Paraguay
Asunción
Current time
Monday, June 22, 2026
- Capital
- Asunción
- Time zone
- America/Asuncion
- UTC offset
- UTC-3
Paraguay operates on a single time zone, America/Asuncion, which is 4 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-4) during standard time and 3 hours behind (UTC-3) during daylight saving time. The country observes daylight saving, adjusting clocks forward by one hour from the first Sunday in October to the fourth Sunday in March. This schedule affects business hours and cross-border coordination, particularly with neighboring countries like Brazil and Argentina, which may follow different DST rules.
Time Zone and Daylight Saving
Paraguay uses Paraguay Time (PYT) during standard time and Paraguay Summer Time (PYST) during daylight saving. The switch to DST begins in October, aligning clocks with the Southern Hemisphere's summer. This shift impacts scheduling with international partners, especially those in the Northern Hemisphere, where DST periods differ. Businesses in Asunción and other cities often adjust meeting times during these transitions to maintain global coordination.
Unlike countries with multiple time zones, Paraguay's single zone simplifies domestic scheduling but requires careful planning for international calls. When contacting Paraguay from the US Eastern Time Zone, the time difference ranges from 1 to 2 hours, depending on DST. From China (CST), the difference is 11–12 hours, while Central European Time (CET) varies between 5–6 hours behind Paraguay, adjusting for respective DST schedules.
Practical Scheduling Considerations
Paraguay's standard business hours are typically 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with a midday break, but these may vary during DST. The national holiday calendar includes observances like Independence Day (May 14–15), during which offices may close. Travelers and remote workers should verify local hours, as some businesses extend evening operations in summer to avoid peak heat.
For virtual meetings, note that Paraguay does not observe major holiday weeks like Golden Week or Ramadan, but regional festivals (e.g., Carnival in February) can affect availability. When scheduling with Asunción, confirm time zones twice annually during DST transitions, as not all global calendars auto-update Paraguay's unique October–March daylight saving window.
FAQ
- Does Paraguay have daylight saving time?
- Yes, Paraguay observes daylight saving from the first Sunday in October to the fourth Sunday in March, moving clocks forward by one hour (UTC-3).
- What is the time difference between Paraguay and the US East Coast?
- Paraguay is 1 hour ahead of US Eastern Time (ET) during Paraguay's standard time (UTC-4) and 2 hours ahead when both regions observe daylight saving. However, the US and Paraguay have non-overlapping DST periods, creating temporary 0 or 3-hour gaps during transition weeks.
- Are there multiple time zones in Paraguay?
- No, Paraguay uses a single time zone (America/Asuncion) nationwide, including its capital, Asunción, and all other regions.