Quick Answer
PST (UTC−8) standard 9–5 business hours fall at 17:00–01:00 UTC. Eastern Time has 5 hours of overlap, Central has 6, and Mountain has 7 — all meet the 4-hour requirement. UK GMT, CET, IST, and most Asia-Pacific zones have zero or minimal overlap with Pacific Time at standard 9–5 hours.
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Enter your timezone and working hours to see exactly how many hours of overlap you have with Pacific Standard Time, with DST handled automatically.
Open Working Hours Overlap Tool — Free →Remote job postings from US West Coast companies often include a requirement like "must have 4 hours of daily overlap with PST." If you're in London, Mumbai, or Tokyo, that raises an immediate question: does your timezone qualify? This page gives you the complete reference table — every major timezone, its overlap with PST 9–5, and exactly what schedule adjustment gets you to 4 hours if the standard 9–5 doesn't.
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What “4-Hour Overlap With PST” Means
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC−8. A standard 9 AM–5 PM PST workday converts to 17:00–01:00 UTC (crossing midnight). When a job posting says "4 hours of PST overlap," it means your working hours must cover at least 4 hours within that UTC window — hours when both you and the PST team are simultaneously online.
| Time | PST local | UTC equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Workday start | 9:00 AM PST | 17:00 UTC |
| Noon | 12:00 PM PST | 20:00 UTC |
| Workday end | 5:00 PM PST | 01:00 UTC (next day) |
Tip: When evaluating remote jobs, check the posting carefully. Some say “PST overlap” (UTC−8, winter) while others mean “Pacific Time overlap” — which includes PDT (UTC−7) in summer. The difference shifts the UTC window by one hour but doesn't usually change whether you qualify.
PST vs PDT: The Seasonal Shift
The US Pacific Coast observes Daylight Saving Time. PST (UTC−8) is in effect from the first Sunday of November through the second Sunday of March. PDT (UTC−7) applies for the rest of the year — roughly March through November.
| Period | Abbreviation | UTC Offset | 9 AM–5 PM in UTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Nov–Mar) | PST | UTC−8 | 17:00–01:00 |
| Summer (Mar–Nov) | PDT | UTC−7 | 16:00–00:00 |
For most international timezones, the 1-hour PDT shift does not change whether you meet the 4-hour requirement — the overlap count stays the same.
PST Overlap Reference Table — All Major Time Zones
Overlap calculated assuming standard 9 AM–5 PM local working hours in each zone during PST season (UTC−8). The PST 9–5 window is 17:00–01:00 UTC.
| Time Zone | Abbr | UTC Offset | 9–5 Local → UTC | Overlap With PST 9–5 | Meets 4 hr? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Time | PST | UTC−8 | 17:00–01:00 | 8 hours | ✅ |
| Mountain Time | MST | UTC−7 | 16:00–00:00 | 7 hours | ✅ |
| Central Time | CST | UTC−6 | 15:00–23:00 | 6 hours | ✅ |
| Eastern Time | EST | UTC−5 | 14:00–22:00 | 5 hours | ✅ |
| London | GMT | UTC+0 | 09:00–17:00 | 0 hours | ❌ |
| Paris / Berlin | CET | UTC+1 | 08:00–16:00 | 0 hours | ❌ |
| Dubai | GST | UTC+4 | 05:00–13:00 | 0 hours | ❌ |
| Mumbai | IST | UTC+5:30 | 03:30–11:30 | 0 hours | ❌ |
| Singapore / Beijing | SGT/CST | UTC+8 | 01:00–09:00 | 0 hours | ❌ |
| Tokyo / Seoul | JST/KST | UTC+9 | 00:00–08:00 | 1 hour | ❌ |
| Sydney | AEST | UTC+10 | 23:00–07:00† | 2 hours | ❌ |
| Auckland | NZST | UTC+12 | 21:00–05:00† | 4 hours | ✅ |
† UTC time crosses midnight. Sydney 9 AM AEST = 23:00 UTC prev day; Auckland 9 AM NZST = 21:00 UTC prev day. Overlap shown reflects any simultaneous working moment across a shared day.
