Brazil
Brasília
Current time
Monday, June 22, 2026
- Capital
- Brasília
- Time zone
- America/Sao_Paulo
- UTC offset
- UTC-3
Brazil spans four official time zones (UTC-2 to UTC-5), with major cities like São Paulo and Brasília observing UTC-3 (BRT) year-round without daylight saving. As a BRICS nation, Brazil maintains an 11-hour time difference with China (UTC+8) and is 1 hour ahead of New York (UTC-5).
Brazil's Time Zones
Brazil operates four time zones: UTC-5 in western Acre, UTC-4 in western Amazonas, UTC-3 for central/western regions (including Brasília and Rio), and UTC-2 on Fernando de Noronha islands. Over 90% of the population resides in the UTC-3 zone.
Daylight saving time was abolished in 2019. Previously, UTC-3 areas shifted to UTC-2 from October-February. Current fixed time offsets require attention when coordinating with neighboring countries like Argentina that still observe DST.
Global Time Comparisons
Brazil's UTC-3 is 11 hours behind Beijing (UTC+8) – 3 PM in China equals 4 AM same day in São Paulo. It's 2 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (UTC-5), making 10 AM in New York noon in Brasília.
Most European countries (UTC+1/+2) are 4-5 hours ahead of Brazil (5-6 during DST). When it's noon in London, Brasília shows 9 AM (winter) or 8 AM (summer). Use time converters for international meetings.
FAQ
- Does Brazil observe daylight saving time?
- No. Brazil permanently abolished DST in 2019. All time zones now maintain constant UTC offsets throughout the year.
- How to adjust watches when flying from China to Brazil?
- Subtract 11 hours from Beijing Time (UTC+8). A 24-hour flight departing Beijing at 12:00 would arrive in São Paulo at 17:00 the previous day (local time).
- Are Brasília and Rio de Janeiro in the same time zone?
- Yes. Both cities use UTC-3 (BRT). However, western cities like Rio Branco (UTC-5) are 2 hours behind the capital.