When Do Clocks Change? Daylight Saving Time 2026 Dates

In the United States, the clocks go back one hour on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time. That is when daylight saving time ends, so 2:00 a.m. becomes 1:00 a.m. and you get an extra hour of sleep. Clocks go forward again on Sunday, March 14, 2027.

The easy way to remember it: "Spring forward, fall back."

Daylight saving time dates

All changes happen at 2:00 a.m. local time.

The rule behind the dates

According to NIST, daylight saving time in the U.S. starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. This rule has been in place since 2007. Daylight saving time now lasts about 238 days, or roughly 65 percent of the year.

What happens when clocks fall back

• At 2:00 a.m. on November 1, clocks go back to 1:00 a.m.
• The hour from 1:00 to 2:00 a.m. happens twice that night.
• Mornings get lighter sooner, but it gets dark earlier in the evening, often before 5:00 p.m. in many places.

Which devices change on their own

If your phone did not change, go to Settings and turn on automatic date and time.

Places that do not change their clocks

Not everyone in the U.S. changes their clocks:

• Hawaii stays on standard time all year.
• Most of Arizona does not change. The Navajo Nation in Arizona does.
• U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands stay on standard time.

What about other countries?

Many countries do not use daylight saving time at all. Others use different dates:

• The UK and European Union change clocks on the last Sunday in October, which is October 25, 2026. They move forward again on the last Sunday in March.
• Canada mostly follows the same dates as the U.S.
• Mexico ended daylight saving time for most of the country in 2022.

If you have family or meetings in other countries, the time difference may change by an hour for a week or two between their change and ours.

A good time for a home safety check

Fire safety groups have long suggested using the time change as a reminder to check your smoke alarms. When you set your clocks back:

• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Change batteries in alarms that have replaceable batteries.
• Check the date on the back of each alarm. Replace any that are 10 years old.

If an alarm starts chirping, our guide on why a smoke detector chirps and how to stop it will help.

It is also a good time to change your furnace filter before the cold season. If your heat is not working right, see our furnace troubleshooting guide.

Tips to adjust to the time change

Falling back is easier than springing forward, but it can still throw off your sleep.

• Shift bedtime slowly. Go to bed 15 minutes later for a few nights before the change.
• Get morning sunlight. Light in the morning helps reset your body clock.
• Keep meals on schedule. Eat at your usual times by the clock.
• Help kids and pets adjust. Move their routines a little at a time.
• Drive carefully. Evening commutes will be darker, so watch for people walking.

Is daylight saving time going away?

Many people want to stop changing clocks. Congress has debated bills to make daylight saving time permanent, and some states have passed laws that would do so if Congress allows it. But as of this writing, no change has become federal law, so clocks will still change in 2026 and 2027.

More dates to plan around

The holiday season starts right after the time change. See our guide on when Black Friday is this year, or count down with our Thanksgiving countdown and Christmas countdown.

The bottom line

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. Clocks go back one hour, and you get an extra hour of sleep. Your phone and computer will change on their own, but set your microwave, oven, car, and wall clocks by hand. Clocks spring forward again on Sunday, March 14, 2027. Use the time change as a reminder to test your smoke alarms.