Offset
The time difference between Cape Town and Eastern Time is 6 hours.
Cape Town (SAST) is ahead of Eastern Time (EDT).
SAST: UTC+2
EDT: UTC-4
Eastern Time is currently observing daylight saving time; Cape Town is not.
When to schedule
Business-hours overlap: 3 PM–5 PM in Cape Town (9 AM–11 AM in Eastern Time).
Both teams are in working hours during this window on weekdays.
Suggested time: 4:00 PM Cape Town (10:00 AM Eastern Time).
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
South Africa
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Human Rights DaySat, Mar 21
- Good FridayFri, Apr 3
- Family DayMon, Apr 6
- Freedom DayMon, Apr 27
- Workers' DayFri, May 1
- Youth DayTue, Jun 16
- National Women's DayMon, Aug 10
- Heritage DayThu, Sep 24
- Day of ReconciliationWed, Dec 16
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
- Day of GoodwillSat, Dec 26
United States
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMon, Jan 19
- Presidents DayMon, Feb 16
- Memorial DayMon, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence DayFri, Jun 19
- Independence DayFri, Jul 3
- Labour DayMon, Sep 7
- Columbus DayMon, Oct 12
- Veterans DayWed, Nov 11
- Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 26
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
About these zones
Cape Town uses South Africa Time (SAST). To call South Africa, dial +27.
Eastern Time is also known as EST, or EDT. To call United States, dial +1.
Eastern Time is approximately 7,800 miles northwest of Cape Town.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| Cape Town | EST | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 6:00 pm | -1 day |
| 1:00 am | 7:00 pm | -1 day |
| 2:00 am | 8:00 pm | -1 day |
| 3:00 am | 9:00 pm | -1 day |
| 4:00 am | 10:00 pm | -1 day |
| 5:00 am | 11:00 pm | -1 day |
| 6:00 am | 12:00 am | Same day |
| 7:00 am | 1:00 am | Same day |
| 8:00 am | 2:00 am | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 3:00 am | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 4:00 am | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 5:00 am | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 6:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 7:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 5:00 pm | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 6:00 pm | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 7:00 pm | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 8:00 pm | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 pm | 3:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 pm | 4:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 pm | 5:00 pm | Same day |
Daylight saving time
Eastern Time observes daylight saving time; Cape Town does not. The offset between the two zones changes when Eastern Time transitions: on Sunday, November 1, 2026, clocks fall back from EDT to EST.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 7:48 AM
- Sunset
- 5:59 PM
- Day length
- 10h 11m
- Sunrise
- 5:42 AM
- Sunset
- 8:24 PM
- Day length
- 14h 41m
Daylight overlap: 6h 16m — 11:42 AM–5:59 PM in Cape Town (5:42 AM–11:59 AM in Eastern Time). Both locations are in daylight during this window.
Cities in these zones
Other cities in South Africa Time
Cities in Eastern Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in South Africa Time
- HLA
- JNB
- CPT
- DUR
Airports in Eastern Time
- EWR
- HPN
- JFK
- LGA
- TEB
- ILG
- PHL
- TTN
- CLT
- USA
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am Cape Town in EST?
- 9:00 am Cape Town is 3:00 am EST.
- What is 12:00 pm Cape Town in EST?
- 12:00 pm Cape Town is 6:00 am EST.
- What is 12:30 pm Cape Town in EST?
- 12:30 pm Cape Town is 6:30 am EST.
- What is 2:00 pm Cape Town in EST?
- 2:00 pm Cape Town is 8:00 am EST.
- What is 5:00 pm Cape Town in EST?
- 5:00 pm Cape Town is 11:00 am EST.
- What is 11:30 pm Cape Town in EST?
- 11:30 pm Cape Town is 5:30 pm EST.