What Time Zone Is Atlanta, Georgia In?

If you live in Atlanta, are planning a visit, or need to schedule a call with someone in the city, it helps to know exactly what time zone Atlanta is in and how it changes throughout the year.

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

Atlanta’s Official Time Zone

Atlanta observes:

• Eastern Standard Time (EST) – during fall and winter
• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) – during spring and summer (when daylight saving time is in effect)

In practice, this means:

So if someone asks, “What time zone is Atlanta, GA?” the general answer is:

Daylight Saving Time in Atlanta

Like most of Georgia, Atlanta follows daylight saving time (DST). Here’s how it works:

• ⏰ Start of DST:
  Clocks move forward 1 hour in the spring (often described as “springing forward”).
  This usually happens on a Sunday in March at 2:00 a.m., which becomes 3:00 a.m.

• ⏰ End of DST:
  Clocks move back 1 hour in the fall (“falling back”).
  This usually happens on a Sunday in November at 2:00 a.m., which becomes 1:00 a.m.

During DST, Atlanta time is called Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Outside of DST, Atlanta time is Eastern Standard Time (EST).

What this means for you in Atlanta:

• In summer, evenings stay brighter for longer, which many people in the city enjoy for outdoor events, dining, and sports.
• In winter, sunrise and sunset both occur earlier on the clock.

How Atlanta Time Compares to Other Places

If you’re coordinating meetings, travel, or calls, it’s useful to compare Atlanta’s time zone with other U.S. regions and major cities.

Within the United States

When Atlanta is on Eastern Standard Time (EST):

• Atlanta vs. New York (ET): Same time
• Atlanta vs. Chicago (CT): Atlanta is 1 hour ahead
• Atlanta vs. Denver (MT): Atlanta is 2 hours ahead
• Atlanta vs. Los Angeles (PT): Atlanta is 3 hours ahead

These differences stay the same when the country is on daylight saving time, since most states change together and remain in step.

International Time Comparisons

When Atlanta is on Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5):

• Atlanta vs. London (typically UTC or UTC+1): London is usually 5 hours ahead (or 4 hours during some parts of the year, depending on their daylight saving time).
• Atlanta vs. most of Western Europe: Often 6 hours ahead.
• Atlanta vs. Tokyo: Generally 14 hours ahead of Atlanta.
• Atlanta vs. Sydney: Often 16 hours ahead, depending on seasonal time changes there.

Because other countries follow their own daylight saving schedules, time differences between Atlanta and international locations can shift slightly during the year. When you’re planning travel from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport or setting up an overseas call, it’s wise to double-check the current time difference.

Time Zone and Daily Life in Atlanta

Understanding the time zone in Atlanta helps with more than just flights and meetings. It affects many parts of everyday life:

Work and Business Hours

Most Atlanta businesses, offices, and services set schedules based on Eastern Time:

• Typical office hours: Around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. ET
• Government offices like Atlanta City Hall and Fulton County Government offices also generally operate on Eastern Time business hours.
• Financial and tech businesses in Midtown and Buckhead often sync with Wall Street hours, which are also Eastern Time.

If you work with clients in other time zones from Atlanta, you’ll need to mentally adjust:

• Calling a client in California? A 9:00 a.m. meeting in Atlanta is 6:00 a.m. in Los Angeles, which may be too early for them.
• Working with someone in Europe? Late afternoon in Atlanta often works better to overlap with their evening.

Travel in and out of Atlanta

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) operates on local Atlanta time (Eastern Time) for flight schedules, boarding times, and announcements.

• When you see a departure or arrival time for Atlanta, it’s in Eastern Time, even if the other airport is in a different time zone.
• Driving between time zones, such as to Alabama (Central Time), you’ll cross from Eastern to Central. That usually means setting your watch back 1 hour when you cross into Alabama, and forward 1 hour returning to Atlanta.

This matters if you’re catching a flight, bus, or train that crosses state lines—always confirm whether printed times are local to departure or arrival.

How to Check the Current Time in Atlanta

If you’re not physically here but need to know the exact time in Atlanta:

• Use the time settings on your smartphone or computer and add “Atlanta” or “New York” as a world clock—both share the same time zone.
• Many devices can automatically detect and adjust to Eastern Time if you’re physically in the Atlanta area, as long as location services and automatic time settings are turned on.
• When scheduling virtual meetings (for example with people in different states or countries), many calendar apps let you set the meeting in Eastern Time and will automatically convert to each participant’s local time.

Common Time Zone Questions for Atlanta

Is Atlanta always on Eastern Time?

Yes. Atlanta is always in the Eastern Time Zone, but the offset from UTC changes:

• EST (UTC−5) in fall and winter
• EDT (UTC−4) in spring and summer (daylight saving time)

The city does not switch to any other U.S. time zone.

Does all of Georgia share Atlanta’s time zone?

Yes. The entire state of Georgia, including cities like Savannah, Augusta, and Macon, uses the Eastern Time Zone with the same daylight saving time rules as Atlanta.

If I drive from Atlanta to Alabama, do I change my clock?

Usually, yes:

• Atlanta (Georgia): Eastern Time
• Most of Alabama: Central Time

When you cross into Alabama, you generally move back 1 hour; coming back home to Atlanta, you move forward 1 hour.

Practical Tips for Managing Time in Atlanta

Here are some quick, Atlanta-focused tips for staying on top of the time zone:

• 🗓 When planning events in Atlanta that involve out-of-state guests, clearly state the time as “Eastern Time (ET)” on invitations or schedules.
• ✈️ For flights at Atlanta’s airport, arrive based on local Eastern Time, especially if you’re coming from Central Time areas by car.
• 📞 For business calls, ask contacts in other time zones to confirm whether the meeting time is in their local time or Eastern Time.
• 📍 If you’re new to Atlanta, set your phone and computer to automatic time zone detection to avoid confusion during daylight saving transitions.

Knowing how the Atlanta time zone works—Eastern Time, with daylight saving time changes—makes it much easier to plan your day, coordinate with others, and move smoothly through life in the city, whether you’re a local, a newcomer, or just passing through.