Daylight saving time starts in 2027 on Sunday, March 14, at 2:00 AM local time. This guide answers when does daylight saving time start in 2027, which states skip it, what changes at 2:00 AM, and what the Sunshine Protection Act means for the 2027 dates. At that moment clocks spring forward one hour to 3:00 AM, the day becomes 23 hours long, and the United States moves onto daylight time until November. This is the spring clock change, the one that costs you an hour of sleep. Most people search for it as daylight savings time, with an S, so this guide uses both spellings: the official name is daylight saving time, and daylight savings is the common spelling.
Daylight savings start dates by state in 2027
Almost every state changes its clocks on the same day. Only two states skip it:
| Group | Places | What happens on March 14, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Observes daylight saving | 48 states plus Washington, DC | Clocks jump from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM |
| Skips it | Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) | No change, stays on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) |
| Skips it | Hawaii | No change, stays on Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (UTC-10) |
| Skips it | US territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands | No change |
The Navajo Nation, which covers parts of northeastern Arizona plus parts of Utah and New Mexico, does observe daylight saving time, even though the rest of Arizona does not. If you live or work near that border, check the local rule, not the state rule.
What happens at 2:00 AM when daylight savings starts
At 2:00 AM local time on Sunday, March 14, 2027, clocks move straight to 3:00 AM. The hour from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM does not exist that day, which is why the day has 23 hours instead of 24.
Three practical effects follow. First, sunrise and sunset both move one hour later by the clock, so evenings stay light longer and mornings are darker for a while. Second, any event scheduled for 2:30 AM that Sunday has no valid local time, so calendars and booking systems either skip it or shift it. Third, the change happens in each time zone at its own local 2:00 AM, so it ripples across the country from east to west: New York springs forward three hours before Los Angeles does.
Phones, computers, and most modern clocks change themselves. Analog clocks, car clocks, and appliance timers need a manual change. If you travel on March 14, check the time in your destination with our Time Zone Converter before you set an alarm.
Daylight savings time in Europe in 2027
Europe changes its clocks two weeks after the United States. Daylight saving time in Europe starts on Sunday, March 28, 2027, and ends on Sunday, October 31, 2027. The United Kingdom follows the same dates under the name British Summer Time.
That two week gap matters for calls and meetings. From March 14 to March 28, 2027, the time difference between New York and London is 4 hours instead of the usual 5, because New York has sprung forward and London has not yet. The gap flips again in the fall: the United States falls back on November 7, a week after Europe ends daylight saving on October 31.
Will the clocks still change? The Sunshine Protection Act
Yes, the clocks still change. The Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139) would make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly change, but it is not law. The House passed it on July 14, 2026, by 308 to 117. The Senate received it on July 15, 2026 and referred it to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, but the Senate has not voted. Until the Senate passes it and it is signed, the current schedule stands, so daylight saving time starts on March 14, 2027 and ends on November 7, 2027.
Our guide When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2027? covers the fall change, the same state list, and the same bill status in full.
How to remember the dates
Spring forward, fall back. The 2027 dates are March 14 for the spring forward and November 7 for the fall back, both Sundays at 2:00 AM local time. Searches for when does daylight saving time start 2027 all point to the same date: Sunday, March 14, 2027. Set a reminder for the Saturday night before, and check the live countdown on our Countdown Timer if you want the exact days left.