Current time in Des Moines, IA
Central Time UTC−6 · IANA zone America/Chicago
Time zone details
| Time zone | Central Time (CT) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | CST, UTC−6 (early Nov – mid Mar) |
| Daylight time | CDT, UTC−5 (mid Mar – early Nov) |
| DST clock change | Forward 1 h, 2nd Sunday of March · Back 1 h, 1st Sunday of November |
| Sunrise today | — |
| Sunset today | — |
| Day length | — |
| Coordinates | 41.59° N, 93.63° W |
Time difference from Des Moines
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| New York | +1 h |
| Denver | −1 h |
| Phoenix | −1 / −2 h |
| Los Angeles | −2 h |
| Anchorage | −3 h |
| Honolulu | −4 / −5 h |
Des Moines shares its clock with every other city in the Central Time Zone, from Minneapolis and Chicago down to Dallas and New Orleans.
About time in Des Moines
Des Moines, the Iowa state capital and seat of Polk County, sits in a state that lies entirely within the Central zone — and so do the adjoining parts of all six neighboring states, so crossing any Iowa border into Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, or South Dakota never requires resetting a watch.
The city's large insurance and financial-services sector works the markets on a shifted schedule: the New York Stock Exchange's 9:30 AM ET opening bell rings at 8:30 AM in Des Moines, and trading closes at 3:00 PM local time.
Every four years the Iowa caucuses put the state's clock in the national spotlight, with precinct meetings gaveled in at 7:00 PM Central while East Coast coverage runs an hour later in the evening.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Des Moines in?
Des Moines is in the Central Time Zone (CT), observing Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) in winter and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) between the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November.
What is the time difference between Des Moines and New York?
Des Moines runs 1 hour behind New York throughout the year, because Central and Eastern clocks shift to and from daylight saving time on the same two dates.
Does Des Moines change its clocks for daylight saving time?
Yes. Des Moines springs forward one hour at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and falls back at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday of November — March 8 and November 1 in 2026.