AST to EST Converter

Category: Time Zone Converters

- July 01, 2025

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Atlantic Standard Time (AST)

UTC-4 • Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton

Conversion Settings

Configure your timezone conversion preferences

Auto Convert

Daylight Saving Aware

Show UTC Offset

Show Seconds

Eastern Standard Time (EST)

UTC-5 • New York, Toronto, Miami

--:--:--

Select a time to convert

Time Difference: --

UTC Offset (AST): -4

UTC Offset (EST): -5

DST Status: --

AST Time: --

EST Time: --

Time Format:

Current AST: --:--:--

Current EST: --:--:--

🇨🇦 AST is UTC-4 and observes daylight saving time (becomes ADT, UTC-3). EST is UTC-5 and observes daylight saving time (becomes EDT, UTC-4). AST is always 1 hour ahead of EST.

AST to EST Conversion Guide

What is AST to EST Conversion?

AST to EST conversion helps you translate time between Atlantic Standard Time and Eastern Standard Time zones. AST is UTC-4 during standard time and UTC-3 during daylight saving time (ADT). EST is UTC-5 during standard time and UTC-4 during daylight saving time (EDT). The time difference between these zones is consistently 1 hour, with AST being ahead.

Time Zone Information

Atlantic Standard Time (AST): Used in the Maritime provinces of Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island), parts of Quebec, and some Caribbean territories. UTC-4 standard, UTC-3 during daylight saving time.

Eastern Standard Time (EST): Used in eastern North America including most of Ontario, Quebec, and the eastern United States. UTC-5 standard, UTC-4 during daylight saving time.

Time Difference: AST is consistently 1 hour ahead of EST year-round. This relationship remains constant whether both zones are in standard or daylight time.

Daylight Saving Time Impact

Both zones observe DST: Both AST and EST regions typically observe daylight saving time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November

Spring Forward: AST becomes ADT (UTC-3), EST becomes EDT (UTC-4). The 1-hour difference is maintained.

Fall Back: Both zones return to standard time simultaneously, maintaining the 1-hour difference

Common Conversion Examples

Business Hours

AST 9:00 AM → EST 8:00 AM

AST 5:00 PM → EST 4:00 PM

Good overlap for business meetings

Meeting Planning

Best AST Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Converts to EST: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Excellent business hours overlap

Travel Planning

AST Departure: 2:00 PM

EST Arrival: 1:00 PM (same day)

Easy to calculate flight times

Event Scheduling

AST Midnight: 11:00 PM EST (previous day)

AST Noon: 11:00 AM EST

Consistent 1-hour difference

Conversion Tips & Best Practices

• Simple conversion: subtract 1 hour from AST time to get EST time

• Both zones typically observe daylight saving time simultaneously

• Business hours overlap well between Maritime Canada and eastern US/central Canada

• Some Caribbean territories in AST zone may not observe daylight saving time

• Parts of Quebec and Labrador use AST despite being geographically in EST region

• Always verify DST observance for specific locations when scheduling important events

Convert Between AST and EST

If you’re working across Atlantic and Eastern time zones, this calculator takes out the guesswork. Whether you’re scheduling calls between New Brunswick and New York or planning travel across Canada’s time zones, having a fast, reliable time converter saves more than just minutes. Here’s a snapshot of where each timezone applies around the world:

Atlantic Standard Time (AST) 🇨🇦	Eastern Standard Time (EST) 🇺🇸
🇨🇦 Canada (Nova Scotia) 🇨🇦 Canada (New Brunswick) 🇨🇦 Canada (Prince Edward Island) 🇨🇦 Canada (parts of Labrador) 🇩🇲 Dominica 🇬🇩 Grenada 🇬🇵 Guadeloupe (France) 🇭🇹 Haiti 🇲🇶 Martinique (France) 🇲🇸 Montserrat (UK) 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 🇧🇶 Sint Eustatius (Netherlands) 🇧🇶 Saba (Netherlands) 🇻🇮 US Virgin Islands	🇨🇦 Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba - partial) 🇺🇸 United States (New York, Florida, Georgia, etc.) 🇧🇸 Bahamas 🇯🇲 Jamaica 🇰🇾 Cayman Islands 🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands 🇭🇳 Honduras 🇵🇦 Panama 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇵🇪 Peru 🇪🇨 Ecuador (mainland) 🇲🇽 Mexico (Quintana Roo)

