and daylight saving time

Mountain Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Albuquerque, UTC−6Sunrise 7:25 a.m. · Sunset 6:15 p.m. · 10 h 50 min of daylight

New Mexico at a glance

Time zone
Mountain
Daylight saving time
Observed. UTC−6 in summer, UTC−7 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. New Mexico is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted one.

All of New Mexico uses Mountain Time and observes daylight saving time: UTC−6 in summer and UTC−7 in winter. That includes the part of the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico.

Time zones in bordering states

New Mexico sits between Arizona, which mostly doesn’t change its clocks, and Central Time states to the east, so most of its borders depend on the season or the zone.

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

Time zone map of New Mexico 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, except the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona, which does observe it and is not drawn separately.ArizonaColoradoKansasOklahomaTexasCaliforniaUtahNevada

Current time in each zone

  • Central
  • MountainArizona
  • Pacific

No daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation in Arizona, which does observe it, isn't drawn separately.

  • Colorado: same time all along the border.
  • Arizona: same time in winter. In summer, when most of Arizona stays on standard time, New Mexico is 1 hour ahead. The Navajo Nation, which spans the border, observes daylight saving time, so it matches New Mexico all year.
  • Texas: mixed. El Paso and Hudspeth counties use Mountain Time and match New Mexico. Elsewhere along the border, Texas uses Central Time and is 1 hour ahead.
  • Oklahoma: Oklahoma uses Central Time, so New Mexico is 1 hour behind it where they meet.

What permanent time would mean for New Mexico

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 Albuquerque.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:11 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:11 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 5:59 p.m. (now 4:59 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:24 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:24 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:53 a.m. (now 5:53 a.m.).

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

New Mexico and permanent daylight time

New Mexico 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.

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 New Mexico in?

All of New Mexico uses Mountain Time and observes daylight saving time.

Is Albuquerque on the same time as El Paso?

Yes. El Paso, Texas uses Mountain Time, the same as New Mexico.

Is New Mexico on the same time as Arizona?

In winter, yes. In summer, when most of Arizona stays on standard time, New Mexico is 1 hour ahead. The Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time and matches New Mexico all year.

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

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