Current time in Sacramento, CA
Pacific Time UTC−8 · IANA zone America/Los_Angeles
Time zone details
| Time zone | Pacific Time (PT) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | PST, UTC−8 (early Nov – mid Mar) |
| Daylight time | PDT, UTC−7 (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 | 38.58° N, 121.49° W |
Time difference from Sacramento
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| New York | +3 h |
| Chicago | +2 h |
| Denver | +1 h |
| Phoenix | +1 / 0 h |
| Anchorage | −1 h |
| Honolulu | −2 / −3 h |
Sacramento shares its time with all of the Pacific Time Zone: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle.
About time in Sacramento
Sacramento is the seat of Sacramento County and has been California's capital since 1854, so the state's legislative calendar, filing deadlines, and agency hours are all defined in Pacific Time here.
The city has an unusual place in American timekeeping history: it was the western terminus of the Pony Express in 1860–61, and the Central Pacific Railroad broke ground here in 1863 to build the western half of the first transcontinental railroad — the same railroad industry that imposed standard time zones on the country in 1883.
When federal offices in Washington, DC open at 9:00 AM Eastern, it is only 6:00 AM in Sacramento, a gap state agencies work around whenever California and federal business intersect.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Sacramento in?
Sacramento is in the Pacific Time Zone (PT). It observes Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC−8) in winter and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC−7) from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November.
What is the time difference between Sacramento and New York?
New York runs 3 hours ahead of Sacramento in every season, because the two cities observe daylight saving time on identical dates. Noon in Sacramento is 3:00 PM in New York.
Does Sacramento observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Clocks move forward one hour at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and back one hour at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday of November. In 2026 the changes fall on March 8 and November 1.