East Coast vs. West Coast Time: Key Differences & Business Impact
East Coast Time (EST/EDT) is UTC-5/-4; West Coast Time (PST/PDT) is UTC-8/-7. The coasts are always three hours apart.
People confuse them because calendars auto-switch labels and daylight-saving updates hit at 2 a.m. local time, so a 9 a.m. East meeting looks like 6 a.m. to groggy West Coast teammates.
Key Differences
East Coast leads markets: NYSE opens 9:30 a.m. EST, NASDAQ follows. West Coast tech giants (Apple, Google) start trading pre-market at 6:30 a.m. PST. Deadlines, earnings calls, and media drops ride the earlier clock.
Which One Should You Choose?
If your clients or investors cluster on the Atlantic, set meetings to 10–12 p.m. EST. Pacific-heavy teams favor 1–3 p.m. PST, giving East Coast partners a civil 4–6 p.m. window.
What happens if I schedule a 9 a.m. EST stand-up?
West Coast colleagues join at 6 a.m. PST—expect muted cameras and coffee in pajamas.
Does daylight saving shift the gap?
No. Both coasts spring forward and fall back together, so the three-hour spread stays constant.