Current Time in Ohio

Eastern Time (ET) · EST (UTC−5) in winter · EDT (UTC−4) during Daylight Saving Time

Current Time in Ohio
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EST · UTC-5Eastern TimeThe Buckeye State

Ohio Time Facts

Time Zone
ET — Eastern Time (UTC-5/UTC-4)
DST Rule
2nd Sunday Mar → 1st Sunday Nov
IANA Identifier
America/New_York
Population
~11.8 million — 7th largest US state
Aviation Birthplace
Wright Brothers from Dayton, Ohio
Famous For
7 US Presidents, Rock Hall of Fame, football

Ohio — Where Eastern Time Meets the Midwest

Ohio sits on the western edge of the Eastern Time zone — geographically, it's very close to the ET/CT boundary. This means Ohio gets later sunsets than eastern ET states like Massachusetts. In summer, Cincinnati doesn't see sunset until nearly 9:10 PM EDT, while Boston's last light is at 8:25 PM.

7 US Presidents were born in Ohio — more than any state except Virginia. The state is also the ultimate swing state in elections: no Republican has ever won the presidency without winning Ohio. Election night coverage focuses heavily on Ohio results, typically announced on ET.

The Wright Brothers built and tested their aircraft in Dayton, Ohio before their famous first flight at Kitty Hawk. Ohio is also home to NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and produced more astronauts than any other state — including John Glenn and Neil Armstrong.

Major Ohio Cities — All on ET

Columbus
Pop. 905K
State capital, Ohio State, fastest growing
Cleveland
Pop. 370K
Rock Hall of Fame, Clinic, Lake Erie
Cincinnati
Pop. 310K
P&G HQ, chili, Ohio River
Toledo
Pop. 270K
Glass City, auto industry
Dayton
Pop. 137K
Wright Brothers, aviation birthplace
Akron
Pop. 190K
Rubber capital, Goodyear, LeBron

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in Ohio right now?
Ohio uses Eastern Time — EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) during Daylight Saving Time. All cities in Ohio — Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron, Toledo, and Dayton — are on the same time zone. The live clock above shows the current time in Ohio.
What time zone is Ohio in?
Ohio is in the Eastern Time Zone. In winter, Ohio uses Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5). During Daylight Saving Time (March–November), Ohio uses Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4). The IANA identifier is America/New_York. Ohio shares Eastern Time with New York, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and most of the eastern United States.
What is the time difference between Ohio and California?
Ohio (Eastern Time) is always 3 hours ahead of California (Pacific Time). When it is 9:00 AM in Los Angeles, it is 12:00 PM (noon) in Columbus. Both states switch to Daylight Saving Time on the same dates, so the 3-hour gap is constant year-round.
What is the time difference between Ohio and Chicago?
Ohio (Eastern Time) is always 1 hour ahead of Chicago (Central Time). When it is 9:00 AM in Chicago, it is 10:00 AM in Columbus or Cleveland. Both switch to Daylight Saving Time on the same dates, so this 1-hour gap is constant year-round.
Does Ohio observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. Ohio observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks spring forward 1 hour on the second Sunday of March (EST to EDT) and fall back on the first Sunday of November (EDT to EST). As of 2026, Ohio continues to observe DST in line with federal US timekeeping rules.
What is the time difference between Ohio and London?
Columbus (EST, UTC−5) is 5 hours behind London (GMT, UTC+0) in winter. During both US and UK Daylight Saving Time, Columbus (EDT, UTC−4) is typically 5–6 hours behind London (BST, UTC+1), depending on the brief transition periods in spring and autumn when the two regions change clocks on slightly different dates.
Is Ohio on Eastern or Central Time?
Ohio is entirely on Eastern Time (EST/EDT). No part of Ohio uses Central Time. Ohio borders Indiana (which mostly uses Eastern Time) and Michigan (also Eastern Time). Despite Ohio's position in the Midwest, the entire state has been on Eastern Time since 1883.

Related Time Pages

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Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. Ohio: America/New_York (EST UTC−5 / EDT UTC−4).