Need to call or meet someone in the USA? Use the tool below to see the exact time difference right now, convert any time between India and the USA, and find the best time to call. It updates by itself when the US changes its clocks.
India (IST) is 9 hours 30 minutes ahead of New York right now.
On 1 November 2026 the clocks change in New York and the gap becomes 10 hours 30 minutes. India does not change its clock.
Best time to call
Top row: India time. Bottom row: city time. Hover or tap a block to see the exact times.
| India time | City time | Good to call? |
|---|
These are general sleep tips, not medical advice. If you take medicine, have a sleep or health condition, or are thinking about melatonin or sleep aids, please ask a doctor first.
India to USA time difference: summer and winter
India uses one time zone all year, called IST (UTC+5:30). The USA has several time zones, and most places move their clocks forward in spring and back in autumn. So the gap is not fixed. The table shows both versions.
| US city (time zone) | Summer gap (US daylight time) | Winter gap (US standard time) |
|---|---|---|
| New York (Eastern) | 9 hours 30 minutes | 10 hours 30 minutes |
| Chicago (Central) | 10 hours 30 minutes | 11 hours 30 minutes |
| Denver (Mountain) | 11 hours 30 minutes | 12 hours 30 minutes |
| Los Angeles (Pacific) | 12 hours 30 minutes | 13 hours 30 minutes |
India is always ahead. Under current US rules, daylight saving time runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. In 2026 it ends on 1 November, and in 2027 it starts on 14 March. Rules can change, so use the tool above for the exact date you need.
Best time to call the USA from India
Most people want a call that is not too early or too late on either side. These windows give both of you a normal daytime or evening hour. All times are for a regular weekday.
- New York: in summer, 6 PM to 9 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM in New York. In winter, 7 PM to 9 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
- Chicago: in summer, 7 PM to 9 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM in Chicago. In winter, 8 PM to 10 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
- Denver: in summer, 8 PM to 10 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM in Denver. In winter, 9 PM to 11 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
- Los Angeles: the overlap is small. In summer, 9 PM to 10:30 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 10 AM in Los Angeles. In winter, 10 PM to 11 PM in India is 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM.
If the person in the USA is free only in the evening, call in the early morning in India instead. For example, 7 AM in India is about 9:30 PM on the evening before in New York in summer, and 8:30 PM in winter. Weekend plans depend on your own routine, so use the table in the tool above and pick the slot that suits both of you.
How the date changes
Because India is ahead, the date can be different on the two sides. In summer, when it is 9 PM on Saturday in Delhi, it is 11:30 AM on Saturday in New York. When it is 2 AM on Sunday in Delhi, it is still 4:30 PM on Saturday in New York. The tool shows next day or previous day next to every result, so you do not mix up deadlines, meetings or flight times.
Common mistakes with the India to USA time difference
- Treating the gap as fixed. It is 9.5 hours to New York in summer and 10.5 hours in winter.
- Forgetting the clock change. If you hold a weekly meeting at the same Indian time, the US time shifts by one hour after the US changes its clocks.
- Mixing up US time zones. The main part of the USA has Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific time, and Alaska and Hawaii are different again. This tool covers New York, Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not change their clocks, so their gap with India stays the same all year.
- Using an old chart. A fixed chart is wrong for half of the year. The live tool checks the date you choose.
Flying from India to the USA? A short note on jet lag
The Jet lag plan tab in the tool gives a simple step-by-step plan for the city you pick. For the full plan, read our jet lag guide for India to the USA. To fix a regular call time with family, see the best time to call family abroad. In short, you move your body clock back by about 9.5 to 13.5 hours. Many people find flying west a little easier than flying east, but it is different for everyone.
How this tool works
The tool uses the time zone rules built into your web browser. These come from the public IANA time zone database, which most phones and computers use. Nothing you type in the tool is saved or sent to us. Last updated: 10 October 2026. If you see a wrong result, please tell us through the Contact page. You can also see all our travel tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between India and the USA?
India is 9 hours 30 minutes ahead of New York when the US is on daylight saving time (March to November) and 10 hours 30 minutes ahead when the US is on standard time (November to March). Other US cities have a bigger gap: Chicago is 1 hour more, Denver 2 hours more and Los Angeles 3 hours more than New York.
Is India ahead of the USA?
Yes. India is ahead of every US time zone. When it is evening in India, it is morning or afternoon on the same day in the USA. After midnight in India, it is still the previous day in the USA.
What is 9 PM IST in New York?
In summer, 9 PM in India is 11:30 AM in New York on the same day. In winter, 9 PM in India is 10:30 AM in New York on the same day.
Why does the India to USA time difference change?
India uses the same time all year (IST, UTC+5:30). Most of the USA moves its clocks forward one hour in spring and back one hour in autumn, so the gap becomes 1 hour smaller in summer and 1 hour bigger in winter.
When do the US clocks change?
Under current rules, US daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November and starts on the second Sunday in March. In 2026 it ends on 1 November, and in 2027 it starts on 14 March.
Does India have daylight saving time?
No. India uses India Standard Time (IST), which is UTC+5:30, all year round.
Which US city is easiest to call from India?
New York and other cities on the US East Coast have the smallest time difference, so the overlap with the Indian evening is the longest. Los Angeles has the shortest overlap.