US Time Zones: All Qualify Comfortably
Every continental US time zone meets — and exceeds — the 4-hour PST overlap requirement at standard 9–5 hours. The further east you are, the more front-loaded the overlap is (morning for PST, afternoon for you).
| Zone | Your 9–5 local | Overlap window (PST local) | Overlap (your local) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain (MST) | 9 AM – 5 PM | 9 AM – 4 PM PST | 10 AM – 5 PM MST | 7 hours |
| Central (CST) | 9 AM – 5 PM | 9 AM – 3 PM PST | 11 AM – 5 PM CST | 6 hours |
| Eastern (EST) | 9 AM – 5 PM | 9 AM – 2 PM PST | Noon – 5 PM EST | 5 hours |
How to Get 4-Hour PST Overlap From International Time Zones
If your timezone is outside North America, standard 9–5 hours won't give you PST overlap. The table below shows the earliest possible start and end time that still produces 4 hours of overlap with PST 9–5 (17:00–01:00 UTC), along with the equivalent PST window you would be covering.
| Zone | Earliest 4-hr window (local) | PST overlap window | Practical? |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (GMT) | 5 PM – 9 PM GMT | PST 9 AM – 1 PM | Late evening shift |
| Paris / Berlin (CET) | 6 PM – 10 PM CET | PST 9 AM – 1 PM | Late evening shift |
| Dubai (GST) | 9 PM – 1 AM GST | PST 9 AM – 1 PM | Night shift |
| Mumbai (IST) | 10:30 PM – 2:30 AM IST | PST 9 AM – 1 PM | Night shift |
| Singapore / Beijing | 1 AM – 5 AM SGT/CST | PST 9 AM – 1 PM | Early morning / night |
| Tokyo / Seoul (JST/KST) | 6 AM – 10 AM JST/KST | PST 1 PM – 5 PM | Early morning — doable |
| Sydney (AEST) | 7 AM – 11 AM AEST | PST 12 PM – 4 PM | Morning shift — doable |
| Auckland (NZST) | 9 AM – 1 PM NZST | PST 1 PM – 5 PM | Standard morning hours ✓ |
"Earliest 4-hr window" means the latest start time that still delivers exactly 4 hours of PST overlap. Starting earlier gives more overlap; starting later gives less.
Surprising Winners: Tokyo, Seoul, and Sydney
Tokyo and Seoul workers may be surprised to find that a morning shift of 6 AM–10 AM JST/KST gives exactly 4 hours of PST overlap (PST 1 PM–5 PM). This is unconventional but increasingly common among Japan- and Korea-based developers who work remote for US West Coast companies.
Sydney is even more accessible: working 7 AM–11 AM AEST covers PST 12 PM–4 PM, a solid afternoon overlap. And it's early-morning work rather than a night shift.
Note: New Zealand's overlap with PST varies by DST period. During US winter (PST) + NZ summer (NZDT, UTC+13), overlap is 5 hours. During US summer (PDT) + NZ winter (NZST), overlap drops to 3 hours — just below the 4-hour threshold. Always verify with the actual dates using the overlap calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "4 hours overlap with PST" mean in a remote job posting?
It means your working hours must cover at least 4 consecutive hours that are also within PST business hours (9 AM–5 PM PST = 17:00–01:00 UTC). Employers use this as a minimum to ensure real-time collaboration is possible for code reviews, standups, and urgent questions.
Does PST change to PDT in summer?
Yes. Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC−8) applies November through mid-March. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC−7) applies mid-March through November. When the US is on PDT, the 9–5 workday shifts to 16:00–00:00 UTC — one hour earlier. This doesn't change the overlap count for most US timezones, but it does affect international zones near the boundary.
Can someone in India get 4-hour PST overlap without a night shift?
Not really. The minimum 4-hour PST overlap from India requires working from at least 10:30 PM IST. The closest to a normal schedule would be a split shift: a few hours in the morning (to handle async work) and again from 10:30 PM IST for the PST overlap window.
Is there any Asia-Pacific zone that qualifies at standard 9–5 hours?
Auckland (NZST, UTC+12) is the only one — it delivers exactly 4 hours of PST overlap at standard 9 AM–5 PM local hours, with the overlap falling at PST 1 PM–5 PM. Sydney comes close with 2 hours (PST 3–5 PM), and Tokyo/Seoul get 1 hour.
How do I verify the exact overlap for my timezone?
Use the NextUtils Working Hours Overlap Calculator. Set one participant to Pacific Time (PT) with 9:00–17:00 hours, add your timezone with your actual working hours, and click Find Overlaps. The tool shows the exact window and handles DST automatically.
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