Anchorage Time Zone Basics

Anchorage runs on Alaska Standard Time (AKST) during most of the year, which is UTC-9 hours. But like most of the US, we spring forward to Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) in the spring, shifting to UTC-8. That means from mid-March to early November, our clocks are an hour ahead—so the sun stays out way later in summer. In 2026, DST starts on March 8 (clocks jump ahead 1 hour at 2:00 AM local time) and ends on November 1 (fall back at 2:00 AM to 1:00 AM).

The switch can trip up travelers, especially since Alaska's daylight patterns are already extreme—summer brings nearly 19 hours of sun in Anchorage, so the extra hour pushes sunset past 10 PM. Just remember: if you're here in July, don't be surprised by the midnight glow.

Calling Across Time Zones

For international calls, timing matters. Let's break it down for 2026 standard time (AKST, November–March):

  • London (UTC+0): Anchorage is 9 hours behind London. So 9 AM in Anchorage is 6 PM in London—good for a late-afternoon chat if you're starting work.
  • New York (UTC-5): Anchorage is 4 hours behind New York. That 10 AM meeting in Anchorage? It's 2 PM there—solid overlap.
  • Tokyo (UTC+9): Anchorage is 18 hours behind Tokyo. Yep, if it's noon here, it's 6 AM the next day in Tokyo. Best to call early morning Anchorage (like 7 AM) to catch evening in Tokyo.
  • Sydney (UTC+11): Anchorage is 20 hours behind Sydney. Midday here is 8 AM the next day there—tricky. Aim for late evening Anchorage (10 PM) to catch Sydney's morning.

During DST (March–November), offsets shrink by an hour: London becomes UTC+1, New York stays UTC-4, etc. So Anchorage is 8 hours behind London then, not 9.

Business Hours Overlap

Anchorage's business day (9 AM–5 PM AKST) overlaps with New York's morning (1 PM–9 PM EST) and London's afternoon (6 PM–2 AM GMT). For Tokyo (next day) and Sydney (next day), you'll need to work early or late. During DST, the overlap with New York improves—9 AM AKDT is 1 PM EDT, so your whole day lines up with their afternoon.

A Quirky Time Fact

Anchorage is one of the few US cities where the sun can set after 11 PM in June—thanks to DST and our high latitude. In fact, on the summer solstice, the sun sets around 11:41 PM and rises again just 3 hours later. So if you're visiting, don't be shocked if you're having a midnight picnic in broad daylight.