What timezone does Boston use?

Boston, Massachusetts uses the America/New_York timezone. It observes Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March, and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) for the rest of the year.

Is Boston currently on EST or EDT?

This tool displays the current offset in real time. During daylight saving (mid-March to early November) Boston is on EDT (UTC-4). Outside those dates it is on EST (UTC-5).

Does Boston observe daylight saving time?

Yes. Massachusetts follows US federal DST rules — clocks spring forward one hour on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November.

How accurate is this clock?

The clock uses your device's system time combined with the browser Intl API for the America/New_York timezone. As long as your device clock is set correctly (most sync automatically via NTP), the displayed time will be accurate to the second.

What is the difference between Boston time and UTC?

Boston is UTC-5 during Eastern Standard Time (winter) and UTC-4 during Eastern Daylight Time (summer). For example, when it is noon UTC it is 7:00 AM EST or 8:00 AM EDT in Boston.

What cities are in the same timezone as Boston?

Boston shares the America/New_York timezone with New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, and Toronto (Canada). All observe the same EST/EDT transitions.

Current Time in Boston

See the current local time and date in Boston, Massachusetts, with live DST status and UTC offset.

Boston, Massachusetts

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EST / UTC-5 DST inactive

UTC / World Reference

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Timezone Details

IANA Timezone: America/New_York
Standard time: EST (UTC-5)
Daylight time: EDT (UTC-4)
Current offset: UTC-5

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Summary

This tool shows the exact current time and date in Boston, Massachusetts, updated live every second. Boston follows the America/New_York timezone, observing Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) in winter and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) during summer. The tool automatically reflects DST transitions so you always see the correct offset.

How it works

The page loads and reads your browser's Intl API using the America/New_York timezone.
A live clock ticks every second, displaying hours, minutes, and seconds.
The UTC offset is calculated and labeled EST or EDT depending on whether DST is active.
The full date — including day of week, month, and year — is shown below the clock.
A UTC comparison panel shows the equivalent UTC time alongside the Boston time.

Use cases

Schedule a call or meeting with someone located in Boston.
Check the time before calling a Boston-based business or office.
Convert your local time to Boston time when coordinating across time zones.
Verify whether Boston is currently on EST (UTC-5) or EDT (UTC-4).
Quickly reference Boston time from anywhere in the world.
Confirm DST status when planning travel or international deliveries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu