What Time Is It In Seattle Right Now?
Hi, Shahyan here. Living around Seattle for the past few years has made Pacific Time second nature to me, but I know it can get confusing when you are flying in from another country, calling someone here, or trying to book something from the East Coast.
Seattle is in the Pacific Time Zone. Right now, Seattle observes Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), which is UTC-7. During the colder part of the year, it switches to Pacific Standard Time (PST), which is UTC-8.
The clock below shows the current Seattle time automatically, so you do not have to calculate it yourself.
Current Time in Seattle
The clock updates every second and uses Seattle’s official America/Los_Angeles time zone, so it automatically follows daylight saving changes.
What Time Zone is Seattle in?
Seattle follows Pacific Time (PT), the same time zone used by Los Angeles, San Francisco and much of the U.S. West Coast.
The part that catches people out is that Pacific Time has two versions:
| Time of Year | Seattle Time | UTC Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Daylight saving period | Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) | UTC-7 |
| Standard-time period | Pacific Standard Time (PST) | UTC-8 |
So saying Seattle is always on “PST” is technically wrong. In summer, I hear people use PST casually, but the correct abbreviation is PDT.
Is Seattle on PST or PDT Right Now?
Seattle is currently on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
In 2026, daylight saving time began on March 8. Seattle returns to Pacific Standard Time on November 1, 2026, when clocks move back by one hour.
Washington law currently follows the U.S. daylight-saving schedule: clocks move forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November. You can verify the state’s current rule through the Washington State Legislature.
- Spring and summer: UTC-7
- Late fall and winter: UTC-8
Washington has discussed permanent daylight saving time, but Seattle still changes its clocks seasonally under the current rules.
How Far Behind is Seattle From Other U.S. Cities?
This one is easier than international conversions because most major U.S. cities change their clocks on the same dates.
| City | Difference From Seattle |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Same time |
| San Francisco | Same time |
| Portland | Same time |
| Las Vegas | Same time |
| Denver | 1 hour ahead |
| Chicago | 2 hours ahead |
| Dallas | 2 hours ahead |
| New York City | 3 hours ahead |
| Miami | 3 hours ahead |
| Washington, D.C. | 3 hours ahead |
If it is 9:00 AM in Seattle, it is normally 12:00 PM in New York and Washington, D.C.
And just to clear up a surprisingly common travel mix-up: Seattle is in Washington State, but it is not Washington’s capital. Olympia is. Our 50 states and capitals guide explains that one in more detail.
Is Seattle the Same Time as Vancouver?
Yes. Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia normally show the same local time.
That is handy if you are crossing the Canadian border because you do not suddenly gain or lose an hour.
Seattle also shares its time with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and several other Pacific Coast cities.
Seattle Time Difference From Major World Cities
International differences need a little more care because countries do not all change their clocks on the same dates.
Here is the useful rule of thumb:
| Location | Usually Ahead of Seattle |
|---|---|
| London | About 8 hours |
| Paris | About 9 hours |
| Dubai | 11–12 hours |
| Pakistan | 12 hours during PDT / 13 during PST |
| India | 12.5 hours during PDT / 13.5 during PST |
| Tokyo | 16 hours during PDT / 17 during PST |
For example, when Seattle is observing PDT, 9:00 AM in Seattle is 9:00 PM in Pakistan.
I would still check the live clock before an international call, particularly around March and October or November. Europe and North America do not always switch daylight saving time on the same weekend.
Does Seattle Change Its Clocks?
Yes.
Seattle still does the familiar “spring forward, fall back” routine.
In spring, 2:00 AM jumps to 3:00 AM. In fall, the clock reaches 2:00 AM and moves back to 1:00 AM.
I barely notice the spring change once the long Seattle evenings kick in, but travelers can notice it quickly if they have an early flight, reservation, ferry, or online meeting the morning after the switch.
For 2026:
- March 8: clocks moved forward one hour
- November 1: clocks move back one hour
The state’s current rule matches the federal daylight-saving calendar. The details are available through the Washington State Legislature.
Why Seattle Time Matters When You Are Visiting
Knowing the time zone seems like a small part of planning until you actually arrive.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, hotel reservations, attraction times, local events and restaurant bookings all operate on Seattle local time.
Jet lag is another story.
Someone arriving from New York only has a three-hour difference to deal with. Coming from Europe or Asia can turn Pike Place Market breakfast into what your body thinks is dinner time.
Daylight also changes massively through the year here. Seattle’s summer evenings can stay bright very late, while winter darkness arrives much earlier. That makes the time of year almost as important as the time on your watch.
If you are deciding when to travel, I have broken that down properly in my guide to the best time to visit Seattle.
Seattle Time vs. Daylight: One Thing Visitors Often Miss
Being on the same clock does not mean Seattle feels the same throughout the year.
Summer is the funny one. You can look at your phone, see that it is evening, step outside and still have plenty of usable daylight. I love that part of Seattle because an ordinary day can stretch into a walk, food stop or time beside the water without feeling rushed.
Winter turns that around. Short daylight means I plan outdoor things earlier and leave indoor plans for later in the afternoon.
Your phone handles the clock automatically. Your itinerary still needs some thinking.
What Time Should You Call Someone in Seattle?
For a normal business or personal call, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Seattle time is the safest window unless you already know the person’s schedule.
That translates roughly to:
- New York: noon to 8:00 PM
- London: late afternoon into the night
- Pakistan: roughly 9:00 PM onward while Seattle is on PDT
- Tokyo: late night or the following morning
If you are calling internationally, mornings in Seattle usually work better for Europe, while Asia often requires one side to accept an early or late call.
Is Seattle Always Three Hours Behind New York?
Yes. Under the current U.S. daylight-saving system, Seattle remains three hours behind New York throughout the year.
Both cities move their clocks on the same U.S. daylight-saving dates, so the three-hour gap stays intact.
That is probably the easiest Seattle time conversion to remember.
A Small Local Tip
If you are traveling here, let your phone update automatically instead of manually changing its clock.
Seattle’s IANA time-zone name is America/Los_Angeles, despite Seattle obviously not being in Los Angeles. That is simply the standard database identifier used for Pacific Time in this part of the United States.
The University of Washington also maintains a network-synchronized local-time service, which is a useful Seattle-specific reference if you ever want to double-check the clock.
FAQs About Seattle Time
Seattle is in the Pacific Time Zone. It uses Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7) during daylight saving time and Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) during standard time.
No. During the current daylight-saving period, Seattle is on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). In 2026, the city switches back to Pacific Standard Time on November 1.
Yes. Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and most of California use Pacific Time and normally have the same local time.
Seattle is three hours behind New York. If it is noon in New York, it is 9:00 AM in Seattle.
Seattle is usually about eight hours behind London. There can be brief periods when the difference changes because the United States and United Kingdom switch daylight saving time on different dates.
Yes. Seattle currently moves its clocks forward in March and back in November under Washington’s existing daylight-saving rules.
Seattle time is actually simple once you know the pattern. We live on Pacific Time, which means PDT during the daylight-saving period and PST during standard time.
The live clock at the top is the easiest answer if you only came here wondering what time it is in Seattle. But if you are planning a flight, making a call, or building your days around Seattle, remember the bigger picture too: the clock can shift by one hour, and our daylight changes much more dramatically with the seasons.
That is something you feel pretty quickly once you spend a little time here.
