Time difference between New York and Los Angeles

The gap holds all year

Neither city changes its clocks — New York goes forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November and Los Angeles goes forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November — so 3 hours is the difference in January and in July alike. That is worth knowing about this pair specifically, because most international pairs do move and a recurring meeting between them does not need checking twice a year.

About New York and Los Angeles

New York is UTC−5 in winter and UTC−4 from March to November, and it changes clocks on different weekends from Europe — a fortnight in March and a week in autumn when the transatlantic gap is an hour off what everyone expects.

Los Angeles is UTC−8 in winter and UTC−7 from March to November. California voted in 2018 to move to permanent daylight saving and has not been able to: the change needs an act of Congress, which has not come.

What 3 hours actually costs you

This is an easy pair. 5 hours of the working day are shared, which is enough for a standing meeting at a time neither side has to think about. 12:00 PM–5:00 PM in New York lands inside office hours at both ends.

When they can both be at their desks

Nine-to-five in both cities overlaps for 5 hours — 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM in New York, the same moment as 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Los Angeles.

New York

Los Angeles

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How far apart New York and Los Angeles are

The shortest path over the Earth's surface between the two is 3,936 km (2,446 miles). Flown along that line, an airliner at cruising speed takes roughly 5 hours 15 minutes in the air — actual routings add to it, and whether a nonstop service exists depends on the airlines rather than the distance.

A gap of 3 hours is small enough that most people adjust within a day or two, and short enough that it rarely disrupts a trip.

New York to Los Angeles, hour by hour

On the usual gap of 3 hours.

Frequently asked questions