Americas · Central America · Sovereign state
Current time in Panama
A single time zone at UTC-05:00.
Friday, June 5, 2026
About Panama's time
A single time zone.
Panama keeps things simple with a single timezone (UTC-5 / EST) and has never observed daylight saving time, so the clock stays consistent year-round.
Major cities
Cities of Panama.
History
How Panama keeps time.
Panama adopted the UTC-5 offset (Eastern Standard Time) as its standard time, aligning with its geographic position in Central America. Unlike many neighboring countries, Panama has never observed daylight saving time for energy savings or other reasons, maintaining EST (UTC-5) permanently throughout the year. This consistency has been a point of national policy, simplifying commerce and timezone coordination for Panama's international banking and logistics sectors.
The country's timezone aligns it with the US East Coast, which is practical for business dealings with the United States. Panama's time also matches Colombia, sharing the same UTC-5 offset, which facilitates trade and communication between the two neighboring countries.
Did you know?
Things about Panama's time.
Panama uses UTC-5 year-round, permanently on what Americans would call Eastern Standard Time — but without the "standard" vs "daylight" distinction. This makes it straightforward to calculate time differences with the US East Coast (zero offset for half the year) and other UTC-5 regions.
Notably, although Panama uses UTC-5, its geographic position (roughly 79°W longitude) places it closer to UTC-5's solar time than many countries on the same offset. Solar noon in Panama City typically occurs around 12:00 noon, keeping clock time well-aligned with natural daylight patterns.
Panama's timezone also matches Columbia, Guatemala, Peru, and Ecuador's mainland time, which simplifies regional coordination across Central and South America.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Panama's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- What timezone is Panama in?
- Panama is in UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time / EST) year-round.
- Does Panama observe daylight saving time?
- No, Panama has never observed daylight saving time and stays on EST (UTC-5) permanently.
- What time is it in Panama when it is noon in New York (during EDT)?
- When New York is on EDT (UTC-4), Panama is 1 hour behind. Noon EDT = 11:00 AM in Panama.
- What time is it in Panama when it is noon in New York (during EST)?
- Both are UTC-5 during EST (winter time), so noon EST = noon in Panama. No time difference for roughly 5-6 months per year.
- Is Panama's timezone the same as Colombia?
- Yes, both Panama and Colombia use UTC-5 year-round with no daylight saving time.
- How many time zones does Panama have?
- Panama has a single timezone: America/Panama.
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