🇺🇸 When Do the Clocks Change in the United States?
Nov 1
Sunday, November 1, 2026 - clocks go back 1 hour (fall back).
At 2:00 AM local time, clocks go back to 1:00 AM. You get an extra hour of sleep.
United States clock changes - 2026 and 2027
| Year | Clocks go forward | Clocks go back |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, March 8, 2026 At 2:00 AM local time, clocks jump forward to 3:00 AM. | Sunday, November 1, 2026 At 2:00 AM local time, clocks go back to 1:00 AM. |
| 2027 | Sunday, March 14, 2027 At 2:00 AM local time, clocks jump forward to 3:00 AM. | Sunday, November 7, 2027 At 2:00 AM local time, clocks go back to 1:00 AM. |
Times are local. 2027 dates follow the current rules.
Where the clocks change
All states observe daylight saving time except Hawaii and most of Arizona (the Navajo Nation in Arizona does observe it). Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa also stay on standard time all year.
Will daylight saving time become permanent? Not yet. The Sunshine Protection Act passed the US House in July 2026 but, as of September 24, 2026, it has not passed the Senate or been signed into law. Many states have passed their own laws for permanent daylight time, but those cannot take effect without a change to federal law. Unless that happens, clocks fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
The rule
Daylight saving time starts at 2:00 AM local time on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2:00 AM local time on the first Sunday in November. Every time zone changes at 2:00 AM in its own local time, so the switch rolls across the country hour by hour.
Common questions
Do we gain or lose an hour in November?
You gain an hour. On Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM, clocks go back to 1:00 AM, so that night is 25 hours long. Mornings get lighter and evenings get darker.
When does daylight saving time start in 2027?
Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 2:00 AM local time, when clocks spring forward to 3:00 AM. It ends on Sunday, November 7, 2027.
Does Arizona change its clocks?
No. Most of Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year. The exception is the Navajo Nation, which follows daylight saving time.
Will my phone change automatically?
Yes. Smartphones, computers and most connected devices update on their own if automatic date and time is turned on. Oven, microwave and car clocks usually need a manual change.
Sources
- NIST - Daylight Saving Time Rules
- NIST - Local Time FAQs
- US Code Title 15, Chapter 6, Subchapter IX (Uniform Time Act)
- Congressional Record, July 14, 2026 - Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139)
Source links reviewed September 25, 2026. Times computed from the IANA Time Zone Database, release 2026c.