When Is Daylight Saving Time? (Spring Forward & Fall Back Dates)

When do clocks spring forward?

In the spring, clocks 'spring forward' by one hour at 2:00 AM local time on the second Sunday in March. This change shifts local time from 1:59:59 AM directly to 3:00:00 AM. Because of this jump, we lose an hour of sleep on the night of the transition, but we gain an extra hour of daylight in the evenings for the remainder of spring and summer.

When do clocks fall back?

In the autumn, clocks 'fall back' by one hour at 2:00 AM local time on the first Sunday in November. When the local clock reaches 1:59:59 AM, it returns to 1:00:00 AM, repeating that hour. This transition allows us to gain an extra hour of sleep or activity on that night. Moving clocks back signals the end of Daylight Saving Time and the return to Standard Time, bringing earlier mornings and earlier sunsets.

Which states don't observe DST?

Not all parts of the United States observe Daylight Saving Time. The states of Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation, which does observe DST) and Hawaii remain on Standard Time year-round. In addition, U.S. territories—including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands—do not participate in DST.

Why 2 a.m.?

The transition to and from Daylight Saving Time occurs at 2:00 AM local time because it is historically considered the least disruptive hour. When standard time laws were established in 1918, 2:00 AM was a time when very few trains were running, most businesses were closed, and the majority of people were asleep. Making the transition at 2:00 AM also prevents the date from changing backward or forward (which would happen at midnight) and minimizes disruption to daily schedules and early-morning operations.

A brief history of Daylight Saving Time

The United States first adopted Daylight Saving Time with the Standard Time Act of 1918 during World War I to conserve energy, though it was quickly repealed nationally after the war. During World War II, a year-round 'War Time' was established. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established a consistent nationwide schedule for DST, while allowing states to opt out. The current dates were set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which established the start as the second Sunday in March and the end as the first Sunday in November, effective in 2007.

Related Pages

• How Many Days Until Spring — track the days left until the start of spring.
• How Many Days Until Fall — countdown to the start of autumn.
• Date Calculator — add or subtract days, weeks, and months from any date.