Ontario Time Zone

What is the time zone of Ontario?

Ontario is divided into two time zones being Central Time and Eastern Time zone. The majority of the province including Toronto is in Eastern Time zone and observing daylight savings so there are two different clocks depending on the time of year. 

The larger east part of Ontario observes Eastern Time with daylight savings:

  1. East of 90° meridian
  2. Atikokan, New Osnaburgh, Pickle Lake, Shebandowan, Upsala and Big Trout area’s
  • Eastern Standard Time (EST):– 5:00 UTC (behind)
  • Eastern Daylight Time (EDT):– 4:00 UTC (behind)

The west part of Ontario observes Central Time with daylight savings:

  1. West of 90° meridian (except Atikokan, New Osnaburgh, Pickle Lake, Shebandowan and Upsala area’s)
  2. Small area east of 90° meridian West, mainly the Big Trout
  • Central Standard Time (CST):– 6:00 UTC (behind)
  • Central Daylight Time (CDT):– 5:00 UTC (behind)
Central Time
Eastern Time
canada ontario time zone map image
canada ontario time zone map border road
canada time zone map 1
Click to enlarge

Travel to neighboring provinces and countries

To Manitoba:

  • All year round the same as the Ontario border with the exception of small part in the north which are -1 hour (behind)

To Quebec:

  • Same time zone and all year round no time difference.

To U.S. State Minnesota:

  • Minnesota is in the Central Time zone so when crossing the border there is no time difference all year round.

To U.S. State Michigan:

  • Michigan is in the Eastern Time zone so when crossing the border there is no time difference all year round.

To U.S. State Ohio:

  • Ohio is in the Eastern Time zone so when crossing the border there is no time difference all year round.

To U.S. State Pennsylvania:

  • Pennsylvania is in the Eastern Time zone so when crossing the border there is no time difference all year round.

To U.S. State New York:

  • New Yoris in the Eastern Time zone so when crossing the border there is no time difference all year round.

To U.S. State Wisconsin:

  • Wisconsin is in the Central Time zone so when crossing the border there is no time difference all year round.

Ontario Daylight Savings Time (DST)

It starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. In March the clock is moved forward from 02.00 am to 03.00 am (so you will lose an hour of sleep during the night). While in November it’s reversed as the clock is moved backward from 03.00 am to 02.00 am and you will gain an extra hour of sleep. One way of remembering the movement sequence is that clocks “spring forward and fall back”.

The total period of daylight savings lasts for 34 weeks which is about 65% of the year.

Other Canadian Provinces and Territories

You can check out information and maps of other Canadian Provinces and Territories by clicking on the below links.

Pacific Time Mountain Time Central Time Eastern Time Atlantic Time Newfoundland Time
British Columbia Alberta Manitoba Nunavut New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador
British Columbia Nunavut Ontario Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories Ontario Quebec Nova Scotia
Nunavut Saskatchewan Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan Quebec
Yukon *
* No daylight savings