Time zone and daylight saving time in Germany
Time zones are always calculated by their differenceto UTC, the "Universal Time Coordinated". In Germany there is only a single time zone at UTC+1. For example, New York is currently at UTC-5 in Eastern Time, so the time difference between New York and Germany is six hours.They have a nationwide clock change from standard time to daylight saving time, where the clocks are switched forward by one hour in summer.
The next clock change in Germany will be on March 29th, 2026 at 02:00 to daylight saving time. The clocks are then set one hour forward. This means that it gets light later in the morning and dark later in the evening.
Back to overview: Germany
Only 1 nationwide time zone
| Standard time: | UTC +1 | Central European Time (CET) |
| Daylight saving time: | UTC +2 | Central European Summertime (CEST) |
Changeover from summer to winter time in Germany
The first changes from daylight saving time to standard time and back were made in Germany as early as 1916. The attempt at that time under Kaiser Wilhelm II did not last long. Already in the year 1919 the abolition took place. It was not until 1940, during the Second World War, that Germany returned to it. The argument was again the energy savings that were expected in the summer months. In 1947, they even went so far as to move away from standard time by 2 hours for 7 weeks and to turn the clock forward by one hour. After the end of the war in 1949, the criticisms got out of hand and the semi-annual time change was stopped again.The next attempt was made in 1973 after the oil crisis, but it took years before the European countries could agree. France was the first to introduce daylight saving time in 1976, while Germany followed suit in 1980. Europe had to wait another 16 years for a uniform date for the changeover in spring and fall. Only in 1996 was it possible to agree on the dates that are common today (last Sunday in March and October).
The next clock changes in Germany
Unlike in North America, the clocks in Germany do not change on the same day. Instead of the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November, Germany has different dates for the time change.| Date | Local time | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2025 | 3:00 am | -1 hour to standard time |
| Mar 29, 2026 | 2:00 am | +1 hour to daylight saving time |
| Oct 25, 2026 | 3:00 am | -1 hour to standard time |
| Mar 28, 2027 | 2:00 am | +1 hour to daylight saving time |
| Oct 31, 2027 | 3:00 am | -1 hour to standard time |
| Mar 26, 2028 | 2:00 am | +1 hour to daylight saving time |
| Oct 29, 2028 | 3:00 am | -1 hour to standard time |
| Mar 25, 2029 | 2:00 am | +1 hour to daylight saving time |
| Oct 28, 2029 | 3:00 am | -1 hour to standard time |
Changes in Daylight Saving Times
Since 1916, Germany has tried to introduce daylight saving four times: from 1916 to 1918, in 1940, 1943 to 1949 and 1980 until today.›All countries with Daylight Saving Time
Sunrise and sunset in Germany
All Countries with DST
Public holidays in Germany 2025-2029