Time Zone History

Toronto time zone history

Standard time has stayed at UTC−5 since 1895, the second-longest run of the 12 zones on UTC−5 standard time with no change of standard time since 1970. On standard time, clocks in Toronto run 18 minutes ahead of local mean solar time.

UTC−5

Standard time is UTC−5 (EDT/EST); clocks go forward to UTC−4 on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.

Covers: Ontario and Quebec (most areas) · tz database name America/Toronto

Convert a time from Toronto

Summer time in every year since 1970

UTC−5:17:32: 18 minutes behind today’s standard timeUTC−5: today’s standard timeUTC−4: 1 hour ahead of today’s standard timeUTC−5:17:32: 18 minutes behindtoday’s standard timeUTC−5: today’s standard timeUTC−4: 1 hour ahead of today’sstandard time

How to read this chart

Before 1970

18901910193019501970189019301970
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1970198019902000201020202028JFMAMJJASOND1970198019902000201020202028

Standard time changes

DateChangeNew standard timeClock label
Before 1970
January 1, 1895Local mean time (UTC−5:17:32) replacedUTC−5EST

Daylight saving periods

YearsClocks go forwardClocks go backShift and labels
Before 1970
1918April 14October 271 hour, EST to EDT
1919March 30October 261 hour, EST to EDT
1920May 2September 261 hour, EST to EDT
1921May 15September 151 hour, EST to EDT
1922–1923second Sunday in May, 02:00third Sunday in September, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
1924–1926first Sunday in May, 02:00third Sunday in September, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
1927May 1September 251 hour, EST to EDT
1928–1931last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in September, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
1932May 1September 251 hour, EST to EDT
1933April 30October 11 hour, EST to EDT
1934–1939last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in September, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
1940April 28not that year1 hour, EST to EDT
1945not that yearSeptember 301 hour
1946–1948last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in September, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
1949–1950last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in November, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
1951–1956last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in September, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
1957–1986last Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in October, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
Since 1970
1987–2006first Sunday in April, 02:00last Sunday in October, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT
2007–2037second Sunday in March, 02:00first Sunday in November, 02:001 hour, EST to EDT

Clock changes in 2026, 2027 and 2028

The clocks go forward 1 hour (EST to EDT) on March 8, 2026, March 14, 2027 and March 12, 2028 at 02:00 and back 1 hour (EDT to EST) on November 1, 2026, November 7, 2027 and November 5, 2028 at 02:00, local time.

Also on UTC−5

Detroit (United States), New York (United States), Winamac, Indiana (United States), Indianapolis, Indiana (United States), Vevay, Indiana (United States), Louisville, Kentucky (United States), Marengo, Indiana (United States), Petersburg, Indiana (United States), Vincennes, Indiana (United States) and Monticello, Kentucky (United States) (nearest first; 13 more on the list of offsets).

Clocks next door since 1970