What Time Is It in Seattle Washington? Current Time Guide

If you are planning a trip, scheduling a cross-country call, or tuning into a live event in the Pacific Northwest, you might be asking yourself: what time is it in Seattle Washington right now? Seattle operates on Pacific Standard Time (PST) during the winter months and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) during the spring and summer. Because the city observes daylight saving time, the exact offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) shifts depending on the time of year.

What Time Is It in Seattle Washington Right Now?

Seattle is located in the Pacific Time Zone of the United States. To determine the exact hour, you must account for whether daylight saving time is currently active. Standard time begins on the first Sunday in November, while daylight saving time kicks off on the second Sunday in March.

If you do not have a live clock handy, you can easily calculate the current time based on standard American time zones:

• Eastern Time (ET): Seattle is 3 hours behind New York, Miami, and Atlanta.
• Central Time (CT): Seattle is 2 hours behind Chicago, Dallas, and New Orleans.
• Mountain Time (MT): Seattle is 1 hour behind Denver, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix (note: Arizona does not observe daylight saving time).
• Alaska Time (AKST/AKDT): Seattle is 1 hour ahead of Anchorage and Juneau.
• Hawaii Time (HST): Seattle is 3 hours ahead of Honolulu (Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time).

Understanding Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

To truly grasp local timekeeping in Washington State, it helps to understand the two distinct periods of the year:

Pacific Standard Time (PST)

From early November to mid-March, Seattle is on Pacific Standard Time. During this period, the local time is UTC-8. Days are noticeably shorter, with sunset occurring as early as 4:20 PM in mid-December. This period aligns with cooler, rainier weather typical of Western Washington.

Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, clocks are pushed forward by one hour, shifting the region to Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7). This change brings long, sunlit summer evenings to the Puget Sound, with sunsets stretching past 9:00 PM in June and July.

How Daylight Saving Time Affects Seattle

Like most of the United States, Washington State springs forward and falls back each year. In March, clocks move ahead one hour at 2:00 AM local time. In November, clocks move backward one hour at 2:00 AM local time, giving residents an extra hour of sleep.

There has been ongoing legislative debate in Washington State regarding permanent daylight saving time. Lawmakers previously passed a bill to adopt year-round daylight saving time, but the change cannot take effect until the United States Congress amends federal law to permit states to make this transition permanently. Until then, Seattle continues to switch back and forth twice a year.

International Time Conversions for Seattle

If you are connecting with people overseas, calculating the time difference requires looking at UTC offsets. Here is how Seattle compares to major international business and travel hubs:

• London, United Kingdom (GMT/BST): Seattle is 8 hours behind London during standard time, though the gap temporarily shrinks by an hour in March and October due to differing transition dates for daylight saving time in the UK and US.
• Paris, France (CET/CEST): Seattle is 9 hours behind Paris for most of the year.
• Tokyo, Japan (JST): Seattle is 16 hours behind Tokyo (17 hours behind during PDT). Japan does not observe daylight saving time, meaning the time difference shifts when the US changes its clocks.
• Sydney, Australia (AEST/AEDT): Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, their seasons—and daylight saving periods—are reversed relative to the United States. The time difference can range from 16 to 19 hours depending on the exact months.

Tips for Scheduling Calls and Travel to Seattle

When coordinating meetings or travel arrangements with individuals in Seattle, keep these practical tips in mind:

1. Check for calendar automation: Modern calendar apps like Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook automatically adjust for timezone changes and daylight saving shifts. Always enter the event using the local timezone.
2. Account for transition weeks: Because Europe, North America, and other regions change their clocks on different weekends in spring and autumn, there are a few weeks every year when international time offsets shift by an hour. Double-check meeting times during March, April, October, and November.
3. Business hours context: Standard business hours in Seattle run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. If you are calling from the East Coast, remember that a 9:00 AM Seattle meeting is 12:00 PM for you.

Whether you are tracking tech stocks on the West Coast, catching a flight at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), or calling a friend to chat about the local coffee scene, keeping these time zone rules in mind ensures you are never caught off guard by the clock.