What Time Is It Right Now in Atlanta, Georgia?

If you’re wondering “What time is it right now in Atlanta?”, the key thing to know is that Atlanta follows Eastern Time. That means:

• During standard time, Atlanta is on Eastern Standard Time (EST), which is UTC−5.
• During daylight saving time, Atlanta is on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), which is UTC−4.

Because the current local time changes from moment to moment and depends on the date and daylight saving rules, you’ll want to check a live clock (on your phone, computer, or a trusted time service) to see the exact current time in Atlanta right now.

What this guide will do is help you clearly understand how time works in Atlanta, how it compares to other places, and how to plan around it if you live here, are visiting, or are coordinating from elsewhere.

Atlanta’s Time Zone Explained

Atlanta, Georgia is in the Eastern Time Zone, together with cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Miami.

Eastern Standard Time (EST) vs. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

Atlanta switches between two versions of Eastern Time each year:

• Eastern Standard Time (EST)
  • Offset: UTC−5
  • Used roughly from early November to mid-March
• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
  • Offset: UTC−4
  • Used roughly from mid-March to early November

Daylight saving time (DST) means clocks “spring forward” in March and “fall back” in November.

Daylight Saving Time in Atlanta

Atlanta observes daylight saving time along with the rest of Georgia and most of the United States.

Here’s how it works in practice:

• ⏩ Spring (clocks forward)

  • Around March, clocks move forward 1 hour at 2:00 a.m. local time.
  • Atlanta switches from EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4).
  • Sunrise and sunset appear to happen later on the clock.

• ⏪ Fall (clocks back)

  • Around November, clocks move back 1 hour at 2:00 a.m. local time.
  • Atlanta switches from EDT (UTC−4) back to EST (UTC−5).
  • Morning light comes earlier; it gets darker earlier in the evening.

This affects a lot of everyday life in Atlanta—MARTA schedules, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport flights, business hours, school times, and event start times all follow these seasonal clock changes.

Quick Reference: Atlanta Time vs. Other Time Zones

Use this table as a general guide for how Atlanta time compares to other major time zones when Atlanta is on standard time (EST) and daylight time (EDT).

How to Check the Exact Time in Atlanta Right Now

Since the exact local time can’t be fixed in writing and depends on your current date and whether daylight saving time is active, use one of these reliable ways to see Atlanta’s time at this moment:

• Your smartphone or computer
  • On most devices, you can add a World Clock and set a city to Atlanta.
• Search for “Atlanta time” in your web browser
  • Most modern devices and search tools will show the live current local time for Atlanta.
• Ask a voice assistant
  • Phrases like “What time is it in Atlanta, Georgia?” will usually give you an updated time instantly.

If you’re physically in the City of Atlanta or the broader metro Atlanta area, any device set to “Set time automatically” with time zone = Eastern Time (US & Canada) should already show the correct local time.

Time in Atlanta If You’re Traveling

If you’re visiting Atlanta—for a conference downtown, a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or a flight through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)—understanding the local time helps you stay on schedule.

Arriving by Air at ATL

All flight times shown on your itinerary or the airport’s announcement boards are in local time:

• Departing from another time zone?
  Your airline ticket shows departure time in the local time of that airport and arrival time in local Atlanta time.
• Layovers in Atlanta:
  Boarding times and gate changes are all based on Atlanta’s Eastern Time.

The main airport for Atlanta:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Located just south of downtown Atlanta
  • Follows Eastern Time year-round, switching between EST and EDT with daylight saving time.

Adjusting to Atlanta Time

If you’re coming from far away, especially from Pacific Time, Europe, or another continent, it can help to:

• Change your watch or phone to Atlanta time once you board your plane.
• Check hotel check-in and event start times in Atlanta local time.
• Be mindful that during daylight saving time changes, early morning and late night plans might feel different than you expect.

Time and Daily Life in Atlanta

Knowing the local time is more than just reading a clock—it shapes how the city moves.

Typical Business and Commute Hours

While individual schedules vary, many people in Atlanta follow this general pattern:

• Standard business hours:
  • Often around 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time
• Morning rush hour:
  • Commonly 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
• Evening rush hour:
  • Commonly 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

This matters if you’re planning appointments, meetings, or travel time inside the city. For instance, if you have a 9:00 a.m. appointment at a downtown Atlanta office, plan with Eastern Time in mind and allow for traffic.

Public Services on Atlanta Time

Most public-facing services coordinate strictly on Atlanta’s local time, including:

• City of Atlanta government offices
• Fulton County and nearby county offices (like DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton)
• Courts and public hearings
• MARTA buses and rail schedules
• Public schools and universities, such as Georgia State University and Georgia Tech

If you receive a time for a court date, city meeting, or public hearing, it will be in local Eastern Time in Atlanta, not your home time zone.

Coordinating With Atlanta From Other Places

If you’re not in Atlanta but need to know the time right now in Atlanta to:

• Join a video call
• Schedule a business meeting
• Watch a live event based in Atlanta

…you’ll need to convert from your local time zone to Eastern Time.

Simple Time-Conversion Tips

• If you’re on Central Time (e.g., Dallas, Chicago)
  • Atlanta is 1 hour ahead.
  • 2:00 p.m. in Dallas = 3:00 p.m. in Atlanta.
• If you’re on Pacific Time (e.g., Los Angeles, Seattle)
  • Atlanta is 3 hours ahead.
  • 9:00 a.m. in Los Angeles = 12:00 p.m. in Atlanta.
• If you’re in London (usually on UK time)
  • Atlanta is typically 5 hours behind in winter and 4 hours behind in summer, depending on daylight saving dates.
• If you’re in continental Europe (e.g., Berlin, Paris)
  • Atlanta is usually 6 hours behind.

✅ Tip: When scheduling across time zones, it helps to:

• Mention both times (for example, “Meeting at 3:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Central”)
• Use calendar tools that automatically convert to each person’s local time.

How Time Affects Events and Activities in Atlanta

Many major events in Atlanta are advertised in Eastern Time, including:

• Professional sports games (Falcons, Hawks, Braves, Atlanta United)
• Concerts and festivals at State Farm Arena, Fox Theatre, and other venues
• Conventions and expos at the Georgia World Congress Center
• Academic events at local universities

If you are:

• In Atlanta:
  Just follow the posted local time on tickets, signs, or schedules.
• Watching or joining from another city or country:
  Convert from Eastern Time to your local time zone so you don’t miss the start.

Practical Checklist: Time in Atlanta Right Now ✅

Here’s a quick summary you can skim whenever you need to work with Atlanta time:

• Atlanta’s time zone:
  • Eastern Time (ET)
• Standard vs. daylight time:
  • Winter: Eastern Standard Time (EST), UTC−5
  • Summer: Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), UTC−4
• Daylight saving time:
  • Clocks forward 1 hour in March
  • Clocks back 1 hour in November
• If you’re in Atlanta now:
  • Your phone or computer, set to automatic time and Eastern Time, should show the correct local time.
• If you’re outside Atlanta:
  • Check a world clock or search “Atlanta time” and compare to your local time zone.
• All official schedules in Atlanta—government offices, public transit, courts, and events—are based on local Eastern Time in Atlanta.

To know the exact time right now in Atlanta, look at a live clock (phone, computer, or a trusted time display) set to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and you’ll have the precise answer for this moment.