Daylight Saving Time
The clocks change twice a year moving from winter (standard) time to summer time and back. Find out when, and how Mexico time relates to the rest of the world...
Daylight saving time is observed in Mexico except in the state of Sonora. In most areas of Mexico, DST begins on the first Sunday in April at 02:00 (clocks go forward by one hour) and ends on the last Sunday of October at 02:00 (clocks go back by one hour). In some municipalities on the US border, DST begins at the same time as in the United States to facilitate commerce.
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).
Mexico uses three different time zones. The majority of the country uses Central Standard Time. Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sonora, Sinaloa and Baja California Sur use Mountain Standard Time. Pacific Standard Time is used in Baja California Norte.
- Reference map and chart of zone and up-to-date changes: WorldTimeZone.com
- The time right now: TimeAndDate.com
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 |
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 | |
Middle East
   |
||
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 |