AKDT — Alaska Daylight Time
Daylight variant of AKST — UTC-8.
AKDT stands for Alaska Daylight Time. Daylight variant of AKST — UTC-8.
AKDT is UTC-08:00 from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The primary IANA zone is America/Anchorage.
AKDT is a daylight-saving time abbreviation. It is used when clocks are advanced from AKST (UTC-09:00) during summer months.
Standard / daylight pair
AKST · UTC−9 — November–March in the US
Countries using this zone
- United States
Principal cities
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Juneau
- Sitka
- Ketchikan
- Wasilla
- Kenai
- Kodiak
History
Alaska consolidated its time zones in October 1983, moving from four distinct zones to just two to improve state-wide synchronization. Previously, the capital Juneau was in the same zone as Seattle, while Anchorage was 2 hours behind. This change placed 99% of the state in the same time zone used today.
Frequently Asked Questions
AKDT — Alaska Daylight Time. Daylight variant of AKST — UTC-8.
AKDT is UTC-08:00. It is paired with AKST (UTC-09:00).
Countries and territories primarily using AKDT include: US.
AKDT IS the daylight-saving variant. Zones shift from AKST to AKDT at the start of summer and back to AKST at the end.
AKDT is the summer (daylight-saving) abbreviation and AKST is the winter (standard) abbreviation. AKDT is one hour ahead of AKST.
The primary IANA time zone representing AKDT is America/Anchorage. Operating systems and programming libraries use this identifier to resolve local time.
Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) is a North American time zone used in most of Alaska during the summer months. It is 8 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC−8). Current data indicates that this zone covers nearly 99% of Alaska's population, providing extended daylight in the evenings for residents. It remains active from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.
The primary difference between Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is the 1 hour shift for daylight saving. AKDT is UTC−8 and is used during the summer, while AKST is UTC−9 and is used during the winter. This seasonal adjustment follows the standard North American schedule to maximize evening light. It ensures better synchronization with the rest of the continent.
Alaska transitions from standard time to Alaska Daylight Time on the second Sunday of March around 2 AM local time. The clocks return to Alaska Standard Time on the first Sunday of November around 2 AM local time. This transition is synchronized with most of the United States and Canada to maintain consistency in travel. Many northern communities benefit from the late sunset during these months.
No, not all of Alaska follows Alaska Daylight Time. While the vast majority of the state uses AKDT, the Aleutian Islands located west of 169.5 degrees west longitude follow Hawaii-Aleutian Daylight Time (HDT). This westernmost region remains 1 hour behind the rest of the state, maintaining an offset of UTC−9 during the summer. This geographic split accommodates the extreme width of the state.
Major urban centers in Alaska Daylight Time include Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Sitka. These cities and their surrounding boroughs account for most of the state's economic activity and population. Current estimates show that Anchorage is the largest city in this zone, serving as a primary hub for transportation. Other notable towns include Ketchikan and Wasilla.
There have been various legislative proposals to move Alaska to permanent daylight saving time, but no such change has been enacted into federal law. Under current regulations, the state continues to switch between AKDT and AKST twice every year. Any permanent shift would require approval from the United States Department of Transportation. Until then, the biannual clock change remains standard practice.