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.

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