When is Daylight Saving Time Starts?
In the US, clocks spring forward one hour at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March. In 2026 it falls on Sunday, March 8, 2026, and in 2027 it's on Sunday, March 14, 2027. When this page was last updated, on October 12, 2026, there were 153 days to go, which is about 21 weeks and 6 days. The counter at the top keeps ticking down in real time on your device, so it's always current.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 8 | Sunday |
| 2027 | March 14 | Sunday |
A little history
Daylight saving time became standard in the US with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, although it had been used during both world wars. The idea is to move an hour of daylight from the morning into the evening during the warmer months.
How people celebrate
You lose an hour of sleep, which hits harder than you'd think. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier on each of the few nights before, get outside in the morning sun, and go easy on caffeine late in the day. Phones update by themselves; your oven and car clock won't.
Closures and practical notes
Hawaii and most of Arizona don't observe DST. Europe switches later, on the last Sunday of March, so time differences with the US change for a couple of weeks.
Planning tips
Astronomical seasons follow the Earth's position around the sun, so the exact moment can land on a slightly different date depending on your time zone. Meteorologists use simpler dates (the first of March, June, September and December) to make weather records easier to compare.
Changes in daylight affect sleep and mood more than most of us expect. Getting outside in the morning, keeping a steady bedtime and eating dinner at a regular time all help your body clock adjust.
How the countdown works
We count full calendar days from today's date to the holiday, using the clock on your own phone or computer, so it matches your local time zone. On the day itself the counter switches to the next year's date. Want to count to a birthday or deadline instead? Our days until any date page does that in one tap.
Frequently asked questions
When is Daylight Saving Time Starts 2027?
Sunday, March 14, 2027.
What day of the week is Daylight Saving Time Starts in 2027?
It's a Sunday (March 14, 2027).
Do we lose or gain an hour in March?
You lose an hour: clocks jump from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.