Time Difference Between London and New York

London is 5 hours ahead of New York for most of the year — with a brief 4-hour window during the spring and autumn daylight saving transitions.

At a glance

London (GMT/BST) New York (EST/EDT)
6 AM1 AM
9 AM4 AM
12 PM (noon)7 AM
3 PM10 AM
5 PM12 PM (noon)
7 PM2 PM
10 PM5 PM

Times shown assume both cities are in the same daylight saving state (true for most of the year). During the brief transition weeks each spring and autumn, subtract one hour from the New York column.

Why the gap is sometimes 4 hours instead of 5

Both London and New York observe daylight saving time, but they shift on different dates:

  • US clocks shift forward: second Sunday of March
  • UK clocks shift forward: last Sunday of March
  • UK clocks shift back: last Sunday of October
  • US clocks shift back: first Sunday of November

For roughly two weeks in mid-March and one week in late October to early November, one city has already shifted but the other hasn't. During those windows the difference is 4 hours instead of 5. The Time Zone Converter handles this automatically — you'll see the correct figure for any specific date.

Best times to schedule a meeting

If both sides keep standard 9-to-5 hours, the workable overlap is roughly 2 PM to 5 PM London (which is 9 AM to 12 PM New York). The sweet spot most international teams default to:

  • 3 PM London / 10 AM New York — both sides fully into their day, neither at lunch. The most common default for transatlantic calls.
  • 4 PM London / 11 AM New York — close runner-up, gives New York a bit more time to settle in first.
  • 2 PM London / 9 AM New York — works if New York is happy to start their day on the call.

Earlier than 1 PM London asks New York to take a call before 8 AM (rough for most people). Later than 5 PM London eats into New York's afternoon and your evening. For complex multi-person schedules involving people in other cities too, the Meeting Planner shows everyone's working-hours overlap visually so you can pick the least bad column at a glance.

Travel and jet lag notes

The 5-hour gap means jet lag tends to be harder going eastbound (London-bound) than westbound (New York-bound). A common pattern:

  • New York → London: typically an overnight flight. You arrive in early-morning London local time having "lost" a night. Try to sleep on the plane; expect a day or two to adjust.
  • London → New York: typically a daytime flight. You arrive in New York's morning or afternoon having "gained" hours. Most people find this easier — try to stay awake until local bedtime to reset cleanly.

Frequently asked questions

What time zone is London in?

London uses GMT (Greenwich Mean Time, UTC+0) in winter and BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) in summer. The shift happens on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October.

What time zone is New York in?

New York uses EST (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5) in winter and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4) in summer. The shift happens on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November.

Is London 5 or 4 hours ahead of New York?

5 hours for most of the year. 4 hours during the 2-3 week window each spring and autumn when daylight saving has shifted in one country but not the other.

What time is 9 AM London in New York?

4 AM New York. For an exact answer on any specific date (which accounts for daylight saving transitions), use our Time Zone Converter.

What time is 3 PM London in New York?

10 AM New York. This is the most popular default for transatlantic meeting times because both sides are firmly in their working day.

See live times and convert exact moments

For the live, currently-ticking time in both cities (and 60+ others), see the World Clock. To convert any specific date and time, use the Time Zone Converter — it handles daylight saving transitions automatically. For coordinating a meeting across more than two cities, the Meeting Planner shows everyone's working-hours overlap visually.

Other ZoneKit guides