Current Time in Phoenix, United States
Exact time synced with atomic clocks (IANA + NTP)
Country
Dialling: +1
City Details
Phoenix
Lat: 33.4484° N
Long: 112.074° W
Population: 1,608,139
Time Zone
America/Phoenix
MST
Public Holidays
Independence Day
Jul 3in 5dLabour Day
Sep 7in 71dColumbus Day
Oct 12in 106d
Time Difference
Business Hours
Daylight Cycle
Data via sunrisesunset.io
Current Weather
Data via Open-Meteo · Updates every 30 min
Overview
Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the fifth-largest city in the United States, with 1.6 million residents in the city and 5 million in Greater Phoenix. It is the most populous state capital in the US and the only US city with over one million people to have been incorporated in the 20th century. Crucially for time-tracking purposes: Arizona does not observe daylight saving time (with the exception of the Navajo Nation), meaning Phoenix permanently runs on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) year-round.
Administrative Region
Maricopa County, Arizona
US-AZ
Local Currency
$
Technical Assets
- Web Domain.us
- ISO CodeUS-AZ
Secure Identifier Profile
Culture & Daily Life
📜 History & Origins
The Salt River Valley was farmed by the Hohokam people for over 1,000 years before European contact, using an extensive canal irrigation network. Phoenix was settled in 1867 by Jack Swilling, who recognised the agricultural potential and reactivated the ancient Hohokam canals. Named 'Phoenix' because a new city was rising from the ruins of a prior civilisation, it became the Arizona Territorial capital in 1889 and state capital in 1912. Post-war air conditioning adoption enabled mass migration to the desert, transforming it from 65,000 people in 1940 to over 1 million by 1990.
🗣️ Languages
✨ Leisure Highlights
- /Desert Botanical Garden — 50,000 desert plants in Papago Park
- /Camelback Mountain — iconic summit hike
- /Taliesin West — Frank Lloyd Wright's desert masterwork
- /Scottsdale Old Town — art galleries, restaurants, nightlife
- /South Mountain Park — one of the largest municipal parks in the US
🎒 Visitor Tip
A car is almost essential — Phoenix is extremely spread out. The Valley Metro light rail connects downtown, Tempe, Mesa and the airport. The Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park is outstanding — arrive at sunset. Camelback Mountain (summit hike, 2h return) has the best views. Scottsdale's Old Town district and restaurant row is the best nightlife area. Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece desert campus, is a half-day well spent.
Geography & Climate
Land & Terrain
Surface area and physical characteristics
Situated in the Salt River Valley of the Sonoran Desert at approximately 331m elevation — one of the lowest desert basin cities in the American Southwest. Mountain ranges interrupt the flat desert floor: Camelback Mountain (513m), South Mountain (750m), the McDowell Mountains to the northeast. The Salt River runs through the southern part of the city. The flat desert terrain made the city very easy to build but created a vast, sprawling urban form dependent entirely on the automobile.
Climate Stats
Hot desert (Köppen BWh) — no DST, UTC-7 year-round
Avg Summer
40°C
Avg Winter
18°C
Annual Rainfall
204 mm
Best Months (Sunshine)
Travel & Connectivity
✈️ Nearby AirportsIATA / DISTANCE
🚄 Rail ConnectionsCITY / DISTANCE
Regional Satellites
Other times compared to Phoenix
Frequently Asked Questions about time in Phoenix
What timezone is Phoenix in?↓
Phoenix is in the America/Phoenix time zone (America/Phoenix), currently UTCMST.
Does United States observe daylight saving time?↓
No. United States does not observe daylight saving time. Phoenix stays on MST (UTCMST) year-round, so the clocks never change.
What is MST?↓
MST stands for America/Phoenix. It is UTCMST and is the standard time used in United States.
What is the time difference between Phoenix and New York?↓
Phoenix is 5 hours ahead of New York (EST). When New York switches to EDT in summer, the difference decreases by 1 hour.
How accurate is the time shown for Phoenix?↓
The time displayed for Phoenix is synced with atomic clock sources via NTP (Network Time Protocol) and uses IANA timezone data to ensure accuracy to the second. It automatically reflects any daylight saving time changes.
What does UTCMST mean for Phoenix?↓
UTCMST means Phoenix is aligned with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard for timekeeping.
What are the business hours in Phoenix?↓
Standard business hours in Phoenix are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM MST (UTCMST). Many businesses also operate Saturday mornings. Public holidays follow the United States national calendar.
Is there much time difference between Phoenix and London?↓
Phoenix is within a few hours of London, so scheduling calls is usually straightforward. Always confirm the current local time in both cities, especially around daylight saving time changes.