What Time Is It in Atlanta Right Now? Understanding Atlanta’s Current Time

If you’re trying to figure out the current time in Atlanta, Georgia, you’re really asking about the time in the Eastern Time Zone and how it’s affected by Daylight Saving Time. Whether you live in Atlanta, you’re flying into Hartsfield-Jackson, or you’re setting up a virtual meeting with someone in the city, knowing how Atlanta time works helps you stay on schedule.

Atlanta’s Time Zone at a Glance

Atlanta operates on:

  • Eastern Standard Time (EST) during fall and winter
  • Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) during spring and summer

In short, Atlanta time = Eastern Time.

Quick Time Facts for Atlanta

TopicWhat It Means for Atlanta
Official time zoneEastern Time (ET)
Standard time offsetUTC−5 (Eastern Standard Time, EST)
Daylight time offsetUTC−4 (Eastern Daylight Time, EDT)
Uses Daylight Saving Time?Yes
StateGeorgia, USA

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the worldwide reference point for time zones.

When Does Atlanta Change Clocks?

Like most of Georgia, Atlanta observes Daylight Saving Time (DST). That means the city changes clocks twice a year:

Spring: “Spring Forward” 🌤️

  • When: Early March (exact dates vary year to year)
  • What happens:
    • Clocks move forward 1 hour (from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.).
    • Atlanta switches from EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4).
  • Everyday impact:
    • Later sunsets, more daylight in the evening.
    • You effectively “lose” one hour that night.

Fall: “Fall Back” 🍂

  • When: Early November (exact dates vary year to year)
  • What happens:
    • Clocks move back 1 hour (from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.).
    • Atlanta switches from EDT (UTC−4) back to EST (UTC−5).
  • Everyday impact:
    • Earlier sunsets.
    • You get an “extra” hour that night.

Most smartphones, computers, and smartwatches in Atlanta update themselves automatically as long as time zone and automatic updates are turned on.

How Atlanta Time Compares to Other Places

If you’re coordinating with people outside of Atlanta, here’s how Atlanta time usually lines up:

  • New York, Miami, Washington, D.C.:
    • Same time as Atlanta, all year (all in Eastern Time).
  • Chicago (Central Time):
    • Usually 1 hour behind Atlanta.
  • Denver (Mountain Time):
    • Usually 2 hours behind Atlanta.
  • Los Angeles (Pacific Time):
    • Usually 3 hours behind Atlanta.
  • London (UK):
    • Typically 5 hours ahead of Atlanta when Atlanta is on EST,
    • 4 hours ahead when Atlanta is on EDT (because of overlapping DST).
  • Tokyo (Japan):
    • Does not use Daylight Saving Time; usually 13–14 hours ahead of Atlanta, depending on the season.

If you’re catching a virtual meeting, sports broadcast, or live stream that lists times in Eastern Time, you can treat that as Atlanta time.

Checking the Exact Current Time in Atlanta

While this page can’t show a live clock, here are reliable ways to confirm the exact current time in Atlanta at any moment:

  • Your smartphone:
    • Set your time zone to “Eastern Time (US & Canada)” or specifically to Atlanta, GA if available.
  • Computer settings:
    • On Windows, macOS, and most tablets, choose Eastern Time under date and time settings.
  • Voice assistants and smart speakers:
    • Ask: “What time is it in Atlanta, Georgia?”
  • TV and radio in the metro area:
    • Local stations in Atlanta (radio and TV) announce programs and time based on local Eastern Time.

If you are physically in Atlanta, your phone’s location-based time setting will typically show the correct local time automatically, assuming you have location services and automatic time enabled.

Atlanta Time for Flights, Events, and Local Life

At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

For air travel, the time printed on boarding passes, departure boards, and arrival screens at Hartsfield-Jackson is always in local Atlanta time (Eastern Time), regardless of where you’re flying to or from.

  • If your itinerary lists “Depart: 3:00 p.m. (ATL)”, that is 3:00 p.m. local Atlanta time.
  • Connecting flights in other cities will be shown in the local time of each airport, so compare them carefully if you’re switching time zones.

📍 Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320
General information lines typically use local Eastern Time for hours and services.

Atlanta Time and Local Businesses

Most Atlanta-area businesses follow standard daytime hours, often something like:

  • Weekdays: roughly 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. local time
  • Government offices: commonly Monday–Friday, standard business hours (Eastern Time)
  • Restaurants, nightlife, and entertainment: many stay open later into the evening, especially in areas like Midtown, Buckhead, Downtown, and along the BeltLine.

Always double-check a business’s posted hours in Eastern Time, especially if you’re planning from another time zone.

Time in Atlanta If You’re Visiting

Adjusting to Atlanta Time

If you’re traveling to Atlanta from another part of the United States:

  • From the Central Time Zone (for example, from Nashville or New Orleans):
    • Set your clock 1 hour ahead when you arrive in Atlanta.
  • From the Pacific Time Zone (for example, from Los Angeles or Seattle):
    • Set your clock 3 hours ahead for Atlanta time.

If you’re coming from overseas, plan your arrival and rest according to Eastern Time, since flights, hotel check-in times, and event schedules will all use Atlanta’s local time.

Public Services and Time References

Many city and state offices in Atlanta refer to Eastern Time in their published hours, including:

  • City of Atlanta offices (e.g., at Atlanta City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303)
  • Fulton County and DeKalb County government buildings serving metro Atlanta residents
  • Courthouses, public libraries, and schools across the Atlanta area

If you have a scheduled court date, city meeting, or public hearing, the time given will be in local Atlanta (Eastern) time, so it’s important to convert accurately if you’re joining remotely from another zone.

Practical Tips for Managing Time in Atlanta

  • 🔁 Turn on automatic time updates on your phone to handle time changes, including travel and Daylight Saving Time shifts.
  • 🕒 Check time zone labels when scheduling appointments with people outside Atlanta—mark them as ET or Atlanta time to avoid confusion.
  • ✈️ Arrive early for flights and events, using Atlanta time as shown on tickets and confirmations, not your home time zone.
  • 🗓️ Around March and November, be extra mindful of clock changes so you don’t miss early-morning commitments.

In summary, Atlanta’s current time is always based on Eastern Time, switching between Eastern Standard Time and Eastern Daylight Time depending on the season. If you set your devices to Eastern Time and keep automatic updates on, you’ll stay in sync with Atlanta’s local clock wherever you are.