Singapore Time Zone: The Complete Guide
Your complete guide to time in Asia's premier financial hub
Planning a call with colleagues in Singapore, tracking the SGX market opening, or wondering when hawker centers are busiest? Understanding Singapore's time zone is essential for business and travel in the Lion City.
Singapore runs on Singapore Standard Time (SGT), which is UTC+8 year-round. Like most of Asia, Singapore does not observe daylight saving time, keeping time calculations consistent throughout the year.
Fun fact: Singapore is geographically in the UTC+7 zone but uses UTC+8 to align with major trading partners like Hong Kong, Beijing, and Kuala Lumpur. This makes Singapore a perfect bridge between Asian and Western markets.
⚡ Quick Facts: Singapore Time Zone
Time Zone Basics
- • Time Zone: SGT (UTC+8)
- • Daylight Saving: Not observed
- • Weekend: Saturday-Sunday
- • Same as: Hong Kong, Beijing, Taipei, KL
Key Time Differences
- • New York: +13 hours
- • London: +8 hours
- • Sydney: -3 hours
- • Tokyo: -1 hour
Need exact conversions? Try our Time Converter
Explore the Complete Guide
Business Hours
Shops, banks, malls, and hawker centers
Best Time to Visit
Weather, festivals, F1, and avoiding crowds
Remote Work Guide
Working with Singapore teams across time zones
24 Hours in Singapore
The city's daily rhythm from kopi to supper
Best Time to Call
Optimal calling times from major cities worldwide
Stock Market Hours
SGX trading times for global investors
Public Holidays
CNY, Deepavali, Hari Raya, and what to expect
Digital Nomad Guide
Coworking, WiFi, and cost of living
Time Difference
Singapore time compared to NYC, London, Sydney
Travel Planning
Flight times, Changi tips, and getting around
Understanding Singapore Time
The Perfect APAC Hub
Singapore's UTC+8 timezone makes it the ideal hub for Asia-Pacific business. Morning meetings catch the end of the Australian business day, regular hours align perfectly with China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, and late afternoon can overlap with European markets opening.
Bridge Between East and West
For multinational companies, Singapore is often chosen as a regional headquarters precisely because of its timezone. A Singapore-based team can coordinate with Tokyo in the morning, hold internal meetings during the day, and catch London in the late afternoon - all in normal working hours.
Singapore Morning (9 AM SGT)
- • New York: 8 PM (prev day)
- • London: 1 AM
- • Tokyo: 10 AM
- • Sydney: 12 PM
Singapore Evening (6 PM SGT)
- • New York: 5 AM
- • London: 10 AM
- • Tokyo: 7 PM
- • Sydney: 9 PM
Singapore Time vs Major Cities
| City | Difference | When it's 12 PM in Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 New York | -13 hours | 11:00 PM (prev day) |
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | -16 hours | 8:00 PM (prev day) |
| 🇬🇧 London | -8 hours | 4:00 AM |
| 🇩🇪 Berlin | -7 hours | 5:00 AM |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai | -4 hours | 8:00 AM |
| 🇮🇳 Mumbai | -2.5 hours | 9:30 AM |
| 🇭🇰 Hong Kong | 0 hours | 12:00 PM |
| 🇯🇵 Tokyo | +1 hour | 1:00 PM |
| 🇦🇺 Sydney | +3 hours | 3:00 PM |
* Sydney difference varies due to Australian DST. See detailed time differences →
Practical Tips for Dealing with Singapore Time
🌍 For International Business
Singapore works well as a meeting point for APAC teams. Schedule 9-11 AM for Japan/Korea overlap, midday for China/HK, and 3-6 PM for European overlap. US calls typically require evening meetings (8-10 PM SGT catches US East Coast morning).
🍜 Hawker Culture
Singapore's famous hawker centers run on their own schedule. Breakfast crowds hit 7-9 AM, lunch rush is 12-1:30 PM (avoid for popular stalls), and the supper scene kicks off after 10 PM. Many hawkers have specific rest days - usually Monday or Tuesday.
🏢 Work Culture
Standard office hours are 9 AM - 6 PM. However, many Singaporeans work late, with 7-8 PM departures common in finance and consulting. The famous "5-day work week" is increasingly respected, though some industries still expect Saturday presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Singapore GMT+8?
Yes! Singapore is UTC+8 (same as GMT+8) year-round. It shares this timezone with Hong Kong, Beijing, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Perth.
Does Singapore have daylight saving time?
No. Singapore stays on SGT (UTC+8) year-round. This means the time difference with Europe and North America changes when they adjust clocks, not when Singapore does.
What's the time difference between Singapore and New York?
Singapore is 13 hours ahead of New York (EST). When it's noon in Singapore, it's 11 PM the previous day in New York. During US daylight saving time, the difference is 12 hours.
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Last updated: December 2024.