Time Difference Between China and United States
As of 31 August 2026, United States is 12 hours behind China. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, New York, United States ranges from 13 hours behind to 12 hours behind relative to Beijing, China. The calculator below is always up to date.
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Beijing, China
06:34
Tue, Sep 1, 2026
UTC+8 · Asia/Shanghai
New York, United States
-12h18:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC-4 · EDT · America/New_York
United States is 12 hours behind China.
When it is 06:34 in China, it is already the previous day in United States.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | Asia/Shanghai | UTC+8 | Not observed |
| United States | Monday, August 31, 2026 | EDTAmerica/New_York | UTC-4 | Active now |
China: China uses a single official time zone across the whole country.
United States: The United States spans six main time zones. This page uses Eastern Time; Pacific Time is 3 hours behind it.
Hour by hour: China to United States
Every hour of today in China and what it is in United States. Highlighted rows fall inside United States working hours (09:00–18:00).
| China | United States |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 12:00prev day |
| 01:00 | 13:00prev day |
| 02:00 | 14:00prev day |
| 03:00 | 15:00prev day |
| 04:00 | 16:00prev day |
| 05:00 | 17:00prev day |
| 06:00 | 18:00prev day |
| 07:00 | 19:00prev day |
| 08:00 | 20:00prev day |
| 09:00 | 21:00prev day |
| 10:00 | 22:00prev day |
| 11:00 | 23:00prev day |
| China | United States |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 00:00 |
| 13:00 | 01:00 |
| 14:00 | 02:00 |
| 15:00 | 03:00 |
| 16:00 | 04:00 |
| 17:00 | 05:00 |
| 18:00 | 06:00 |
| 19:00 | 07:00 |
| 20:00 | 08:00 |
| 21:00 | 09:00 |
| 22:00 | 10:00 |
| 23:00 | 11:00 |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
No overlap
Standard working hours in China and United States never overlap. Someone has to start early or finish late — the calling window below is the practical compromise.
Reasonable calling hours
08:00–09:00 in China (20:00–21:00 in United States)
Both people are awake and available between 08:00 and 21:00 local time during this window.
When this difference changes
United States puts its clocks back on Sunday, November 1, 2026
The local offset moves from UTC-4 to UTC-5. After that date, United States is 13 hours behind China — instead of 12 hours behind, as it is today.
Planning something with more than two places?
Adding a third city usually kills the obvious answer. The Meeting Time Finder takes up to five cities at once and shows only the hours that work for everybody.
China and United States: common questions
What is the time difference between China and United States?
As of 31 August 2026, United States is 12 hours behind China. The gap is not fixed: across the year, United States ranges from 13 hours behind to 12 hours behind relative to China, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in China, what time is it in United States?
It is 09:00 PM in New York, United States. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is United States ahead of or behind China?
United States is behind China by 12 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in United States starts and ends later in China terms.
Do China and United States observe daylight saving time?
United States changes its clocks twice a year; China does not. The difference therefore shifts by an hour when United States switches: across the year, United States ranges from 13 hours behind to 12 hours behind relative to China.
What is the best time to call United States from China?
Standard working hours in China and United States do not overlap at all, so one side has to take the call outside office hours. Early morning in China or late evening is usually the least disruptive option.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for Beijing, China (UTC+8) and New York, United States (UTC-4) were generated on Monday, August 31, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.