Daylight Saving Time (DST)

The clocks change twice a year moving from winter (standard) time to summer time and back. Find out when, and how French time relates to the rest of the world...

In 1996 the European Union (EU) standardised an EU-wide Summertime, or Daylight Saving Time (DST). The EU's version of Daylight Savings runs from the last Sunday in March through to the last Sunday in October.
  • Clocks go forward by one hour in March
  • Clocks go back one hour in October
If dealing with other countries, it can be helpful to know how the different varieties of DST (for those countries that use the system) map on to each other. Most countries adjust their clocks at some time between midnight and 03:00; in the EU, clocks change at 01:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Note: Many countries and territories change days of transitions to DST from year to year and some do not employ it every year.
Continent Country Beginning and ending days
Europe           European Union and rest of Europe (except Iceland) Start: 02:00 last Sunday in March End: 02:00 last Sunday in October
Greenland (regional; changes annually) Start: 22:00 mid to late March End: 22:00 last Saturday in October or first Sunday in November (depending on location)
North & Central America       United States (except Arizona and Hawaii), Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, St-Pierre, Miquelon, Turks and Caicos Start: 02:00 second Sunday in March End: 02:00 first Sunday in November
Mexico (except Sonora) Start: 02:00 first Sunday in April End: 02:00 last Sunday in October
Cuba (subject to change) Start: 00:00 mid to late March End: 01:00 end of October
South America Brazil (some states): Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Parana, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goias, Matto Grosso, Matto Grosso do Sul, Distrito Federal Start: 00:00 on third Sunday in October End: 00:00 on third Sunday in February
Chile Start: 00:00 between August and October End: 00:00 between March and May
Falkland Islands Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September End: 02:00 third Sunday in April
Paraguay Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October End: 00:00 second Sunday in March
Uruguay Start: 00:00 third Sunday in October End: 00:00 second Sunday in March
Africa
Namibia Start: 02:00 first Sunday in September End: 02:00 first Sunday in April
Tunisia Changes annually; DST may not be observed
Asia            
Israel (changes annually) End: September or October Start: March or April
Lebanon Start: Last Sunday in March End: Last Sunday in October
Syria (may change annually) Start: First Friday in April End: last Thursday in October
Australasia Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, Lord Howe Island Start: 03:00 first Sunday in October End: 03:00 first Sunday in April
New Zealand, Chatham Island Start: 03:00 last Sunday in September End: 03:00 first Sunday in April

Related Information

  • For general information on the history of Daylight Saving Time see website WebExhibits.org
  • For information on Daylight Saving Time around the world, see Time and Date.com