Washington, D.C. uses Eastern Time (ET) — UTC−5 in winter (EST) and UTC−4 in summer (EDT). The capital of the United States, home to the White House, U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian Institution.
Everything you need to know about Washington, D.C.'s time zone, UTC offset, and Daylight Saving Time schedule.
From the first Sunday of November to the second Sunday of March, Washington, D.C. observes EST (UTC−5). This is the standard winter time used across the US East Coast.
From the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November, Washington, D.C. advances to EDT (UTC−4) — clocks move forward 1 hour, giving longer summer evenings.
The official IANA time zone name for Washington, D.C. is America/New_York. This identifier is used in programming, operating systems, and all modern calendar applications.
Spring forward: 9 March 2025 at 02:00 → 03:00
Fall back: 2 November 2025 at 02:00 → 01:00
Spring forward: 8 March 2026 at 02:00 → 03:00
Fall back: 1 November 2026 at 02:00 → 01:00
Washington, D.C. is the seat of the U.S. federal government, home to the White House, U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, and over 170 foreign embassies.
The world's largest museum and research complex, with 21 museums, including the National Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, and American History Museum.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia, is the capital of the United States. With a population of over 700,000 (metro area over 6 million), it is not part of any state and is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress. Founded in 1790, the city was named after George Washington, the first president, and Christopher Columbus.
The city is the epicenter of American politics and government. The White House (residence and workplace of the U.S. president), the U.S. Capitol (meeting place of Congress), and the Supreme Court of the United States are all located here. The National Mall, a vast open park, is lined with iconic monuments and memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
Washington is also a world-class cultural destination. The Smithsonian Institution, known as "America's Attic," operates 21 museums and galleries — all with free admission. Highlights include the National Air and Space Museum (the most visited museum in the world), the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The National Gallery of Art houses masterpieces from the Renaissance to modern times.
Beyond government and museums, D.C. has a vibrant local culture. Neighborhoods like Georgetown (historic cobblestone streets, high-end shopping), Dupont Circle (embassies, bookstores, cafes), Adams Morgan (diverse nightlife), and The Wharf (waterfront dining and music venues) offer endless attractions. The city is also home to major league sports teams: the Washington Commanders (NFL), Washington Nationals (MLB), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Capitals (NHL).
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) offers convenient flights to East Coast hubs, while Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) provide international connections to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Dubai.
700,000+ (city) / 6M+ (metro). Capital of the United States.
White House, U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument.
21 free museums, including Air & Space, Natural History, American History, African American History.
Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan in 1912.
Humid subtropical. Hot, humid summers (avg. 32°C / 90°F in July), cold winters with snow (avg. 2°C / 35°F in January).
+1 (US country code). Area codes: 202. Currency: US Dollar (USD, $).
Current time in major cities compared to Washington, D.C. Times update live every second.
Note on DST transitions: The offsets shown above reflect the current live offset, which changes twice a year due to Daylight Saving Time. The US, EU, and other regions change their clocks on different dates, which means the difference between Washington, D.C. and a European city can vary by 1 hour for a short period in spring and autumn. Always verify the exact time difference around DST transition dates for critical scheduling.
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Washington, D.C.'s Eastern Time zone shapes the rhythm of American politics — from presidential press briefings to congressional votes and Supreme Court rulings. The Eastern Time Zone is home to nearly 150 million people across the US and Canada.
TimeZoria AI uses your browser's built-in Intl API and the IANA tz database to always display the correct Washington, D.C. time — including DST changes — without any network requests.
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Common questions about Washington, D.C.'s time zone, UTC offset, and Daylight Saving Time.