The Spain time difference is +1 hour from London and +6 hours from New York all year round for Madrid (briefly different for a few weeks in spring and autumn, when the UK and the US change their clocks on different dates). The country has 2 time zones: depending on the region and the season, the gap with London ranges from 0 h to +1 h.
In practice, when it is noon in London, it is 13:00 in Madrid all year. When it is noon in New York, it is 18:00 in Madrid all year.
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Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in Spain: key facts
- Time zone: UTC+1 (standard time) / UTC+2 (daylight saving time), IANA identifier
Europe/Madrid - Difference with London: +1 h all year
- Difference with New York: +6 h in both Eastern Standard Time and Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in Spain: yes, see the dates below
- 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 zones: 2 (details by region below)
Time difference between London, New York and Spain
| Time in London | In Madrid (UK winter, GMT) | In Madrid (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 09:00 | 09:00 |
| 12:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
| 18:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
| 22:00 | 23:00 | 23:00 |
| Time in New York | In Madrid (US winter, EST) | In Madrid (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 00:00 (next day) | 00:00 (next day) |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 04:00 (next day) | 04:00 (next day) |
The gap stays the same for most of the year because Spain and the UK change their clocks on the same dates; it differs only for a few weeks in spring and autumn, when the US changes its clocks on a different date.
Clock changes 2026–2027
Spain observes daylight saving time. Planned dates (local time in Madrid):
- Sunday 25 October 2026: from UTC+2 to UTC+1
- Sunday 28 March 2027: from UTC+1 to UTC+2
- Sunday 31 October 2027: from UTC+2 to UTC+1
Clocks also change in the UK and the US on the following dates:
- UK, Sunday 25 October 2026: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 1 November 2026: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5) in New York
- US, Sunday 14 March 2027: EST (UTC−5) to EDT (UTC−4)
- UK, Sunday 28 March 2027: GMT (UTC+0) to BST (UTC+1)
- UK, Sunday 31 October 2027: BST (UTC+1) to GMT (UTC+0)
- US, Sunday 7 November 2027: EDT (UTC−4) to EST (UTC−5)
Time zones of Spain: gap by region
| Region / cities | Time zone (UTC) | Gap with London (UK winter / summer) | Gap with New York (US winter / summer) | When it is 12:00 in London (winter / summer) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid, Barcelona, Balearic Islands | UTC+1 / UTC+2 | +1 h / +1 h | +6 h / +6 h | 13:00 / 13:00 |
| Canary Islands | UTC+0 / UTC+1 | 0 h / 0 h | +5 h / +5 h | 12:00 / 12:00 |
If your route crosses several time zones, check the time printed on your train, bus or plane tickets: it is always given in local time at the place of departure.
When to call Spain from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Madrid time, call between 08:00 and 19:00 London time all year. From New York, call between 03:00 and 14:00 all year.
On 15 January 2027, office hours (09:00–17:00) overlap for 7 hours with London and for 2 hours with New York. Always state the time zone in your meeting invitations.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
With a gap of at most 1 hour from London, the trip does not disrupt your rhythm much; the main trap is forgetting to set your watch or calendar to local time for a booked train, tour or meeting. From North America the gap is larger (+6 hours from New York), so 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 when you arrive and avoid long naps.
- If you take medication at fixed times, ask your doctor how to adapt the schedule to the time difference.
Spain time zones: IANA identifiers and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid, Barcelona, Balearic Islands | Europe/Madrid | UTC+1 | UTC+2 | CET |
| Canary Islands | Atlantic/Canary | UTC+0 | UTC+1 | WET |
- Madrid, Barcelona, Balearic Islands (
Europe/Madrid): daylight saving time applied every year; the tz database records it since at least 1974. - Canary Islands (
Atlantic/Canary): daylight saving time applied every year; the tz database records it since at least 1980.
Daylight saving time in Spain in 2027: clock-change dates
Dates calculated from the tz database rules for Europe/Madrid (Madrid, Barcelona, Balearic Islands). They coincide with those in the UK: the gap with London therefore stays the same all year.
- Sunday 28 March 2027 at 02:00 (local time): clocks go forward one hour (UTC+1 → UTC+2), at the same moment as the UK clock change.
