Time Zone Guide
How to Read UTC Offsets: Stop Mixing Up Positive and Negative Signs
Use simple examples to understand UTC+ and UTC−, and learn about half-hour and 45-minute time zones.
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What Do the Plus and Minus Signs Mean
UTC+ means the local time is ahead of UTC; UTC− means the local time is behind UTC. If UTC is 12:00 noon, then UTC+3 is 3:00 PM and UTC−4 is 8:00 AM.
When converting, do not forget the date: late-night UTC plus a positive offset may already be the next day locally.
Offsets Are Not Always Whole Hours
Some regions use half-hour or 45-minute offsets. For example, India Standard Time is UTC+5:30, and Nepal Time is UTC+5:45.
In addition, a city’s offset may change with daylight saving time. To get the correct result for a specific date, use the city name rather than assuming a fixed offset.
Put it into practice
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