Current Time in Canada
Check local time in Ottawa and all Canada cities. Canada spans 6 time zones.
Canada Quick Facts
🕐 Time Zones in Canada
Canada covers six time zones from Newfoundland to Pacific. Most provinces observe Daylight Saving Time. Quebec and Ontario use Eastern Time, while British Columbia follows Pacific Time.
Most regions of Canada observe Daylight Saving Time, typically from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During DST, clocks move forward one hour. Some regions may have different rules, so verify the specific location.
🏙️ Major Cities in Canada (8 cities)
Click on any city to see detailed local time, sunrise/sunset times, and weather information.
📞 Best Time to Call Canada
Canada shares similar time zones with many North American locations, making scheduling calls relatively convenient. For European callers, afternoon calls (after 2:00 PM local time) will catch Canada during their morning business hours.
Standard business hours in Canada are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.
✈️ Time-Related Travel Tips for Canada
Canada is well-connected with flights from major global hubs. Time zone differences within the Americas are generally manageable for business travel. Remember that English and French are the primary languages. Business culture may include longer lunch breaks in some regions.
🎯 Interesting Facts About Time in Canada
- •Canada spans 6 time zones, making it one of the widest countries in terms of time coverage.
- •The capital Ottawa is the political center of Canada with a total national population of 38M.
- •Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines - they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
- •The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.
About Time in Canada
Canada spans 6 time zones, from NST (UTC-3:30) to PST (UTC-8). This makes Canada one of the countries with the most time zones in the world, which can make scheduling calls and meetings more complex.
The capital city Ottawa serves as the political and often economic center of Canada. Major business activities are spread across cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and 4 more.
When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in Canada, it's important to consider the time zone difference. NST (UTC-3:30) is the most commonly referenced time zone for Canada. However, depending on the specific location, you may need to account for AST (UTC-4) or EST (UTC-5) or CST (UTC-6) or MST (UTC-7) or PST (UTC-8).
Canada uses the Canadian Dollar (C$) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +1.Multiple languages are spoken, including English, French.
🏙️ Cities in Canada
Explore local time in 8 cities across Canada
🌍 Other Countries in Americas
Frequently Asked Questions About Time in Canada
What time zone is Canada in?
Canada spans 6 time zones: NST (UTC-3:30), AST (UTC-4), EST (UTC-5), CST (UTC-6), MST (UTC-7), PST (UTC-8). The capital Ottawa uses NST (UTC-3:30).
Does Canada observe Daylight Saving Time?
Most regions of Canada observe Daylight Saving Time, typically from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During DST, clocks move forward one hour. Some regions may have different rules, so verify the specific location.
What is the best time to call Canada from the US?
Canada shares similar time zones with many North American locations, making scheduling calls relatively convenient. For European callers, afternoon calls (after 2:00 PM local time) will catch Canada during their morning business hours.
What are typical business hours in Canada?
Standard business hours in Canada are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.