London vs New York Time Difference
City Comparison
London is normally 5 hours ahead of New York. When it is noon in London it is 7:00 in the morning in New York. That gap holds for most of the year, but because the United Kingdom and the United States change their clocks on different dates, the difference briefly shrinks to 4 hours twice a year.
- London is usually 5 hours ahead of New York (London is the later clock).
- London runs on GMT (UTC+0) in winter and BST (UTC+1) in summer.
- New York runs on EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) in summer.
- For a few weeks in spring and again in autumn the gap is only 4 hours because the clocks change on different dates.
- The best window for a live call is the London afternoon, which is the New York morning.
What Is the Time Difference Between London and New York?
For roughly the whole year the answer is 5 hours, with London ahead. New York is in the Eastern Time zone and London is in the UK’s home zone, and both observe Daylight Saving Time, so when one springs forward the other usually does too — keeping the gap steady at 5 hours.
The exceptions come from timing. The US and UK do not move their clocks on the same weekend, so for a short stretch in March and another in late October to early November the difference falls to 4 hours. It is never 6 hours.
London and New York at a Glance
| City | Winter (standard) | Summer (DST) | Zone names |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | UTC+00:00 | UTC+01:00 | GMT / BST |
| New York | UTC−05:00 | UTC−04:00 | EST / EDT |
To see the live offset and whether Daylight Saving Time is currently in effect, open the London clock or New York clock on this site — the UTC offset is shown next to the clock.
What Time Is It in New York When It Is… in London?
Using the usual 5-hour difference, here is how a London day lines up with New York:
| London | New York |
|---|---|
| 06:00 (6:00 AM) | 01:00 (1:00 AM) |
| 09:00 (9:00 AM) | 04:00 (4:00 AM) |
| 12:00 (noon) | 07:00 (7:00 AM) |
| 14:00 (2:00 PM) | 09:00 (9:00 AM) |
| 17:00 (5:00 PM) | 12:00 (noon) |
| 20:00 (8:00 PM) | 15:00 (3:00 PM) |
| 23:00 (11:00 PM) | 18:00 (6:00 PM) |
Why the Gap Changes Twice a Year
Both cities use Daylight Saving Time, but they start and end it on different dates. The United States moves its clocks on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November. The United Kingdom moves its clocks on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October. Because those weekends do not match, there are two short windows when the cities are temporarily out of step:
- Mid-to-late March. New York springs forward first, so for the weeks between the second and last Sunday of March the difference is only 4 hours.
- Late October to early November. London falls back first, so between the last Sunday of October and the first Sunday of November the difference is again 4 hours.
| Period | London | New York | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most of the year | GMT / BST | EST / EDT | 5 hours |
| Mid–late March | GMT (UTC+0) | EDT (UTC−4) | 4 hours |
| Late Oct – early Nov | GMT (UTC+0) | EDT (UTC−4) | 4 hours |
If you are scheduling something during those weeks, it is worth double-checking the live offset rather than assuming 5 hours. For background on the clock changes themselves, see What Is Daylight Saving Time?
Best Time to Schedule a Call or Meeting
With New York 5 hours behind, the working days overlap in the middle of London’s afternoon and the start of New York’s day. A reliable window for a live conversation is roughly 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in London, which is 9:00 AM to noon in New York. That suits everyone: New Yorkers are freshly at their desks and Londoners have not yet finished for the day.
- 9:00 AM New York = 2:00 PM London — good for an early US start.
- 11:00 AM New York = 4:00 PM London — comfortable for both sides.
- 12:00 noon New York = 5:00 PM London — the latest easy slot before London logs off.
Avoid times before 8:00 AM New York, since that is already 1:00 PM in London and pushes into the UK evening as the call runs long. For a deeper look at coordinating across the Atlantic, see Best Time for Meetings Between Europe and USA.
Quick Mental Math
To convert in your head, remember that New York is 5 hours behind London:
- London time − 5 = New York time (most of the year).
- If the result is before midnight, New York is on the same calendar day; subtract from an evening London time and you may land on the previous day in New York.
- During the March and late-October windows, subtract 4 instead of 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is London ahead of or behind New York?
London is ahead. When New Yorkers are starting their morning, Londoners are already in the afternoon.
How many hours is London ahead of New York?
Normally 5 hours. For a few weeks in spring and again in autumn it is 4 hours, because the UK and US change their clocks on different dates.
When it is 12:00 noon in London, what time is it in New York?
7:00 in the morning, using the standard 5-hour difference.
Do London and New York ever have a 6-hour difference?
No. Because both cities observe Daylight Saving Time, the gap is either 5 hours or, briefly, 4 hours — never 6.
What is the best time to call between London and New York?
The London afternoon (about 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM), which is the New York morning (about 9:00 AM to noon). See How to Schedule Meetings Across Time Zones.