Daylight Saving Time vs. Standard Time

The question of whether to keep Daylight Saving Time, abolish it, or make it permanent has become one of the most debated timekeeping issues worldwide. To understand the debate, it helps to know exactly what each option means.

The Difference Explained

Standard time is the base time for a given time zone, aligned as closely as possible with solar noon — when the sun is at its highest point — occurring near 12:00 PM. Each time zone is defined by an offset from UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).

Daylight Saving Time advances the clock by one hour from standard time. This shifts one hour of morning light to the evening. For example, Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC−5, while Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is UTC−4.

Currently, most places that observe DST switch between these two settings twice a year. The 2026 DST schedule shows when each major region makes the change. The debate centers on whether to stop switching — and if so, which setting to keep.

What Permanent DST Would Look Like

Under permanent DST, clocks would stay advanced year-round. This means:

• Later sunrises in winter: In northern US cities, sunrise could be as late as 8:30–9:00 AM in December and January. New York would see sunrise at roughly 8:17 AM on the winter solstice. Seattle would not see sunrise until about 8:55 AM.
• Later sunsets year-round: More evening light, even in winter. Sunset in New York on the winter solstice would shift from 4:31 PM to 5:31 PM.
• Dark mornings for school children: This was a primary complaint during the US 1974 year-round DST trial, which was cut short due to public opposition.

What Permanent Standard Time Would Look Like

Under permanent standard time, clocks would stay on their base setting year-round:

• Earlier sunrises in summer: In many areas, the sun would rise before 5:00 AM in June — light that most people sleep through.
• Earlier sunsets in summer: The trade-off is losing an hour of evening light. In New York, the longest day's sunset would shift from 8:31 PM to 7:31 PM.
• Better alignment with circadian rhythms: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine favors this option, arguing that morning light is critical for regulating the body's internal clock.

The US Debate

The Sunshine Protection Act, which passed the US Senate unanimously in March 2022, proposed permanent DST (not standard time). The House did not vote on it, and it expired with the 117th Congress. Reintroduced versions have not advanced.

At the state level, more than 30 states have introduced or passed legislation supporting permanent DST. However, under the Uniform Time Act, states can only opt out of DST (choosing permanent standard time) without federal approval — Arizona and Hawaii have done this. Adopting permanent DST requires an act of Congress.

Public polling consistently shows that most Americans want to stop switching clocks, but they are roughly split on whether they prefer permanent DST or permanent standard time.

The European Debate

In 2018, the European Commission proposed allowing member states to choose between permanent standard time or permanent summer time. A public consultation received 4.6 million responses — the largest in EU history — with 84% favoring an end to clock changes.

The European Parliament voted in favor in March 2019. However, the Council of the EU has not reached agreement, largely because neighboring countries fear creating a patchwork of time zones. If Germany chose summer time and Poland chose standard time, for example, the border crossing would involve a one-hour shift where currently there is none.

The proposal remains stalled. EU summer time continues under Directive 2000/84/EC.

Countries That Have Already Chosen

Several countries have already made a permanent choice:

Russia's experience is particularly instructive. The country first tried permanent DST in 2011, then reversed to permanent standard time three years later after widespread dissatisfaction. This suggests that the health and daily-life effects of permanent DST may be more noticeable than anticipated.

Comparison Table

Last reviewed: March 2026. Data sources: official government publications and worldwideclock.com.