Multi-Timezone States in the US

Some states span more than one time zone. Here’s how to handle them when you only know the state name.

This guide focuses on practical steps you can use immediately—whether you’re scheduling a call, planning travel, or publishing a time on a website.

What this article covers

You’ll learn a repeatable approach that works across US states, countries, and DST transitions. The goal is simple: never guess and never rely on memory for offsets.

How to handle a state with more than one zone

If someone says “I’m in Idaho” or “I’m in Florida,” you may still need a city to be 100% accurate.

Best practice:

Ask for the city (or nearest major city).
If you can’t ask, use a default and state the assumption.
When publishing online, allow users to choose the city/time zone instead of assuming the whole state uses one zone.

The safest way to communicate time

When you publish time for other people:

Include the date (not just the time).
Include the time zone.
Use a 24-hour clock or AM/PM with a clear label.
If your audience spans regions, include a second reference zone.

When you schedule time for systems, store it as:

timestamp + IANA timezone (or timestamp in UTC).

Troubleshooting checklist

Is your device time zone set correctly?
Are you looking at the right date after conversion?
Does either location observe DST?
Are you mixing abbreviations (EST) with IANA zones (America/New_York)?
For recurring meetings: did DST change since the last meeting?

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to include the date as well as the time? Yes—especially when conversions cross midnight.
Is an abbreviation like “EST” always correct? Not always. Prefer ET or an IANA time zone name.
What’s the fastest way to confirm accuracy? Open a converter and verify with the time zone name, not just the offset.