The French Polynesia time difference is −10 hours from London and −5 hours from New York in winter, and −11 hours and −6 hours in summer for Tahiti (UK and US daylight saving seasons; Tahiti does not change its clocks). The country has 3 time zones: depending on the region and the season, the gap with London ranges from −11 h to −9 h.
In practice, when it is noon in London, it is 02:00 in Tahiti during UK winter time (GMT) and 01:00 during British Summer Time. When it is noon in New York, it is 07:00 in Tahiti during Eastern Standard Time and 06:00 during Eastern Daylight Time.
Our travel deals for Time difference
Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Time difference.Compare flights- eSIMSailyAnother eSIM plan to compare: data, validity, network.See Saily plans
Live local time
Calculated by your browser from the IANA time zone database.
Time in French Polynesia: key facts
- Time zone: UTC−10, IANA identifier
Pacific/Tahiti - Difference with London: −10 h in UK winter (GMT), −11 h during British Summer Time
- Difference with New York: −5 h during Eastern Standard Time, −6 h during Eastern Daylight Time
- Daylight saving in French Polynesia: not in Tahiti, where 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 zones: 3 (details by region below)
Time difference between London, New York and French Polynesia
| Time in London | In Tahiti (UK winter, GMT) | In Tahiti (UK summer, BST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | 22:00 (previous day) | 21:00 (previous day) |
| 12:00 | 02:00 | 01:00 |
| 18:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 22:00 | 12:00 | 11:00 |
| Time in New York | In Tahiti (US winter, EST) | In Tahiti (US summer, EDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 (8 am) | 03:00 | 02:00 |
| 12:00 (noon) | 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 18:00 (6 pm) | 13:00 | 12:00 |
| 22:00 (10 pm) | 17:00 | 16:00 |
The difference of one hour between winter and summer comes from daylight saving time in the UK and the US; local time in Tahiti does not change.
Clock changes 2026–2027
French Polynesia does not observe daylight saving time in Tahiti: local time stays at UTC−10 all year round. Only clock changes in your home country alter the gap.
Clocks change on the following dates (local time):
- 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 French Polynesia: 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahiti, Bora-Bora, Moorea | UTC−10 | −10 h / −11 h | −5 h / −6 h | 02:00 / 01:00 |
| Marquesas Islands | UTC−9:30 | −9 h 30 / −10 h 30 | −4 h 30 / −5 h 30 | 02:30 / 01:30 |
| Gambier Islands | UTC−9 | −9 h / −10 h | −4 h / −5 h | 03:00 / 02:00 |
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 French Polynesia from the UK or the US
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 Tahiti time, call between 19:00 and 06:00 (running past midnight) London time in UK winter, and between 20:00 and 07:00 (running past midnight) during British Summer Time. From New York, call between 14:00 and 01:00 (running past midnight) during EST, and between 15:00 and 02:00 (running past midnight) during EDT.
On 15 January 2027, office hours (09:00–17:00) overlap for 0 hours with London and for 3 hours with New York. Aim for the very start or end of the day, and always state the time zone in your meeting invitations.
Time difference and jet lag: practical tips
Flying to French Polynesia from the UK means travelling west: your day is lengthened and you will need to stay up later than usual. From North America you also travel west, with a smaller gap. 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.
French Polynesia time zones: IANA identifiers and history
| Zone | IANA identifier | Standard time on 15 January 2027 | On 15 July 2027 | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahiti, Bora-Bora, Moorea | Pacific/Tahiti | UTC−10 | UTC−10 | — |
| Marquesas Islands | Pacific/Marquesas | UTC−9:30 | UTC−9:30 | — |
| Gambier Islands | Pacific/Gambier | UTC−9 | UTC−9 | — |
- Tahiti, Bora-Bora, Moorea (
Pacific/Tahiti): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970. - Marquesas Islands (
Pacific/Marquesas): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970. - Gambier Islands (
Pacific/Gambier): no clock change recorded since 1 January 1970.
