Best Time to Call Australia from the USA
Find the best time to call Australia from the USA. Compare Australian and US time zones, avoid late-night calls, and schedule meetings with confidence.
TIME ZONES
Rachel
7/23/20263 min read
Planning a call between Australia and the United States can be challenging because both countries span multiple time zones. Depending on where you and the other person are located, the time difference can range from around 13 to 19 hours, and daylight saving time can change the gap during different parts of the year.
This guide explains the best times to call Australia from the USA and how to avoid scheduling mistakes.
Why Is the Time Difference So Large?
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, while the United States is in the Northern Hemisphere. The countries are separated by the Pacific Ocean and use different standard time zones.
Australia has three main time zones:
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
Australian Central Standard Time (ACST)
Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
The USA has six primary time zones:
Eastern Time (ET)
Central Time (CT)
Mountain Time (MT)
Pacific Time (PT)
Alaska Time (AKT)
Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HAT)
Because both countries may observe daylight saving time at different dates—or not at all—the time difference changes throughout the year.
Best Time to Call Australia
For most business and personal calls, aim for Australian business hours between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
This usually means calling from the USA during the afternoon or evening on the previous day.
Example (Sydney & New York)
Best Time by US Time Zone
Eastern Time (New York, Miami, Atlanta)
The best time to call Australia is usually between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM, which reaches Australia the following morning.
Central Time (Chicago, Dallas, Houston)
Try calling between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Mountain Time (Denver, Phoenix)
Evening hours between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM generally work well.
Pacific Time (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle)
Late afternoon to early evening—around 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM—is often the most convenient.
Alaska
Early afternoon usually aligns with Australia's morning.
Hawaii
Morning and early afternoon often match Australia's next-day business hours.
Best Time for Business Meetings
If you're scheduling meetings, these windows usually provide the best overlap:
USA: 4:00 PM–8:00 PM
Australia: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (next day)
This allows both participants to join during normal working hours.
Things to Remember
Australia is usually one calendar day ahead of the United States.
Daylight Saving Time changes the time difference during parts of the year.
Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not observe daylight saving time.
Arizona and Hawaii generally do not observe daylight saving time in the USA.
Always confirm the local time before making an important call.
Use a Time Converter
Instead of calculating the difference manually, use a live time converter to compare Australian and US cities instantly.
TimeNowOnline provides:
These tools help you schedule international calls with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to call Australia from the USA?
For most locations, late afternoon or evening in the USA matches Australia's next morning.
Is Australia ahead of the USA?
Yes. Australia is generally between 13 and 19 hours ahead, depending on the cities and time of year.
Why does the time difference change?
Both countries observe daylight saving time differently, and not every state or territory changes its clocks.
What is the best time for a business meeting?
A meeting during Australia's morning and the USA's late afternoon or evening usually works best.
Which Australian cities use the same time?
Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and Brisbane are often on the same time during part of the year, although Brisbane does not observe daylight saving time.
Which US time zone is closest to Australia?
Pacific Time generally has the smallest time difference with eastern Australia among the contiguous US time zones.
How can I check the current time in Australia?
You can use the live Australia clock and city pages on TimeNowOnline to see the current local time instantly.
Does Hawaii have the same time difference all year?
No. Because Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time while parts of Australia do, the difference changes during the year.
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