Current Time in GMT − 8 Zone
About GMT-8
GMT-8 is eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. It is known as Pacific Standard Time (PST), used during winter on the West Coast of the U.S. (e.g., Los Angeles, Seattle) and Canada (Vancouver). It is also Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) for cities like Denver and Salt Lake City in the summer. It is heavily affected by DST.
UTC Offset: GMT-8
What is GMT-8?
GMT-8 means Greenwich Mean Time 8 hours behind the Greenwich meridian, the historical reference line running through the Royal Observatory in London. GMT offsets are the everyday way many countries, broadcasters, and travel timetables describe their local time relative to the UK.
Note that some of the countries listed below sit on GMT-8 for only part of the year: when daylight saving time starts or ends they move one hour, so always check the live local times shown on this page or on each country's own page.
GMT-8 vs UTC-8
For everyday purposes GMT-8 and UTC-8 are the same wall-clock time. GMT is the traditional name based on mean solar time at Greenwich, while UTC is the modern atomic-time standard used by computers and aviation. If you are setting a meeting or catching a flight, either works; if you are configuring a server, use UTC-8.
Time & Daylight in GMT-8
Time Difference Between GMT-8 and Major Cities
Live local time and the difference from GMT-8 right now.
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: Etc/GMT+8
Understanding GMT-8: The Pacific Time Zone Offset
GMT-8 is a fixed UTC offset, meaning clocks in this region are always 8 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. Unlike named time zones such as Pacific Standard Time (PST), GMT-8 does not observe daylight saving time; it is the standard offset used during winter months in parts of North America and year-round in a few other locations. This article explains what a fixed UTC offset means, which regions and cities use GMT-8, and how it differs from dynamic time zones.
Fixed UTC Offset vs. Named Time Zone
A fixed UTC offset like GMT-8 is a constant number of hours behind UTC. It does not change with seasons. In contrast, a named time zone such as America/Los_Angeles may observe daylight saving time (DST), shifting between GMT-8 in winter and GMT-7 in summer. Therefore, the list of countries and regions on GMT-8 is not static: during DST, areas like the US Pacific coast move off this offset to GMT-7, while regions that do not observe DST remain on GMT-8 year-round.
Regions and Cities on GMT-8
GMT-8 is used in several parts of the world. In North America, it is the standard time for the Pacific time zone during winter. Key cities include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver. In Mexico, Tijuana and other border cities use GMT-8 in winter. The Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Pacific, use GMT-8 year-round. Other IANA time zones at this offset include America/Los_Angeles, America/Tijuana, America/Vancouver, Canada/Pacific, Pacific/Pitcairn, and US/Pacific.
Seasonal Changes and DST
Most regions using GMT-8 in winter switch to GMT-7 for daylight saving time. For example, the US Pacific time zone moves to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During that period, these areas are not on GMT-8. However, the Pitcairn Islands do not observe DST, so they remain on GMT-8 all year. This means the country list for GMT-8 changes: in summer, only Pitcairn and perhaps a few other non-DST regions use this offset.
Practical Scheduling Notes
When scheduling across time zones, remember that GMT-8 is equivalent to UTC-8. In military time, it is designated as 'U' (Uniform) time zone. UTC and GMT are often used interchangeably, and both read the same on a clock. For example, when it is 12:00 UTC, it is 04:00 in GMT-8. Be aware that many locations on this offset observe DST, so check if they are currently on GMT-8 or GMT-7.
IANA Time Zones at GMT-8
- America/Los_Angeles
- America/Tijuana
- America/Vancouver
- Canada/Pacific
- Pacific/Pitcairn
- US/Pacific
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are on GMT-8?
Countries on GMT-8 include Canada (parts of British Columbia), Mexico (border cities like Tijuana), the United States (Pacific coast states), and the Pitcairn Islands. However, this list changes with daylight saving time, as most of these regions move to GMT-7 in summer.
Is GMT-8 the same as Pacific Standard Time?
Yes, during winter months, Pacific Standard Time (PST) is GMT-8. However, PST is a named time zone that also includes daylight saving time, while GMT-8 is a fixed offset. When DST is in effect, PST becomes GMT-7.
Does GMT-8 observe daylight saving time?
No, GMT-8 is a fixed offset and does not observe DST. However, many regions that use GMT-8 in winter switch to GMT-7 for DST. Only locations that stay on GMT-8 year-round, like the Pitcairn Islands, do not change.
What is the military time zone for GMT-8?
The military time zone for GMT-8 is 'U' (Uniform) time zone. It is used in military and aviation contexts to denote this offset.
What cities are in GMT-8?
Major cities in GMT-8 include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver (Canada), Tijuana (Mexico), and the settlement of Adamstown on the Pitcairn Islands.
How do I convert GMT-8 to my local time?
To convert from GMT-8 to UTC, add 8 hours. For example, 12:00 PM GMT-8 is 20:00 UTC. To convert to other time zones, first convert to UTC, then adjust. Many online tools can do this automatically.