Clocks in the United States go back one hour at 2am local time on Sunday 1 November 2026. Two becomes one. You gain an hour of sleep and lose an hour of evening light.
That is the answer most people arrive for. The more useful part of this page is the second question — the one people ask every year and never get a straight answer to.
The dates, for the next two years
| Year | Clocks forward | Clocks back |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 March | 1 November |
| 2027 | 14 March | 7 November |
The rule behind those dates is fixed: the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. Once you know that, you never need to look it up again.
“But my state got rid of this”
A great many people are certain their state abolished the clock change, because their legislature passed a bill saying so and it was in the news. Then November arrives and the clocks change anyway.
Both things are true, and the reason is a distinction written into federal law:
| What a state wants | Can it? |
|---|---|
| Stay on standard time all year (never spring forward) | Yes — a state may opt out on its own |
| Stay on daylight saving time all year (never fall back) | No — requires an act of Congress |
And most states chose the option they are not allowed to choose. Permanent daylight saving means lighter evenings, which is the popular version — so that is what state bills overwhelmingly ask for. Permanent standard time means darker evenings and is legal but unpopular. The result is a stack of state laws that were validly passed, are entirely real, and sit dormant — written to take effect only if and when Congress amends the federal statute. Which is why your state can have “ended” the clock change and still change the clock.
Who genuinely does not change
Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time all year, using the opt-out that is actually available. Several US territories — Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa — do not observe it either.
The exception inside the exception: the Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, does observe daylight saving time. A drive across northeastern Arizona in summer can therefore cross a time boundary more than once.
The Congress part
Bills to make daylight saving time permanent nationally have been introduced repeatedly, generally under the name the Sunshine Protection Act. Versions have advanced at times without becoming law.
Until one passes, the federal framework stands, and every state law premised on permanent daylight saving time stays on the shelf. That single fact resolves nearly all of the annual confusion: the decision is not sitting with your state legislature. It has already acted. It is sitting with Congress.
What to actually do on 1 November
- Phones, computers and smart devices change themselves. No action needed.
- Ovens, cars, wall clocks and older watches do not. Those are the ones that catch people out on Monday morning.
- Check any alarm that is not on your phone before Sunday night.
- If you work overnight, that shift is an hour longer — the 1am hour happens twice.
Daylight saving time in the United States begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November under federal law, giving dates of 8 March and 1 November in 2026 and 14 March and 7 November in 2027, with clocks changing at 2am local time. Hawaii and most of Arizona, along with Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa, do not observe daylight saving time, while the Navajo Nation does. Under the federal framework a state may exempt itself from daylight saving time and remain on standard time year-round, but may not adopt daylight saving time permanently without action by Congress; numerous state laws seeking permanent daylight saving time are contingent on such federal action. Bills to establish permanent daylight saving time nationally, generally titled the Sunshine Protection Act, have been introduced in Congress on multiple occasions without being enacted. Legislation in this area changes and readers should confirm the current position for their own state.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When does daylight saving time end in 2026?
At 2am local time on Sunday 1 November 2026. Clocks go back one hour, to 1am. You gain an hour.
When did it start in 2026?
8 March 2026. The rule is the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November.
When is it in 2027?
It begins on 14 March 2027 and ends on 7 November 2027.
Is it “daylight savings” or “daylight saving”?
The official name is daylight saving time, singular. Almost everybody says savings, which is why both spellings appear everywhere including in search results.
Which states do not observe it?
Hawaii and most of Arizona stay on standard time all year, as do several US territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa. The Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, does observe it.
My state passed a law to stop changing the clocks. Why does it still change?
Because federal law permits a state to leave daylight saving time and stay on standard time permanently, but does not permit a state to stay on daylight saving time permanently. Most state laws chose the second option, so they cannot take effect unless Congress changes the federal statute.
