Guide
The best time for a meeting between the UK, the US and Australia
Australia and New Zealand are 9 to 19 hours away from the UK and the US, and both hemispheres change their clocks in opposite seasons. So the "best time" moves several times a year. Here are the windows that work, for each pair, with 2027 dates.
Why it's tricky
- Opposite seasons. When the UK and the US move to summer time in March, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland move back to winter time in April, and the other way round in September and October.
- Not all of Australia changes its clocks. Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart and Adelaide do. Brisbane, Perth and Darwin don't.
- The date line. Monday morning in Sydney is still Sunday afternoon or evening in the US.
UK and Australia or New Zealand
| London and… | Time difference | Best times to meet |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 11 h ahead (November–March), 9 h ahead (April–September), 10 h for a few weeks in between | Early morning in London = evening in Sydney: 7:00–8:00 London = 18:00–19:00 Sydney when 11 h apart; 8:00–9:00 London = 17:00–18:00 Sydney when 9 h apart. Or evening in London = next morning in Sydney: 21:00 London = 8:00 Sydney (11 h) or 23:00 London = 8:00 Sydney (9 h). |
| Brisbane | 10 h ahead (late October–late March), 9 h ahead (late March–late October) | 8:00 London = 18:00 Brisbane (10 h) or 17:00 Brisbane (9 h). |
| Perth | 8 h ahead (late October–late March), 7 h ahead (late March–late October) | The only real overlap with the UK: 9:00–10:00 London = 16:00–17:00 Perth in the UK summer; 8:00–10:00 London = 16:00–18:00 Perth in the UK winter. |
| Auckland | 13 h ahead (November–March), 11 h ahead (April–September), 12 h for a few weeks in between | Evening in London = next morning in Auckland: 20:00 London = 9:00 Auckland (13 h) or 21:00–22:00 London = 8:00–9:00 Auckland (11 h). |
2027 changes: the UK moves forward on 28 March and back on 31 October; Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Auckland move back on 4 April; Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra move forward on 3 October and Auckland on 26 September.
US and Australia or New Zealand
| Cities | Time difference | Best times to meet |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles – Sydney | Sydney 19 h ahead (November–mid March), 17 h (April–September), 18 h in between | The best US–Australia pair. Afternoon in Los Angeles = next morning in Sydney: 14:00–17:00 LA = 9:00–12:00 Sydney (19 h); 16:00–17:00 LA = 9:00–10:00 Sydney (17 h). |
| New York – Sydney | Sydney 16 h ahead (November–mid March), 14 h (April–September), 15 h in between | Late afternoon in New York = early next morning in Sydney: 16:00–18:00 New York = 8:00–10:00 Sydney (16 h). When 14 h apart: 18:00 New York = 8:00 Sydney. |
| Los Angeles – Auckland | Auckland 21 h ahead (November–mid March), 19 h (April–September), 20 h in between | Midday and afternoon in Los Angeles = next morning in Auckland: 12:00–17:00 LA = 9:00–14:00 Auckland (21 h); 14:00–17:00 LA = 9:00–12:00 Auckland (19 h). |
| New York – Auckland | Auckland 18 h ahead (November–mid March), 16 h (April–September), 17 h in between | 15:00–17:00 New York = 9:00–11:00 Auckland (18 h); 16:00–18:00 New York = 8:00–10:00 Auckland (16 h). |
Watch the weekday. A Monday-morning meeting in Sydney or Auckland falls on Sunday in the US. Book US–Australia calls on Tuesday to Friday in Australia, which is Monday to Thursday in the US.
A call with the UK, the US and Australia together
No hour is inside office hours for all three. The least painful slot is usually late afternoon in New York, evening in London and early morning in Sydney:
- In January: 16:00 New York = 21:00 London = 8:00 Sydney (the next day).
- In July: 17:00 New York = 22:00 London = 7:00 Sydney (the next day).
For a regular meeting, rotate the time every few weeks so the same team isn't always on the call late at night.
Three habits that prevent mix-ups
- Always write the day for both sides: "Tuesday 8:00 Sydney (Monday 16:00 New York)".
- Check recurring meetings in March, April, September, October and November, when the clocks change.
- Send a calendar invite, so each person sees the meeting in their own time and on their own day.
Let AlignHour handle the date line. Pick a time on your client's clock and see it for everyone, with the day spelled out and night-time flagged, then send the invite from your Google Calendar.
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