Pennsylvania Time Zone

Pennsylvania Time Zone is located in the Eastern Time Zone. This means that it is five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5). Daylight Saving Time is observed from March to November, during which clocks are moved forward by one hour to UTC-4.

The Eastern Time Zone covers a large portion of the United States, including 17 states and the District of Columbia. It is also known as Eastern Standard Time (EST) or Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) depending on whether or not Daylight Saving Time is in effect.

It’s important to keep in mind Pennsylvania’s time zone when planning travel, online meetings, or communicating with people in different parts of the world. Being aware of time differences can help avoid confusion and ensure that everyone involved is on the same page.

What Time Zone in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania adheres to the Eastern Time zone, uniformly applying it across all its counties and cities without any exceptions. The state also participates in daylight savings time, resulting in the use of two distinct clocks that vary depending on the season.

  • Eastern Standard Time (EST): – 5:00 UTC/GMT (behind)
  • Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): – 4:00 UTC/GMT (behind)

The consistent time zone within Pennsylvania extends to its neighboring US states as well. This means that crossing the borders into New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, or Ohio won’t require any adjustments to the clocks. Moreover, the time zone remains unaltered when crossing into Ontario, Canada, from Pennsylvania.

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Information About Pennsylvania Time Zone

CountryUnited States
StatePennsylvania
Pennsylvania Time Zone NameEastern Daylight Time 
Time zone abbreviationEDT
Pennsylvania time changeNext time change is in 4 months and 24 days, set your clock back 1 hour
Standard UTC OffsetUTC – 05:00
DST UTC OffsetUTC – 04:00
Current UTC OffsetUTC – 04:00
Daylight Saving Time+1 Hour
DST Started Time DateSunday, March 12, 2023 At 2:00:00 AM local standard time
DST Ends Time DateSunday, November 5, 2023 At 2:00:00 AM local daylight time

Daylight Savings Time (DST)

Pennsylvania observes daylight saving time, as stipulated in the Uniform Time Act of 1966. This practice involves transitioning from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The commencement occurs on the second Sunday of March, while the conclusion takes place on the first Sunday of November.

During the March transition, clocks are adjusted forward from 02:00 AM to 03:00 AM, resulting in a loss of one hour of sleep. In November, the process is reversed, and clocks are set back from 03:00 AM to 02:00 AM, granting an additional hour of sleep. A mnemonic to recall this rhythm is that clocks “spring forward and fall back.” This daylight saving period spans 34 weeks, encompassing approximately 65% of the year.

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Difference Between Pennsylvania vs. Chicago Time Zone

If you’re traveling between Pennsylvania and Chicago, it’s important to note that Chicago is located in the Central Time Zone, which is one hour behind Eastern Time. This means that when it is 12:00 PM in Pennsylvania, it will be 11:00 AM in Chicago. It’s always a good idea to double-check time zones when planning travel or scheduling meetings across different regions.

In summary, Pennsylvania is located in the Eastern Time Zone and observes Daylight Saving Time from March to November. Understanding time differences can help avoid confusion and ensure effective communication with people in different parts of the world. When traveling or scheduling meetings across different regions, it’s important to keep in mind the time zone differences between locations.

ALso, Read: Puerto Rico Time Zone

Schedule a Phone Call from Pennsylvania to New York

Given that Pennsylvania (PA) and New York (NY) share identical time zones, you can conveniently make calls during your regular hours without any time difference between the two locations. However, it’s advisable to consider daylight savings adjustments when scheduling your calls.
Suppose you reside in Pennsylvania and intend to contact a friend in New York. You can aim to place your call between 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM within your time zone. This timeframe corresponds to 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM in New York (NY) as well, since both regions observe the same time zone.
Alternatively, if your availability extends throughout the day and you wish to connect with your friend in New York during their working hours, consider making the call between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM in your local time. This timeframe aligns with the optimal window of 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM during their regular work hours in New York.
PennsylvaniaNew York
9:00 AM9:00 AM
10:00 AM 10:00 AM 
11:00 AM11:00 AM
12:00 PM12:00 PM
1:00 PM1:00 PM
2:00 PM 2:00 PM 
3:00 PM3:00 PM
4:00 PM4:00 PM
5:00 PM5:00 PM

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Pennsylvania in EST or EDT right now?

Situated within the United States of America (USA), Pennsylvania follows the Eastern Time Zone. Eastern Standard Time (EST) in Pennsylvania lags 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-5).

Is Pennsylvania in the New York time zone?

The time in Pennsylvania coincides with that of New York.

How many cities are there in Pennsylvania?

Here is a list of Pennsylvania cities, totaling 2,568, ranked by population size in descending order. These population figures have been sourced from the 2021 American Community Survey.

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