Current Time in Brazil

Brasília Time (BRT) · UTC−3 · No Daylight Saving Time since 2019

Brasília · BRT · UTC−3
--:--:--
Manaus · AMT · UTC−4
--:--:--
Acre · ACT · UTC−5
--:--:--
 
4 Time ZonesNo DST since 2019215M People

Brazil's 4 Time Zones

ZoneUTC OffsetAbbreviationCoverage
Fernando de NoronhaUTC−2FNTAtlantic islands only
BrasíliaUTC−3BRTSão Paulo, Rio, Brasília, most of country
AmazonUTC−4AMTManaus, Amazonas, Mato Grosso
AcreUTC−5ACTAcre state, western Amazonas

Brazil Time Facts

Number of Time Zones
4 (UTC−2 to UTC−5)
Reference Zone
Brasília Time (BRT, UTC−3)
DST Status
Abolished in 2019 by Bolsonaro
IANA Identifier
America/Sao_Paulo (main)
Population
~215 million (6th largest)
Same Offset As
Argentina, Uruguay (UTC−3)

Brazil Time vs World (Bras\u00edlia BRT)

Since 2019, Brazil no longer observes DST. Differences change only when other countries shift their clocks.

LocationTheir WinterTheir Summer
New York (ET)Brazil +2 hrsBrazil +1 hr
Los Angeles (PT)Brazil +5 hrsBrazil +4 hrs
London (GMT/BST)Brazil −3 hrsBrazil −4 hrs
Berlin (CET/CEST)Brazil −4 hrsBrazil −5 hrs
India (IST)Brazil −8:30Brazil −8:30
Japan (JST)Brazil −12 hrsBrazil −12 hrs
Sydney (AET)Brazil −14 hrsBrazil −13 hrs

Why Did Brazil Abolish DST?

In April 2019, President Bolsonaro signed a decree ending daylight saving time in Brazil. The decision was backed by a government study showing DST no longer saved significant energy — the original justification from the 1930s.

Brazil's energy matrix had shifted: hydroelectric power dominated, and air conditioning (not lighting) became the peak load. A public poll showed 73% of Brazilians supported ending DST, citing disrupted sleep and confusion.

Before 2019, only southern and southeastern states observed DST (S\u00e3o Paulo, Rio, Bras\u00edlia). Northern tropical states near the equator never participated, as daylight hours barely change year-round.

Major Brazilian Cities

São Paulo
Pop. 22M metro
Financial capital, BRT (UTC−3)
Rio de Janeiro
Pop. 13M metro
Cultural icon, BRT (UTC−3)
Brasília
Pop. 4.8M metro
Federal capital, BRT (UTC−3)
Manaus
Pop. 2.2M
Amazon gateway, AMT (UTC−4)
Salvador
Pop. 4M metro
Northeast hub, BRT (UTC−3)
Fortaleza
Pop. 4.1M metro
Coastal northeast, BRT (UTC−3)

Brazil Quick Facts

🏛️ Capital City
Brasília
👥 Population
214M
💰 Currency
R$ Brazilian Real
📞 Phone Code
+55
🕐 UTC Offset
UTC-3
🔄 Daylight Saving Time
No — fixed offset
🗣️ Official Languages
Portuguese

Current Time Across Brazil

City / RegionTime ZoneCurrent Time
São PauloSao Paulo--:--
SalvadorBahia--:--
FortalezaFortaleza--:--
RecifeRecife--:--
ManausManaus--:--
Campo GrandeCampo Grande--:--
CuiabáCuiaba--:--

Brazil Time Difference

Brazil vs New YorkBrazil vs London
CityLocal TimeDifference
New York--:--Same time
London--:--Same time
Toronto--:--Same time
Miami--:--Same time
Los Angeles--:--Same time
Mexico City--:--Same time
Madrid--:--Same time
Paris--:--Same time
Berlin--:--Same time
Dubai--:--Same time
Tokyo--:--Same time
Sydney--:--Same time
São Paulo--:--Same time
Singapore--:--Same time

📞 Best Time to Call Brazil

Target 9 AM – 5 PM Brazil local time for business calls. Brazil shares time zones with much of the Americas, making scheduling straightforward. European callers should target their early afternoon (1–4 PM local) to reach Brazil during morning business hours.

✈️ Time-Related Travel Tips for Brazil

Brazil is well-connected with flights from major global hubs. Time zone differences within the Americas are generally manageable. Remember that Portuguese is the primary language. Business culture may include longer lunch breaks.

💡 Interesting Facts About Time in Brazil

  • Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines — they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
  • The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.

About Time in Brazil

Brazil uses 3 time zones. This makes it important to confirm the specific zone to coordinate times across the country.

The capital city Brasília serves as the political and often economic center of Brazil. Major business activities are spread across cities including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador.

When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in Brazil, it's important to consider the time difference. BRT (UTC-3) is the most commonly referenced time zone for Brazil.

Brazil uses the Brazilian Real (R$) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +55. Official languages include Portuguese.

View all 29 cities with live local times →

🌍 Other Countries in Americas

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in Brazil right now?
Most of Brazil, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília, uses Brasília Time (BRT), which is UTC−3. The live clock at the top of this page shows the exact current time in Brazil.
How many time zones does Brazil have?
Brazil has four official time zones: BRT (UTC−3) covering most states including São Paulo, Rio, and Brasília; AMT (UTC−4) covering Amazon states like Manaus and Mato Grosso; ACT (UTC−5) covering the state of Acre and southwest Amazonas; and FNT (UTC−2) used only by the Fernando de Noronha island territory.
Does Brazil observe Daylight Saving Time (DST)?
No. Brazil abolished Daylight Saving Time in 2019 under a decree by President Bolsonaro. Before that, southern states (including São Paulo and Rio) used to advance clocks by one hour during the Southern Hemisphere summer (October–February). Since 2019, Brazil's time zones are fixed year-round.
What is São Paulo's time zone?
São Paulo uses Brasília Time (BRT), which is UTC−3. The IANA time zone identifier is America/Sao_Paulo. São Paulo shares this time zone with Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Salvador, and most other major Brazilian cities.
What is the time difference between Brazil and the US?
São Paulo (BRT, UTC−3) is 2 hours ahead of New York (EST, UTC−5) and 5 hours ahead of Los Angeles (PST, UTC−8). During US daylight saving time (EDT, UTC−4), São Paulo is 1 hour ahead of New York. During PDT, São Paulo is 4 hours ahead of Los Angeles.
What is the time difference between Brazil and the UK?
São Paulo (BRT, UTC−3) is 3 hours behind London (GMT, UTC+0). During British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1), São Paulo is 4 hours behind London. When it is 12:00 PM in São Paulo, it is 3:00 PM in London (winter) or 4:00 PM (summer).
What is the best time to call Brazil from the US?
From US Eastern time (EST), the best window to reach Brazil during business hours is 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST, which corresponds to 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM BRT in São Paulo. From US Pacific time (PST), try 4:00 AM to 9:00 AM PST for the same São Paulo morning window.
What UTC offset is Brazil?
Brazil's main time zone is BRT (Brasília Time) at UTC−3, covering São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and most of the country. The Amazon region uses UTC−4, the state of Acre uses UTC−5, and Fernando de Noronha island uses UTC−2.
Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. Brazil main zone: America/Sao_Paulo (BRT, UTC−3). DST abolished April 2019.