Atlantic Standard Time (AST) 🇨🇦

Eastern Standard Time (EST) 🇺🇸

🇨🇦 Canada (Nova Scotia)

🇨🇦 Canada (New Brunswick)

🇨🇦 Canada (Prince Edward Island)

🇨🇦 Canada (parts of Labrador)

🇩🇲 Dominica

🇬🇩 Grenada

🇬🇵 Guadeloupe (France)

🇭🇹 Haiti

🇲🇶 Martinique (France)

🇲🇸 Montserrat (UK)

🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis

🇱🇨 Saint Lucia

🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

🇧🇶 Sint Eustatius (Netherlands)

🇧🇶 Saba (Netherlands)

🇻🇮 US Virgin Islands

🇨🇦 Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba - partial)

🇺🇸 United States (New York, Florida, Georgia, etc.)

🇧🇸 Bahamas

🇯🇲 Jamaica

🇰🇾 Cayman Islands

🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands

🇭🇳 Honduras

🇵🇦 Panama

🇨🇴 Colombia

🇵🇪 Peru

🇪🇨 Ecuador (mainland)

🇲🇽 Mexico (Quintana Roo)

Why this AST to EST converter makes life easier

Time conversion between Atlantic Standard Time (AST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) might sound simple at first glance. One hour apart, both follow daylight saving time. But depending on the season and where you are, things can get complicated fast. This tool simplifies that entirely. Whether you're dealing with daylight saving, crossing borders, or setting a meeting between Halifax and Miami, this calculator keeps everything accurate.

Using the converter is quick and clear

1. Set the date and time

Pick any date using the calendar and add your time using the dropdown input. The default starts in AST, but you can change this to EST if needed.

2. Choose your input zone

The dropdown lets you decide whether you're starting from AST or EST. Select the one you're working with.

3. Let it auto-convert or hit the button

With Auto Convert turned on, results appear as soon as you change anything. Prefer more control? Turn it off and click the "Convert Time" button when you're ready.

4. Swap directions anytime

Need to reverse the conversion? Click “Swap” to flip AST and EST instantly without re-entering any values.

5. Use the “Now” button for live comparisons

Click “Now” to input the current time in your selected zone. It's perfect for real-time scheduling.

6. Reset to start fresh

The “Reset” button wipes everything and puts the clock back to the current AST time.

Settings that give you extra control

Daylight Saving Aware: Enabled by default. Keeps the calculation aligned with seasonal changes.
Show Seconds: Displays the time down to the second. Handy for time-sensitive planning.
Show UTC Offset: Adds the numeric offset for clarity if you’re coordinating internationally.
12 Hour / 24 Hour Toggle: Prefer military time? You can switch with one click.

A practical example from the Caribbean to Canada

Imagine you're in Saint Kitts 🇰🇳 (AST) planning a conference call with a team in Chicago 🇺🇸 (EST). You want it to start at 2 PM your time. Pop that into the converter, and you’ll see it translates to 1 PM in EST. Simple. No mistakes, no missed meetings.

What the tool shows beyond just the time

Once you convert, the tool also displays:

Formatted date and time in both AST and EST, labeled clearly
Time difference (always 1 hour between the zones)
Daylight Saving status for both time zones, so you don’t get caught off guard in March or November
Live clocks for both zones updating every second at the bottom of the display

If something doesn’t work right, here’s what to check

Double-check your date and time inputs. Leaving one blank disables conversion.
If auto-convert is off, remember to click the “Convert Time” button.
Daylight saving handling depends on the checkbox. If things look off, try toggling it.
Not seeing seconds? Make sure “Show Seconds” is turned on.

Keep meetings aligned from coast to coast

This AST to EST time converter is built to help you move quickly without second-guessing. From Nova Scotia to New York, from Caribbean islands to Ontario's border towns, time coordination is cleaner when the details are handled for you. No math, no surprises. Just the right time, wherever you are.