Thailand time difference: Thailand is 7 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 6 hours ahead in UK summer; it is 12 hours ahead of New York in US winter and 11 hours ahead in US summer. Thailand itself never changes its clocks: only the UK and US daylight saving changes move the gap.
In practice, when it is noon in London, it is 7 pm in Bangkok during UK winter time (GMT) and 6 pm during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is midnight in Bangkok during US winter (EST) and 11 pm during US summer (EDT).
Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in Thailand: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+7, IANA identifier
Asia/Bangkok - Difference with London: +7 h in UK winter (GMT), +6 h in UK summer (BST)
- Difference with New York: +12 h in US winter (EST), +11 h in US summer (EDT)
- Difference with Los Angeles: +15 h in US winter (PST), +14 h in US summer (PDT)
- Daylight saving in Thailand: no, local time stays the same all year
- Next clock changes: UK on Sunday 25 October 2026 (BST to GMT) and Sunday 28 March 2027; US on Sunday 1 November 2026 (EDT to EST) and Sunday 14 March 2027
Time difference between the UK, the US and Thailand in winter and summer
| Time in London | In Bangkok (UK winter, GMT) | In Bangkok (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 am | 3 pm | 2 pm |
| Noon | 7 pm | 6 pm |
| 6 pm | 1 am (next day) | Midnight (next day) |
| 10 pm | 5 am (next day) | 4 am (next day) |
| Time in New York | In Bangkok (US winter, EST) | In Bangkok (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 am | 8 pm | 7 pm |
| Noon | Midnight (next day) | 11 pm |
| 6 pm | 6 am (next day) | 5 am (next day) |
| 10 pm | 10 am (next day) | 9 am (next day) |
The one-hour swing between winter and summer comes from the clock changes in the UK and the US; local time in Thailand does not change. Note that the UK and the US do not change on the same dates: between 25 October and 1 November 2026, for example, Bangkok is already 7 hours ahead of London but still only 11 hours ahead of New York.
Clock changes 2026-2027
Thailand does not observe daylight saving time: local time stays at UTC+7 all year. Only the clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
In the UK (London time):
- Sunday 25 October 2026: from UTC+1 (BST) to UTC+0 (GMT)
- Sunday 28 March 2027: from UTC+0 to UTC+1
- Sunday 31 October 2027: from UTC+1 to UTC+0
In the US (New York and Los Angeles time):
- Sunday 1 November 2026: end of daylight saving time (EDT to EST, PDT to PST)
- Sunday 14 March 2027: start of daylight saving time
- Sunday 7 November 2027: end of daylight saving time
When to call Thailand from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 9 am and 8 pm Bangkok time, call between 2 am and 1 pm London time in UK winter, and between 3 am and 2 pm in UK summer. From New York, call between 9 pm and 8 am (the previous evening and night) in US winter, and between 10 pm and 9 am in US summer.
With such a gap, working hours barely overlap: aim for early morning (from the UK) or late evening (from the US), and always state the time zone in meeting invitations.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Whatever the route, your body clock has to shift by 6 to 12 hours. From the UK and Europe you travel east, so your day is shortened and you will need to go to bed earlier than usual. A few simple rules help you adjust to local time:
- Set your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board.
- Align meals and bedtime with local time from the first day.
- Plan a light first day, with no important meetings or long drives.
- Get out in daylight on arrival and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adjust the schedule to the time difference.
Thailand time zone: IANA identifier and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Legal time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Asia/Bangkok | UTC+7 | UTC+7 | — |
- Bangkok (
Asia/Bangkok): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970.
No daylight saving time in Thailand in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Asia/Bangkok: legal time stays at UTC+7 all year. Only the UK clock changes (Sunday 28 March and Sunday 31 October 2027) and the US clock changes (Sunday 14 March and Sunday 7 November 2027) alter the gap.
