Understanding Colorado time is important for travelers, remote workers, businesses, and anyone communicating across different regions of the United States. Whether you’re planning a meeting, booking a flight, or simply checking the clock, knowing the correct time zone and daylight saving rules helps you stay accurate and organized.
Located in the western United States, Colorado follows a specific time zone that may differ from neighboring states and international regions. In this guide, you’ll learn about Colorado’s time zone, daylight saving time (DST), how it compares to other U.S. time zones, and practical examples for converting Colorado time.
What Time Zone Does Colorado Use?
Colorado time is based on the Mountain Time Zone.
Specifically, Colorado follows:
-
Mountain Standard Time (MST) – UTC -7 hours
-
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) – UTC -6 hours (during daylight saving time)
The official time zone covering Colorado is the Mountain Time Zone.
This time zone is used in several U.S. states, including Utah, Wyoming, and parts of other western states.
Colorado Time and Daylight Saving Time
Like most U.S. states, Colorado observes Daylight Saving Ti me (DST).
When Does Colorado Change the Clock?
-
Second Sunday in March – Clocks move forward 1 hour (MST → MDT)
-
First Sunday in November – Clocks move back 1 hour (MDT → MST)
During DST, Colorado ti me shifts from UTC -7 to UTC -6. This allows for longer daylight hours in the evening during spring and summer.
Not all U.S. states observe DST, but Colorado does follow the federal daylight saving schedule.
Colorado Time Compared to Other U.S. Time Zones
Understanding how Colorado ti me compares to other major U.S. ti me zones is helpful for scheduling.
Here’s how it differs:
-
Eastern Ti me (ET) – Colorado is 2 hours behind
-
Central Ti me (CT) – Colorado is 1 hour behind
-
Pacific Time (PT) – Colorado is 1 hour ahead
-
Alaska Ti me – Colorado is 3 hours ahead
For example, when it is 3:00 PM in Colorado:
-
It is 5:00 PM in New York (Eastern Ti me)
-
It is 4:00 PM in Chicago (Central Ti me)
-
It is 2:00 PM in Los Angeles (Pacific Ti me)
This makes Colorado centrally positioned between the West Coast and Midwest.
Major Cities That Follow Colorado Time
All major cities in Colorado follow the same tim e zone. Some of the most well-known cities include:
-
Denver (the state capital)
-
Colorado Springs
-
Boulder
-
Fort Collins
Since the entire state follows the Mountain Time Zone, there are no internal time differences within Colorado.
Why Colorado Time Is Important for Business
Colorado has a growing economy, especially in technology, tourism, aerospace, and energy industries. Knowing Colorado time is important for:
1. Remote Work and Meetings
Many companies operate across time zones. If your company is based in New York or California, you must account for time differences when scheduling meetings.
2. Travel Planning
Flight schedules often list local departure and arrival t imes. Misunderstanding Colorado ti me can result in missed flights or scheduling confusion.
3. Stock Market and Financial Markets
The U.S. stock market operates on Eastern Ti me. That means markets open at 7:30 AM Colorado tim e (9:30 AM Eastern).
Colorado Time and International Comparison
If you are outside the United States, understanding Colorado ti me becomes even more important.
For example:
-
United Kingdom (GMT/UTC+0) – Colorado is 7 hours behind during MST and 6 hours behind during MDT.
-
Pakistan (UTC+5) – Colorado is 12 hours behind during MST and 11 hours behind during MDT.
-
India (UTC+5:30) – Colorado is 12.5 hours behind MST and 11.5 hours behind MDT.
Because of daylight saving tim e shifts, international differences may change seasonally.
Does Colorado Ever Have Multiple Ti me Zones?
Unlike some large states such as Texas or Florida, Colorado uses only one tim e zone across the entire state. This simplifies scheduling and coordination within the region.
No part of Colorado follows Pacific Time or Central T ime. The entire state consistently uses Mountain Time.
How to Check Current Colorado Time
There are several easy ways to check Colorado t ime:
-
Use your smartphone’s world clock feature
-
Search “Colorado ti me now” on a search engine
-
Ask a voice assistant
-
Use international clock websites
Digital devices automatically adjust for daylight saving ti me, making it easy to stay accurate.
History of Colorado Time Zone
T ime zones in the United States were standardized in the late 19th century due to railroad expansion. Before standardization, towns set their own local ti mes based on the sun’s position.
The introduction of t ime zones improved transportation scheduling and communication efficiency. Colorado was placed in the Mountain T ime Zone due to its geographic location in the western U.S.
Daylight Saving Ti me was later adopted to conserve energy and extend evening daylight hours.
Interesting Facts About Colorado Time
-
Colorado’s time zone places it exactly between the Pacific and Central regions.
-
During daylight saving time, Colorado shares the same UTC offset as parts of Central America.
-
Because Colorado sits at higher elevation, sunrise and sunset ti mes can feel slightly different compared to lower-altitude states in the same time zone.
Common Questions About Colorado
Is Colorado always two hours behind New York?
Yes, Colorado is typically two hours behind Eastern Ti me, including New York, both during standard and daylight saving periods.
Does Colorado follow daylight saving
Yes, Colorado follows the federal daylight saving schedule.
Is Colorado on Pacific
No, Colorado is not on Pacific Ti me. It is in the Mountain T ime Zone.
Final Thoughts
Understanding Colorado ti me helps avoid confusion when scheduling meetings, traveling, or coordinating across different regions. The state follows Mountain Standard Ti me (UTC -7) and Mountain Daylight Ti me (UTC -6), depending on the season.
Because Colorado uses only one ti me zone statewide, ti mekeeping is straightforward. Whether you are planning a business call, catching a flight, or connecting with friends across the globe, knowing how Colorado ti me works ensures smooth communication and accurate scheduling.
