Atlanta, GA Local Time: What Time Is It in Atlanta Right Now?

If you’re trying to figure out what time it is in Atlanta, Georgia, or how Atlanta’s local time works throughout the year, this guide walks you through everything you need to know—whether you live here, you’re flying in, or you’re scheduling a call from another time zone.

What Time Zone Is Atlanta, GA In?

Atlanta, Georgia is in the Eastern Time Zone of the United States.

• Standard time name: Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Daylight time name: Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
• Standard time offset:UTC−5 (5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time)
• Daylight time offset:UTC−4 (4 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time)

In practical terms, that means:

• In winter, Atlanta usually runs on EST (UTC−5)
• In summer, Atlanta usually runs on EDT (UTC−4) because of Daylight Saving Time

Quick Reference: Atlanta Local Time Basics

If your phone or computer location is set to Atlanta (or Eastern Time), it should automatically show the correct local time.

Does Atlanta Use Daylight Saving Time?

Yes. Atlanta observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) along with the rest of Georgia and most of the Eastern United States.

When the Time Changes in Atlanta

While exact dates shift slightly year to year, the general pattern is:

• ⏰ Spring forward:

  • Early March
  • At 2:00 a.m., clocks move forward to 3:00 a.m.
  • Atlanta switches from EST to EDT

• ⏰ Fall back:

  • Early November
  • At 2:00 a.m., clocks move back to 1:00 a.m.
  • Atlanta switches from EDT to EST

For people in Atlanta, this means:

• In spring, you “lose” an hour of sleep but afternoons stay lighter longer.
• In fall, you “gain” an hour, and evenings get darker earlier.

If you’re planning early morning flights at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, overnight work shifts, or late-night events around the time change, double-check your tickets and calendar entries to match Atlanta local time.

Atlanta Time Compared to Other U.S. Time Zones

If you’re coordinating with family, coworkers, or services in other states, here’s how Atlanta’s local time usually compares to other major U.S. time zones:

• Central Time (CT) – e.g., Nashville, Chicago, Dallas
  • Atlanta is 1 hour ahead
• Mountain Time (MT) – e.g., Denver, Phoenix*
  • Typically 2 hours ahead (Arizona does not always observe DST, so the difference can change)
• Pacific Time (PT) – e.g., Los Angeles, Seattle
  • 3 hours ahead
• Hawaii–Aleutian Time – e.g., Honolulu
  • Usually 5 or 6 hours ahead, depending on the time of year

During major events—like sports games, TV premieres, or national ceremonies—schedules are often listed in Eastern Time. If it says “8 p.m. ET,” that’s 8 p.m. local time in Atlanta.

Atlanta Local Time and International Travel

Atlanta is a major international hub, especially through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). If you’re arriving from another country, it’s helpful to understand how Atlanta time lines up globally.

A few general examples when Atlanta is on Standard Time (EST, UTC−5):

• London: 5 hours ahead (London noon = 7:00 a.m. in Atlanta)
• Paris/Berlin: 6 hours ahead
• Tokyo: 14 hours ahead
• Sydney: 16 hours ahead

When Atlanta is on Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4), these differences often shift by an hour, depending on whether the other country also uses daylight saving time.

✈️ Practical tip:
For international flights into or out of Atlanta, tickets, airport displays, and airline apps all show times in local time at the airport. For flights from ATL, that means Atlanta local time. Set your phone to automatic time zone as you land so it updates to Eastern Time.

How to Easily Check Atlanta’s Local Time

If you’re not physically in Atlanta or your device isn’t auto-updating, you can still be confident you’re using the correct time:

• Smartphones:

  • Turn on “Set automatically” in Date & Time settings
  • Select Eastern Time (US & Canada) if you need to set it manually

• Computers and tablets:

  • Choose Eastern Time or a city like Atlanta or New York as your time zone

• Home devices (microwaves, car clocks, wall clocks):

  • Manually adjust during the spring forward and fall back time changes

If you’re scheduling meetings or appointments from elsewhere, using a time zone converter or turning on time zone support in calendar apps can help ensure your entries match Atlanta, GA local time.

Local Life in Atlanta: Why Time Matters

Understanding Atlanta’s local time isn’t just about clocks—it affects daily routines, commuting, and events throughout the city.

Commuting and Business Hours

Most offices, government buildings, and services in Atlanta follow standard business hours in Eastern Time, often 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Key Atlanta-area services that run on Atlanta local time include:

• City of Atlanta government offices
• Fulton County and DeKalb County offices
• Georgia State Capitol (Atlanta)
• Courthouses such as Fulton County Courthouse and Atlanta Municipal Court
• MARTA transit services (buses, streetcar, and trains)

If you have a court date, city appointment, or county service scheduled, the time on your paperwork is always in Atlanta local time—even when you’re traveling in from another time zone.

Sports, Concerts, and Events

Atlanta has a busy sports and entertainment calendar, and almost all events are advertised in local time:

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons, United)
• State Farm Arena (Hawks, concerts)
• Truist Park (Braves)
• Fox Theatre and other venues

If you’re attending or watching from another state, remember: event listings that say “7:30 p.m. ET” line up with 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta.

Time and Public Services in Atlanta

If you need to visit or contact an office in person, it helps to double-check office hours in Eastern Time.

A few major Atlanta-based public offices and services aligned with Atlanta local time include:

• Fulton County Government Center
  • 141 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Atlanta City Hall
  • 55 Trinity Avenue SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) – Atlanta-area centers
  • Various locations throughout the metro area, all operating on Eastern Time
• U.S. Postal Service (USPS) offices in Atlanta
  • Neighborhood post offices follow local business hours in Atlanta time

If you’re calling a customer service or government line in Atlanta from a different time zone, be sure to convert their posted hours into your local time so you don’t call too early or too late.

Atlanta, GA Local Time: Key Takeaways

To quickly recap how local time works in Atlanta, Georgia:

• Atlanta is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET)
• Uses EST (UTC−5) in fall and winter
• Uses EDT (UTC−4) in spring and summer during Daylight Saving Time
• Clocks spring forward in March and fall back in November
• All local services—airports, transit, courts, schools, and offices—operate on Atlanta local time
• Event times listed as ET or Eastern Time match the time on the clock in Atlanta

Whenever you see a schedule, flight, appointment, or broadcast time tied to Eastern Time, you can treat it as Atlanta’s local time.