GMT — Greenwich Mean Time

UTC+0 · Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London · UK uses GMT in winter

GMT — Greenwich Mean Time
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GMT+0No DST — Always GMT+0UK uses BST in summer

GMT Facts

UTC Offset
UTC+0 / GMT+0
Abbreviation
GMT
Full Name
Greenwich Mean Time
Daylight Saving
None — GMT never changes
Named After
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
Also known as
UTC, Zulu Time (Z)

GMT vs Major Time Zones

GMT is always UTC+0. Other time zones shift relative to GMT — especially US zones that observe Daylight Saving Time.

Time ZoneOffset from GMTDifference
EST (New York, winter)GMT-55 hrs behind GMT
EDT (New York, summer)GMT-44 hrs behind GMT
CST (Chicago, winter)GMT-66 hrs behind GMT
PST (Los Angeles, winter)GMT-88 hrs behind GMT
BST (UK, summer)GMT+11 hrs ahead of GMT
CET (Paris, winter)GMT+11 hrs ahead of GMT
IST (India)GMT+5:305:30 hrs ahead of GMT
JST (Tokyo)GMT+99 hrs ahead of GMT

Is GMT 4 or 5 Hours Ahead of EST?

GMT is 5 hours ahead of EST and 4 hours ahead of EDT. GMT itself never changes — it is always UTC+0. The difference depends on the US East Coast.

During winter (November–March), the US East Coast observes EST (UTC-5) — so GMT is 5 hours ahead.

During summer (March–November), Daylight Saving Time activates and the East Coast switches to EDT (UTC-4) — so GMT is only 4 hours ahead.

Note: The UK observes BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. During BST, the UK clock is 1 hour ahead of GMT.

Which Countries Use GMT Year-Round?

These countries observe GMT (UTC+0) permanently — they do not switch to summer time:

Iceland
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Senegal
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Gambia
Sierra Leone
Liberia
Togo
Burkina Faso
São Tomé & Príncipe

The United Kingdom observes GMT in winter (October–March) but switches to BST (UTC+1) during Daylight Saving Time in summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GMT 4 or 5 hours ahead of EST?
GMT is 5 hours ahead of EST (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5) during winter. GMT is 4 hours ahead of EDT (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4) during summer when the US East Coast observes Daylight Saving Time. GMT itself is always UTC+0 — it does not change. The variation comes from the US East Coast switching between EST (UTC-5) in winter and EDT (UTC-4) in summer.
What is GMT time in the USA?
The USA spans multiple time zones, all behind GMT. In winter: Eastern Time (EST) is GMT-5, Central Time (CST) is GMT-6, Mountain Time (MST) is GMT-7, Pacific Time (PST) is GMT-8. During Daylight Saving Time (summer): these become EDT (GMT-4), CDT (GMT-5), MDT (GMT-6), PDT (GMT-7). To convert GMT to US time, subtract the appropriate number of hours.
Which countries use GMT?
Countries that use GMT (UTC+0) year-round include Iceland, Ghana, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Burkina Faso, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The United Kingdom observes GMT in winter (October–March) but switches to BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) during Daylight Saving Time.
What is the difference between GMT and UTC?
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) are both at UTC+0/GMT+0. The difference is technical: GMT is based on solar observation at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. UTC is based on atomic clocks maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. In practice they differ by less than 0.9 seconds. For everyday use, GMT and UTC are interchangeable.
Is EST five hours behind GMT?
Yes. EST (Eastern Standard Time) is exactly 5 hours behind GMT/UTC. When it is 12:00 PM GMT, it is 7:00 AM EST. During Daylight Saving Time, the East Coast switches to EDT (UTC-4), which is only 4 hours behind GMT. The UK also observes Daylight Saving Time — during BST (UTC+1) in summer, the UK is 5 hours ahead of EDT rather than 4.
GMT data sourced from IANA Time Zone Database (Etc/GMT). Greenwich Mean Time is UTC+0. The UK observes BST (UTC+1) during Daylight Saving Time (last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).