Main Difference – PST vs EST
PST and EST are two time zones that affect the American continent. PST stands for Pacific Standard Time whereas EST stands for Eastern Standard Time. The main difference between PST and EST is that PST is 8 hours behind the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) whereas EST is 5 hours behind the UTC.
This article explains,
1. What is PST (Pacific Standard Time)?
– Definition, Offset Time, Regions under PST Time Zone
2. What is EST (Eastern Standard Time)?
– Definition, Offset Time, Regions under EST Time Zone
3. What is the difference between EST and EST?
What is PST
PST is also known as Pacific Standard Time or Pacific Time. This time zone is 8 hours behind the Coordinated Universal Time – UTC. This is also indicated as UTC -8. Time in this zone is calculated using the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. PST is used during the standard time in some parts of North America. It is typically used during winter because PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) is used during the summer since some areas use daylight saving time. During PDT, the time offset of this zone is UTC-7.
PST = UTC – 8
PDT = UTC – 7
The following regions or areas use the Pacific Standard Time:
Regions in USA under PST Time Zone
California
Washington
Nevada
Oregon (except Malheur county)
Idaho Panhandle
Regions in Canada under PST Time Zone
British Columbia (except some eastern communities)
Yukon
Tungsten
Northwest Territories
Areas in Mexico under PST Time Zone
Baja California
There are some other time zones that have the same offset time as PST but have different names. These time zones are
U – Uniform Time Zone
AKDT – Alaska Daylight Time
PST – Pitcairn Standard Time
Pacific Time Zone is in Red
What is EST
EST, Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Time is 5 hours behind the UCT (Coordinated Universal Time). The time offset of EST is UTC-5. EST is used during the standard time in some areas of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
EST = UTC – 5
The following regions or areas use the Eastern Standard Time:
Regions in USA under EST Time Zone
District of Columbia
17 states in including Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Delaware, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina.
Some parts of Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Tennessee.
Regions in Canada under EST Time Zone
Most parts of Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut
Areas in Mexico under EST Time Zone
Quintana Roo
Areas in Caribbean under EST Time Zone
Bahamas
Haiti
Jamaica
Areas in Central America under EST Time Zone
Panama
Colombia
Ecuador (except for Galápagos Islands)
Peru
Some regions observe daylight saving time during the summer, and therefore EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) is used in the summer. EDT is 4 hours behind the Coordinated Universal Time. However, some places such as Quintana Roo, Jamaica, Panama, Southampton Island in Nunavut use EST throughout the year.
Difference Between EDT and EST
There are some other time zones that have the same offset time as EST but have different names. These time zones are
NAEST – North American Eastern Standard Time
ACT – Acre Time
CDT – Central Daylight Time
CST – Cuba Standard Time
CIST – Cayman Islands Standard Time
EASST – Easter Island Summer Time
ECT – Ecuador Time
PET – Peru Time
R – Romeo Time Zone
COT – Colombia Time
Eastern Time Zone is in light orange color
Difference Between PST and EST
Name
PST: PST is short for Pacific Standard Time.
EST: EST is short for Eastern Standard Time.
Time
PST: PST is 8 hours behind UTC.
EST: EST is 5 hours behind UTC.
Time offset
PST: Time offset of PST is UTC-8.
EST: Time offset of EST is UTC-5.
Regions
PST: PST is used in some regions of the U.S.A, Canada, and Mexico.
EST: EST is used in some regions of the U.S.A, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Daylight Saving Time
PST: Pacific Time Zone uses PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) during the summer.
EST: Eastern Time Zone uses EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) during the summer.
Seasons
PST: PST is used during the winter in most places.
EST: EST is used in the winter in some places, but it is used throughout the year in Quintana Roo, Jamaica, Panama, and Southampton Island in Nunavut.
Image Courtesy:
“Pst” By The original uploader was Adam850 at English Wikipedia – Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by VictorAnyakin., Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
“Timezoneswest” By CIA World Factbook – Source: CIA World Factbook, uncopyrighted.PDF version (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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