GMT to EST Converter

Greenwich Mean Time → Eastern Standard Time · GMT is 5 hours ahead of EST

GMT
—
EST
—

GMT and EST are the same time

GMT to EST Conversion Table

GMTEST
12:00 AM12:00 AM
1:00 AM1:00 AM
2:00 AM2:00 AM
3:00 AM3:00 AM
4:00 AM4:00 AM
5:00 AM5:00 AM
6:00 AM6:00 AM
7:00 AM7:00 AM
8:00 AM8:00 AM
9:00 AM9:00 AM
10:00 AM10:00 AM
11:00 AM11:00 AM
12:00 PM12:00 PM
1:00 PM1:00 PM
2:00 PM2:00 PM
3:00 PM3:00 PM
4:00 PM4:00 PM
5:00 PM5:00 PM
6:00 PM6:00 PM
7:00 PM7:00 PM
8:00 PM8:00 PM
9:00 PM9:00 PM
10:00 PM10:00 PM
11:00 PM11:00 PM

Green rows = business hours overlap (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM GMT)

Major GMT Cities
  • London
  • Dublin
  • Lisbon
  • Reykjavik
  • Accra
  • Abidjan
Major EST Cities
  • New York, NY
  • Miami, FL
  • Boston, MA
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Washington D.C.
  • Toronto, Canada
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GMT vs EST — What You Need to Know

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is UTC+0. It is the standard time used in the UK during winter, as well as in Ireland, Portugal, and parts of West Africa. The UK switches to BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) during summer.

Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC-5. It covers the US East Coast including New York, Boston, Miami, and Washington D.C. During summer, it shifts to EDT (UTC-4).

The standard difference is 5 hours. However, a unique complication arises around DST: the US and UK switch clocks on different dates in March and October/November, creating short windows where the difference is only 4 hours.

Watch out in 2026:
  • March 8–29, 2026: US switches to EDT before UK switches to BST → 4-hour gap
  • March 29 – November 1, 2026: Both on summer time → 5-hour gap
  • October 25 – November 1, 2026: UK switches back before US → 4-hour gap
  • After November 1, 2026: Both on standard time → 5-hour gap

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours ahead is GMT compared to EST?

GMT (UTC+0) is 5 hours ahead of EST (UTC-5) during standard time. However, during Daylight Saving Time, the US switches to EDT (UTC-4) and the UK switches to BST (UTC+1), so the difference changes. When both observe summer time simultaneously, the difference is still 5 hours. But there is a 3-week window in March (US switches first) and a 1-week window in October/November (UK switches first) where the difference is only 4 hours.

When it is 9:00 AM GMT, what time is it EST?

When it is 9:00 AM GMT, it is 4:00 AM EST (during standard time) or 5:00 AM EDT (during US daylight saving time). For a call at 9 AM London time, New York would typically be waking up.

What is the best time to call between UK (GMT) and New York (EST)?

The best overlap for UK-to-New York calls is 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM GMT (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST during standard time). London business hours end at 6 PM GMT, which is only 1 PM EST — giving a limited 4-hour overlap window.

Is GMT the same as UTC?

GMT and UTC are effectively the same for everyday timekeeping purposes, both at UTC+0. The difference is technical: UTC is an atomic time standard while GMT is a timezone. In common usage, GMT and UTC are interchangeable. London is in GMT during winter and BST (UTC+1) during summer.

Does the GMT to EST difference change during Daylight Saving Time?

Yes, unlike US timezone pairs, the GMT-to-EST gap can change. In March, the US switches to EDT 3 weeks before the UK switches to BST, creating a temporary 4-hour difference. In October/November, the UK switches back to GMT 1 week before the US switches back to EST, again creating a 4-hour window.