No daylight saving time in French Polynesia in 2027
The tz database lists no clock change in 2027 for Pacific/Tahiti: standard time remains UTC−10 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.
| 2027 period | Tahiti vs London | Tahiti vs New York |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January – 13 March | −10 h | −5 h |
| 14 – 27 March | −10 h | −6 h |
| 28 March – 30 October | −11 h | −6 h |
| 31 October – 6 November | −10 h | −6 h |
| 7 November – 31 December | −10 h | −5 h |
Sunrise and sunset in Papeete in 2027
Local sunrise and sunset times on the 15th of each month in Papeete (17.53° S, 149.57° W). 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 | 05:36 | 12:08 | 18:39 | 13 h 03 | 15:36 / 04:39 |
| February | 05:53 | 12:12 | 18:32 | 12 h 39 | 15:53 / 04:32 |
| March | 06:01 | 12:07 | 18:13 | 12 h 12 | 16:01 / 04:13 |
| April | 06:07 | 11:58 | 17:49 | 11 h 42 | 17:07 / 04:49 |
| May | 06:16 | 11:55 | 17:33 | 11 h 18 | 17:16 / 04:33 |
| June | 06:26 | 11:59 | 17:31 | 11 h 05 | 17:26 / 04:31 |
| July | 06:29 | 12:04 | 17:40 | 11 h 11 | 17:29 / 04:40 |
| August | 06:17 | 12:03 | 17:48 | 11 h 31 | 17:17 / 04:48 |
| September | 05:54 | 11:53 | 17:53 | 12 h 00 | 16:54 / 04:53 |
| October | 05:29 | 11:44 | 17:59 | 12 h 29 | 16:29 / 04:59 |
| November | 05:15 | 11:43 | 18:11 | 12 h 56 | 15:15 / 04:11 |
| December | 05:18 | 11:53 | 18:29 | 13 h 10 | 15:18 / 04:29 |
The longest day in the table is 15 December (13 h 10 between 05:18 and 18:29), the shortest 15 June (11 h 05).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bora Bora | Pacific/Tahiti | 05:47 – 18:46 | 06:36 – 17:50 |
Jet lag: how flight direction affects you in French Polynesia
- Outbound from the UK (flying west): you « gain » 10 hours in UK winter and 11 hours in summer; your arrival day is lengthened and tiredness hits early in the local evening.
- Return to the UK (flying east): the opposite applies. Flying east shortens the day: plan a quiet day when you get home.
- From New York (flying west): you « gain » 5 hours in winter (EST) and 6 hours in summer (EDT); your arrival day is lengthened and tiredness hits early in the local evening.
- Your usual night at home (23:00 – 07:00) corresponds to 13:00 – 21:00 in Tahiti from London in UK winter (12:00 – 20:00 during BST), and to 18:00 – 02:00 in Tahiti from New York during EST (17:00 – 01:00 during EDT): this is when your body will want to sleep for the first few days.
- Daylight on arrival: in Papeete, the sun rises around 05:36 and sets around 18:39 in mid-January, and around 06:29 and 17:40 in mid-July (table above). After flying west, make the most of late-afternoon light to stay awake until the evening; this is the standard advice for shifting your body clock.
Plan your trip to French Polynesia
- Our complete French Polynesia travel guide: highlights, itineraries and budget
- Best time to visit French Polynesia: 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 French Polynesia and the UK or the US?
Tahiti is 10 hours behind London in UK winter and 11 hours behind during British Summer Time. It is 5 hours behind New York during Eastern Standard Time and 6 hours behind during Eastern Daylight Time. This is the gap for Tahiti; other regions differ (see the table by region).
What time is it in French Polynesia when it is noon in London or New York?
In Tahiti, noon in London is 02:00 in UK winter and 01:00 in summer; noon in New York is 07:00 during EST and 06:00 during EDT.
Does French Polynesia have daylight saving time?
No, local time stays at UTC−10 all year in Tahiti. Only clock changes in the UK or the US alter the gap.
How many time zones does French Polynesia have?
This page covers 3 time zones (Tahiti, Marquesas Islands, Gambier Islands). The by-region table gives the gap with London and New York for each, in winter and summer.
When should I call French Polynesia from the UK or the US?
To reach someone between 09:00 and 20:00 local time, call between 19:00 and 06:00 London time in UK winter (20:00 to 07:00 during BST), or between 14:00 and 01:00 New York time during EST (15:00 to 02:00 during EDT).
What is the IANA time zone for French Polynesia?
Tahiti, Bora-Bora, Moorea: Pacific/Tahiti; Marquesas Islands: Pacific/Marquesas; Gambier Islands: Pacific/Gambier.
What time does the sun rise in Papeete?
Around 05:36 on 15 January 2027 and around 06:29 on 15 July 2027 (local time); sunset around 18:39 and 17:40. 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.