- Sunday 31 October 2027 at 03:00 (local time): clocks go back one hour (UTC+2 → UTC+1), at the same moment as the UK clock change.
| 2027 period | Madrid vs London | Madrid vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | +1 h | +6 h |
| 14 – 27 March | +1 h | +5 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | +1 h | +6 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | +1 h | +5 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | +1 h | +6 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Madrid in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Madrid (40.40° N, 3.69° W), daylight saving time included. They help you time your exposure to daylight, the main lever for resetting your body clock on arrival.
| 15th of the month | Sunrise | Solar noon | Sunset | Day length | Sunrise / sunset in London time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:36 | 13:24 | 18:12 | 9 h 36 | 07:36 / 17:12 |
| February | 08:08 | 13:29 | 18:49 | 10 h 41 | 07:08 / 17:49 |
| March | 07:27 | 13:24 | 19:21 | 11 h 54 | 06:27 / 18:21 |
| April | 07:37 | 14:15 | 20:53 | 13 h 16 | 06:37 / 19:53 |
| May | 06:59 | 14:11 | 21:24 | 14 h 25 | 05:59 / 20:24 |
| June | 06:44 | 14:15 | 21:46 | 15 h 02 | 05:44 / 20:46 |
| July | 06:57 | 14:21 | 21:44 | 14 h 47 | 05:57 / 20:44 |
| August | 07:25 | 14:19 | 21:13 | 13 h 48 | 06:25 / 20:13 |
| September | 07:55 | 14:10 | 20:25 | 12 h 29 | 06:55 / 19:25 |
| October | 08:25 | 14:01 | 19:36 | 11 h 10 | 07:25 / 18:36 |
| November | 08:01 | 12:59 | 17:58 | 9 h 57 | 07:01 / 16:58 |
| December | 08:31 | 13:10 | 17:49 | 9 h 18 | 07:31 / 16:49 |
The longest day in the table is 15 June (15 h 02 between 06:44 and 21:46), the shortest 15 December (9 h 18).
In the other destinations covered by our guides, daylight varies with latitude and position within the time zone:
| Destination | Time zone | Daylight on 15 January 2027 | Daylight on 15 July 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palma | Europe/Madrid | 08:08 – 17:49 | 06:34 – 21:16 |
| Seville | Europe/Madrid | 08:37 – 18:29 | 07:15 – 21:45 |
| Barcelona | Europe/Madrid | 08:15 – 17:46 | 06:31 – 21:24 |
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in Spain
- From the UK: the gap is +1 h all year, so there is no real jet lag. Any tiredness comes from the journey, not from the change of time zone.
- From New York (flying east): you « lose » 6 hours all year; your arrival day is shortened and you need to go to bed earlier than your body clock expects.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 00:00 – 08:00 in Madrid from London in UK winter (same during BST), and to 05:00 – 13:00 in Madrid from New York during EST (same during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Madrid, the sun rises around 08:36 and sets around 18:12 in mid-January, and around 06:57 and 21:44 in mid-July (table above). After flying east, seek morning light and avoid it late in the day; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to Spain
- Our complete Spain travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit Spain: month-by-month weather and the best season
- Time differences around the world: every country in our guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between Spain and the UK or the US?
Madrid is 1 hour ahead of London all year. It is 6 hours ahead of New York all year. This is the gap for Madrid; other regions differ (see the table by region).
What time is it in Spain when it is noon in London or New York?
In Madrid, noon in London is 13:00 all year; noon in New York is 18:00 all year.
Does Spain have daylight saving time?
Yes. Next changes (local time): Sunday 25 October 2026: from UTC+2 to UTC+1; Sunday 28 March 2027: from UTC+1 to UTC+2.
How many time zones does Spain have?
This page covers 2 time zones (Madrid, Canary Islands). The by-region table gives the gap with London and New York for each, in winter and summer.
When should I call Spain from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 08:00 and 19:00 London time all year, or between 03:00 and 14:00 New York time all year.
What is the IANA time zone for Spain?
Madrid, Barcelona, Balearic Islands: Europe/Madrid; Canary Islands: Atlantic/Canary.
What time does the sun rise in Madrid?
Around 08:36 on 15 January 2027 and around 06:57 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 18:12 and 21:44. Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm).
Our sources
- Sunrise and sunset: algorithm from the NOAA Solar Calculator (Global Monitoring Laboratory), applied to the capital’s coordinates (Natural Earth, Wikidata or Wikipedia): Destination de Voyage calculation.
- IANA Time Zone Database (tz database), version 2026b, consulted on 13 October 2026: time zones, rules and clock-change dates. Future dates may be changed by local authorities.
- UK clock changes: GOV.UK, When do the clocks change? (UK summer time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October).
- US daylight saving time: NIST, Daylight Saving Time (from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).
- Live time: calculated by your browser (Intl API), which relies on the same IANA database.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.
