Current time in Scottsdale, AZ
Mountain Standard Time UTC−7 · IANA zone America/Phoenix
Time zone details
| Time zone | Mountain Standard Time (MST) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | MST, UTC−7 (all year) |
| Daylight time | Not observed |
| DST clock change | None — Arizona stays on MST year-round |
| Sunrise today | — |
| Sunset today | — |
| Day length | — |
| Coordinates | 33.49° N, 111.93° W |
Time difference from Scottsdale
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| New York | +2 / +3 h |
| Chicago | +1 / +2 h |
| Denver | 0 / +1 h |
| Los Angeles | −1 / 0 h |
| Anchorage | −2 / −1 h |
| Honolulu | −3 h |
Scottsdale's fixed clock coincides with Mountain Time each winter and Pacific Time each summer, like all of Arizona outside the Navajo Nation.
About time in Scottsdale
Scottsdale runs in a narrow strip roughly 31 miles long along Phoenix's eastern boundary in Maricopa County, and is named for US Army chaplain Winfield Scott, who bought its first farmland in 1888.
Cactus League baseball illustrates the fixed clock nicely: once the rest of the country springs forward in early March, a 1:05 PM first pitch at Scottsdale Stadium becomes 4:05 PM for East Coast viewers — an hour later, relatively, than the week before.
Arizona's legislature turned down daylight saving in 1968 after a single year's trial, so Scottsdale's UTC−7 offset never varies; summer visitors from Los Angeles find their watches already correct, while in winter Scottsdale reads one hour later than California.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Scottsdale in?
Scottsdale runs on Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC−7) in every season, because Arizona does not participate in daylight saving time.
Is Scottsdale ever the same time as Los Angeles?
Yes — for most of the year. While daylight saving is in effect (March to November), Los Angeles is on UTC−7 like Scottsdale. In winter Scottsdale reads one hour later than California.
Does Scottsdale change its clocks twice a year?
No. Arizona declined daylight saving in 1968 after trying it for one year, so Scottsdale's clocks stay put; only the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona changes clocks.