Current time in Tacoma, WA
Pacific Time UTC−8 · IANA zone America/Los_Angeles
Time zone details
| Time zone | Pacific Time (PT) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | PST, UTC−8 (early Nov – mid Mar) |
| Daylight time | PDT, UTC−7 (mid Mar – early Nov) |
| DST clock change | Forward 1 h, 2nd Sunday of March · Back 1 h, 1st Sunday of November |
| Sunrise today | — |
| Sunset today | — |
| Day length | — |
| Coordinates | 47.25° N, 122.44° W |
Time difference from Tacoma
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| New York | +3 h |
| Chicago | +2 h |
| Denver | +1 h |
| Phoenix | +1 / 0 h |
| Anchorage | −1 h |
| Honolulu | −2 / −3 h |
Tacoma keeps step with Seattle and the full Pacific Time Zone.
About time in Tacoma
Tacoma is the seat of Pierce County on Commencement Bay, an arm of southern Puget Sound about 32 miles southwest of Seattle.
The Northern Pacific Railroad selected Tacoma as its western terminus in 1873, and when the transcontinental line was completed a decade later, the city's schedules joined the railroad timetable system that produced America's standard time zones in November 1883.
Since 2015 the Port of Tacoma has been managed jointly with the Port of Seattle as the Northwest Seaport Alliance, so container bookings, gate hours, and vessel calls across both harbors are coordinated on a single Pacific clock.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Tacoma in?
Tacoma is in the Pacific Time Zone (PT). It observes Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC−8) in winter and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC−7) from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November.
What is the time difference between Tacoma and New York?
New York holds a 3-hour lead over Tacoma in every season, since the two cities change clocks for daylight saving on the same dates. Noon in Tacoma is 3:00 PM in New York.
Does Tacoma observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Clocks move forward one hour at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and back one hour at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday of November. In 2026 the changes fall on March 8 and November 1.