Time Zone Calculator · Practical guide
What Time Is 3PM EST in PST?
3:00 PM Eastern is 12:00 PM Pacific — Eastern time is always 3 hours ahead. Convert any time between the two zones above.
At a glance
The Answer
3:00 PM EST is 12:00 PM (noon) PST. Eastern Standard Time runs 3 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, so subtract 3 hours from any Eastern time to get the Pacific equivalent. Select EST and PST in the converter above for any other time.
Interactive tool
Time Zone Calculator
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
Results
EST to PST Reference Table
| EST | PST |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM |
| 3:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 12:00 AM | 9:00 PM (previous day) |
Why the Difference Is Three Hours
EST sits at UTC-5 and PST at UTC-8, and −5 − (−8) = 3 hours. New York, Boston, and Atlanta observe Eastern time; Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle observe Pacific time.
Daylight Saving Note
Both coasts spring forward and fall back on the same dates, so the gap stays 3 hours all year — it simply becomes EDT vs PDT in summer. This converter uses the fixed EST/PST offsets, which keeps conversions consistent year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EST always 3 hours ahead of PST?
Yes. Because both regions switch to daylight time on the same schedule, the difference remains 3 hours year-round — EDT versus PDT in summer.
What is 3 PM PST in EST?
6:00 PM EST. Going east you add the 3 hours instead of subtracting them.
Does this converter adjust for daylight saving time?
It uses fixed standard-time offsets (UTC-5 and UTC-8). During daylight saving, real clocks read one hour later on both coasts, but the 3-hour gap is unchanged.
What is the difference between EST and EDT?
EST is UTC-5, used in winter; EDT is UTC-4, used from March to November. Both are called Eastern time in everyday use.