West Virginia time zone and daylight saving time

Eastern Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Charleston, UTC−4Sunrise 7:51 a.m. · Sunset 6:29 p.m. · 10 h 38 min of daylight

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

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

Time zones in bordering states

West Virginia and all of its neighbours use Eastern 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 West Virginia 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.IndianaNew JerseyNorth CarolinaPennsylvaniaDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaKentuckyMarylandMichiganOhioTennesseeVirginia

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Central
  • Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia: same time all along the border.
  • Kentucky: same time; eastern Kentucky, next to West Virginia, uses Eastern Time.

What permanent time would mean for West Virginia

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 Charleston. Because West Virginia sits toward the western side of the Eastern Time zone, its sunrises and sunsets come later in the day than along the East Coast.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:40 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:40 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 6:09 p.m. (now 5:09 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:54 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:54 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 5:03 a.m. (now 6:03 a.m.).

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

West Virginia and permanent daylight time

West Virginia 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 tried both directions: a 2024 bill to stop using daylight saving time (House Bill 5097) did not pass, and a 2026 bill to make daylight saving time the official year-round time (Senate Bill 528) was pending as of March 2026, 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 West Virginia in?

All of West Virginia uses Eastern Time and observes daylight saving time.

Is West Virginia on the same time as Kentucky?

Yes, where they meet. Eastern Kentucky uses Eastern Time. Western Kentucky uses Central Time, 1 hour behind.

Is West Virginia considering ending clock changes?

Yes. A 2026 bill would make daylight saving time the year-round time, though that would also need federal approval.

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

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