If you are trying to figure out what time is in phoenix now, you aren’t just looking for a number on a clock. You’re likely trying to solve a puzzle. Maybe you have a Zoom call with a colleague in Scottsdale, or you're trying to figure out if your flight from JFK lands before dinner.
Right now, as of Thursday, January 15, 2026, Phoenix is on Mountain Standard Time (MST).
But here is where it gets weird. Most of the United States is currently in "Standard" time because we are in the middle of winter. In a few weeks, when everyone else "springs forward," Phoenix won't budge. This makes Arizona the ultimate rebel of the American time system. It’s one of the only places where the clock you see today is the same clock you'll see in July.
What Time Is In Phoenix Now and Why It Never Changes
The current time in Phoenix is exactly 7 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-7).
Most people find this confusing because they expect Arizona to act like Colorado or Utah. It doesn't. While our neighbors in Denver switch between MST and MDT (Mountain Daylight Time), Phoenix stays put on MST all year long. Honestly, it’s a blessing and a curse. You never have to worry about losing an hour of sleep in March, but you spend half the year constantly Googling "time in Phoenix" because your phone and your brain can't agree on whether you're two or three hours behind New York.
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The reason for this is pretty simple: heat.
Back in the late 1960s, Arizona actually tried Daylight Saving Time for a year. It was a disaster. Imagine it's 110 degrees outside. Now imagine the sun staying up until 9:00 PM. That’s an extra hour of brutal desert heat beating down on your roof, which means your air conditioning is working overtime. In 1968, the Arizona legislature basically said "no thanks" and passed a law to stay on Standard Time forever.
The Navajo Nation Exception
Just to make things more complicated, there is one part of Arizona that does change its clocks. If you drive up to the northeastern corner of the state into the Navajo Nation, you’ll find yourself an hour ahead of Phoenix during the summer.
Why? Because the Navajo Nation spans across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. To keep things consistent across tribal lands, they follow Daylight Saving Time. But wait—the Hopi Reservation, which is entirely surrounded by the Navajo Nation, doesn't observe it. If you drive across that part of the state in July, your car's dashboard clock will lose its mind.
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Comparing Phoenix Time to the Rest of the Country
Because Phoenix doesn't move, the rest of the world moves around it. This creates a "sliding scale" of time differences that can trip up even the most seasoned travelers.
- During the Winter (November to March): Phoenix is on the same time as Denver and Salt Lake City. It is 2 hours behind New York (EST) and 1 hour ahead of Los Angeles (PST).
- During the Summer (March to November): This is when it gets funky. Phoenix is still UTC-7, which is the same as Pacific Daylight Time. So, for half the year, Phoenix is on the same time as Los Angeles and Seattle. Meanwhile, it becomes 3 hours behind New York.
It’s a bit of a running joke in the Valley. We aren't the ones who are "different"—it’s everyone else who insists on changing their clocks for no reason.
Living Life on Mountain Standard Time
If you’re moving here or just visiting, you’ll notice that the "time" in Phoenix dictates everything. In the summer, the sun rises around 5:30 AM. Because it’s so early, you’ll see people out running, hiking Camelback Mountain, or mowing their lawns before the sun even hits the horizon. By 10:00 AM, the outdoor "day" is basically over for anyone who doesn't want a heat stroke.
There’s also the "East Coast lag." If you work a corporate job for a company based in New York, you might find yourself starting your workday at 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM during the summer months just to stay in sync with the home office. It’s a trade-off for having 300+ days of sunshine a year.
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Practical Tips for Staying on Track
If you are managing a schedule that involves Phoenix, keep these rules of thumb in mind:
- Trust your phone, but verify. Most smartphones are smart enough to know Arizona doesn't do DST. However, if you manually set your time zone to "Mountain Time" instead of "Phoenix," your phone might jump ahead an hour in March. Always select "Phoenix" specifically in your settings.
- The "California Rule." From March to November, just pretend Phoenix is in California. It makes the math way easier.
- Check the Navajo Nation. If you're heading to the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon, double-check if your tour is on "Phoenix time" or "Navajo time." It’s a common way to miss a tour reservation.
Actionable Steps for Dealing with Phoenix Time
Instead of just checking the clock, take these steps to make sure you never miss a deadline or a flight:
- Update your Calendar Settings: In Google Calendar or Outlook, set your primary time zone to (GMT-07:00) Arizona. This is distinct from "Mountain Time (US & Canada)."
- Sync with your Team: If you manage a remote team, explicitly state "PHX Time" in meeting invites. Avoid using "MST" or "MDT" because people outside of Arizona often use those terms interchangeably and incorrectly.
- Plan Summer Travel Early: Remember that during the summer, a 7:00 PM flight from Phoenix to New York won't land until nearly 2:00 AM Eastern time. The "lost" hour doesn't exist for you in the morning, but it hits you hard on the red-eye.
- Embrace the Early Start: If you’re visiting Phoenix in the summer, set your alarm for the crack of dawn. The best version of the city exists between 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM. Once the clock hits noon, the desert belongs to the lizards.
Staying on top of what time is in Phoenix now is mostly about remembering that the city stays still while the rest of the world shifts. It's a small quirk that defines the "fiercely independent" spirit of the Grand Canyon State.