What Is ET Time?

ET stands for Eastern Time and refers to the time zone that covers parts of the United States, Canada, and a few Caribbean islands. ET is five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and is the same as UTC – 5.

What Areas Follow ET?

In the United States, ET is observed in states east of the Mississippi River, and some of the eastern parts of Missouri and Arkansas. These areas include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois (western parts), Indiana (western parts), Kentucky (eastern parts), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (western parts), New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio (western parts), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee (eastern parts), Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Outside the US, ET is observed in certain provinces and territories of Canada, as well as in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.

When Is ET Used?

ET is most often used during the Daylight Saving season (March to November). During Daylight Saving, ET moves forward one hour to UTC – 4. When Daylight Saving ends, the time zone goes back to its original hour. ET is rarely used outside of this period, as it is not applicable to the regions and countries listed.

Whether you live in an area where ET is observed or not, it is important to note the difference between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time. Standard Time is set when the clocks are not adjusted to take advantage of the longer days during the summer. Meanwhile, Daylight Saving Time is set when the clocks move forward one hour.