If you just typed what time is it for PST into a search bar, you're probably trying to coordinate a Zoom call, check a flight, or maybe you're just wondering why your friend in Los Angeles hasn't texted you back yet.
It's currently 2:22 PM in the Pacific Standard Time zone.
Since today is January 15, 2026, the West Coast is firmly in the "Standard" part of its schedule. We aren't dealing with Daylight Saving Time yet. That doesn't happen for another couple of months. Right now, things are simple. Or as simple as time zones ever get.
Why Everyone Always Mixes Up PST and PDT
Honestly, people use the terms PST and PDT interchangeably, but they shouldn't. It's a common mistake.
PST stands for Pacific Standard Time. This is what we use in the winter. It is technically UTC-8. That means it’s eight hours behind the "world clock" in London (Coordinated Universal Time).
PDT stands for Pacific Daylight Time. This is the summer version. It’s UTC-7.
When you ask what time is it for PST in July, you’re technically asking for a time that isn't being observed. Most of the West Coast—California, Washington, Oregon—switches over to Daylight Time in March. If you use the wrong acronym in a calendar invite, you might accidentally schedule your meeting an hour off. That's a quick way to annoy a client.
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The Big Switch in 2026
We are currently in the middle of winter. The clocks fell back last November. We won't "spring forward" again until Sunday, March 8, 2026.
At 2:00 AM on that Sunday, the clocks will jump to 3:00 AM. We lose an hour of sleep, but we gain that late-evening sunlight that makes summer feel like summer. Until then, we stay on PST.
The Geography of Pacific Standard Time
It’s not just California. While Hollywood gets all the attention, PST covers a massive stretch of North America.
- California: The entire state is on PST.
- Washington: From Seattle to Spokane.
- Oregon: Almost all of it, though a tiny slice of Malheur County near the Idaho border actually follows Mountain Time.
- Nevada: Las Vegas and Reno are PST strongholds.
- British Columbia, Canada: Vancouver and most of the province.
- Baja California, Mexico: Including Tijuana.
There’s also the Yukon. Interestingly, the Yukon decided to stop messing with their clocks a few years ago. They stayed on what is essentially year-round Daylight Time (UTC-7). So, while they are geographically "Pacific," they don't technically follow the PST/PDT flip-flop anymore.
Is PST Going Away Forever?
You might have heard rumors about states wanting to "lock the clock."
California voters actually approved a proposition (Prop 7) back in 2018 to allow the legislature to change how we handle time. The goal for many is to stay on Daylight Saving Time year-round. They want those 8:00 PM sunsets in July to stay, but they also want to stop the biannual heart-attack-inducing clock shift.
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The problem? Federal law.
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows states to opt out of Daylight Saving Time (like Arizona and Hawaii), but it doesn't currently allow states to stay on Daylight Saving Time permanently. For California or Washington to stay on "summer time" all year, Congress has to step in.
There have been bills like the Sunshine Protection Act floating around the halls of D.C. for years. Senator Marco Rubio and others have pushed for it, citing health benefits and reduced traffic accidents. So far, it hasn't quite crossed the finish line into law.
Why Some People Hate Permanent Daylight Time
Not everyone is a fan.
Sleep experts often argue that Pacific Standard Time is actually better for our internal biological clocks. If we stayed on Daylight Time in the winter, the sun wouldn't rise in some parts of the Northwest until nearly 9:00 AM in December. Imagine sending your kids to the bus stop in pitch-black darkness.
Farmers and parents have historically been the biggest opponents of permanent DST. They prefer the morning light.
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How to Calculate PST from Other Zones
If you aren't on the West Coast, you’re probably doing mental math right now.
Eastern Time (EST): You are 3 hours ahead of PST. If it's 5:00 PM in New York, it's 2:00 PM in Los Angeles.
Central Time (CST): You are 2 hours ahead. 12:00 PM in Chicago is 10:00 AM in Seattle.
Mountain Time (MST): You are 1 hour ahead.
It gets slightly weirder with Arizona. Since Arizona doesn't observe Daylight Saving Time, they are on the same time as the West Coast during the summer (PDT). But during the winter—right now—they are one hour ahead (MST).
Practical Steps for Handling Time Zones
- Check the Date: If it's between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November, use "PT" or "PDT."
- Use "PT" to be Safe: If you aren't sure if it's Standard or Daylight time, just write "PT" (Pacific Time). It's the catch-all that prevents you from looking like you don't know what month it is.
- Digital Tools: Don't rely on your memory. Websites like TimeAndDate or simply typing "time in Los Angeles" into Google are your best bets.
- Meeting Software: Most modern calendars (Google, Outlook) handle the PST to PDT transition automatically. Just make sure your primary time zone is set correctly in the app settings.
The West Coast is currently enjoying the early sunsets and crisp mornings of Pacific Standard Time. Whether that changes permanently in the next few years is up to the politicians in Washington, but for now, keep your clocks set to UTC-8.
Check your local sunset times if you're planning a hike or a photoshoot; in mid-January, the light disappears much faster than you think. Keep an eye on the calendar for March 8, 2026, when the "spring forward" ritual returns.