What is the time zone of Pennsylvania?
The state of Pennsylvania is in the Eastern Time zone. All counties and cities of the state have the same time zone, there are no exceptions. Pennsylvania is observing daylight savings so there are two different clocks depending on the time of the year.
- Eastern Standard Time (EST): – 5:00 UTC/GMT (behind)
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): – 4:00 UTC/GMT (behind)
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All neighbouring US states have the same time zone. So, the clocks are unchanged regardless if you cross the border with New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia or Ohio. Also, when you cross the Canadian border with Ontario there will be no change in time zone.
Daylight savings time (DST)
Pennsylvania is using daylight savings as also documented in the Uniform Time Act of 1966. During daylight savings the time changes from Eastern Standard time (EST) to Eastern Daylight time (EDT).
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.
Pennsylvania time news, bills and legislation
There is a continuous debate about which time should be applied. Several bills have been introduced to legalize daylight saving time as the year-round clock, whereas others try to align the time with bordering counties or states. The table below gives an overview of the latest bills in the state of Pennsylvania.
| Date | Bill | Status/Action | Title/summary |
| 21 Jun 2021 | SR36 | Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9) | A Resolution petitioning the Congress of the United States to extend daylight saving time throughout the year across the country. |
| 9 Apr 2021 | HB335 | To Senate State Government Committee | An Act amending the act of April 13, 1887 (P.L.21, No.18), entitled "An act for the establishment of a uniform standard of time throughout the Commonwealth," observing daylight saving time year-around if authorized by the Congress of the United State... |
| 10 Mar 2021 | SB384 | To Senate State Government Committee | An Act amending the act of April 13, 1887 (P.L.21, No.18), entitled "An act for the establishment of a uniform standard of time throughout the Commonwealth," providing for atlantic standard time; and prohibiting the use of daylight saving time. |
| 9 Mar 2021 | HB846 | To House State Government Committee | An Act amending the act of April 13, 1887 (P.L.21, No.18), entitled "An act for the establishment of a uniform standard of time throughout the Commonwealth," prohibiting the use of daylight saving time. |
| 29 Jan 2021 | HB335 | Intro, To House State Government Committee | An Act amending the act of April 13, 1887 (P.L.21, No.18), entitled "An act for the establishment of a uniform standard of time throughout the Commonwealth," observing daylight saving time year-around if authorized by the Congress of the United State... |
| 25 Mar 2020 | SR179 | Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9) | A Resolution petitioning the Congress of the United States to extend daylight saving time throughout the year across the country. |
Other US states
You can check out information and maps of other US states by clicking on the below links.