| Period in 2027 | Bangkok vs London | Bangkok vs New York | Bangkok vs Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January to 13 March | +7 h | +12 h | +15 h |
| 14 March to 27 March | +7 h | +11 h | +14 h |
| 28 March to 30 October | +6 h | +11 h | +14 h |
| 31 October to 6 November | +7 h | +11 h | +14 h |
| 7 November to 31 December | +7 h | +12 h | +15 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Bangkok in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Bangkok (13.75° N, 100.51° E). They help you plan your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock after arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:45 am | 12:27 pm | 6:09 pm | 11 h 24 min | 11:45 pm (previous day) / 11:09 am |
| February | 6:41 am | 12:32 pm | 6:23 pm | 11 h 42 min | 11:41 pm (previous day) / 11:23 am |
| March | 6:26 am | 12:27 pm | 6:28 pm | 12 h 02 min | 11:26 pm (previous day) / 11:28 am |
| April | 6:05 am | 12:18 pm | 6:31 pm | 12 h 26 min | 12:05 am / 12:31 pm |
| May | 5:52 am | 12:14 pm | 6:37 pm | 12 h 46 min | 11:52 pm (previous day) / 12:37 pm |
| June | 5:50 am | 12:18 pm | 6:46 pm | 12 h 56 min | 11:50 pm (previous day) / 12:46 pm |
| July | 5:58 am | 12:24 pm | 6:50 pm | 12 h 52 min | 11:58 pm (previous day) / 12:50 pm |
| August | 6:05 am | 12:23 pm | 6:40 pm | 12 h 35 min | 12:05 am / 12:40 pm |
| September | 6:07 am | 12:13 pm | 6:20 pm | 12 h 13 min | 12:07 am / 12:20 pm |
| October | 6:09 am | 12:04 pm | 5:59 pm | 11 h 50 min | 12:09 am / 11:59 am |
| November | 6:17 am | 12:02 pm | 5:47 pm | 11 h 30 min | 11:17 pm (previous day) / 10:47 am |
| December | 6:33 am | 12:13 pm | 5:52 pm | 11 h 19 min | 11:33 pm (previous day) / 10:52 am |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (12 h 56 min, between 5:50 am and 6:46 pm), the shortest 15 December (11 h 19 min).
In the other Thai destinations covered by our guides, daylight varies with latitude and position within the time zone:
| Destination | Time zone | Sun on 15 January 2027 | Sun on 15 July 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko Samui | Asia/Bangkok | 6:40 am – 6:18 pm | 6:07 am – 6:45 pm |
| Chiang Mai | Asia/Bangkok | 7:00 am – 6:07 pm | 5:55 am – 7:05 pm |
| Phuket | Asia/Bangkok | 6:44 am – 6:27 pm | 6:16 am – 6:49 pm |
Jet lag: what the direction of travel changes
- Flying out from the UK (eastbound): you « lose » 7 hours in UK winter and 6 hours in UK summer; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Flying home to the UK (westbound): the reverse. Westbound travel is generally considered easier to cope with: you just stay up a little later.
- From North America: a gap of 11 to 15 hours means your body clock is almost upside down; whichever way you fly, expect several days to adjust fully.
- Your usual night at home (11 pm – 7 am) corresponds to 6 am – 2 pm in Bangkok in UK winter and 5 am – 1 pm in UK summer; from New York, to 11 am – 7 pm in US winter and 10 am – 6 pm in US summer. That is when your body will want to sleep during the first days.
- Light on arrival: in Bangkok, the sun rises around 6:45 am and sets around 6:09 pm in mid-January, around 5:58 am and 6:50 pm in mid-July (table above). After an eastbound flight, seek morning light and avoid it in the late afternoon; this is the standard advice for advancing or delaying the body clock.
Plan your trip to Thailand
- Our complete Thailand travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Thailand: month-by-month weather
- Time differences around the world: all the countries in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between the UK, the US and Thailand?
Thailand is 7 hours ahead of London in UK winter and 6 hours ahead in British Summer Time. It is 12 hours ahead of New York in US winter and 11 hours ahead in US summer (15 and 14 hours ahead of Los Angeles).
What time is it in Thailand when it is noon in London or New York?
When it is noon in London, it is 7 pm in Bangkok in UK winter and 6 pm in UK summer. When it is noon in New York, it is midnight in Bangkok in US winter and 11 pm in US summer.
Does Thailand change its clocks?
No, local time stays at UTC+7 all year. Only the clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
When should I call Thailand from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 9 am and 8 pm local time, call between 2 am and 1 pm London time in UK winter (3 am to 2 pm in summer), or between 9 pm and 8 am New York time in US winter (10 pm to 9 am in summer).
What is the IANA time zone for Thailand?
Bangkok: Asia/Bangkok.
What time does the sun rise in Bangkok?
Around 6:45 am on 15 January 2027 and around 5:58 am on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 6:09 pm and 6:50 pm. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm of the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the coordinates of the capital (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, accessed 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock change dates for Asia/Bangkok, Europe/London, America/New_York and America/Los_Angeles. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.
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