How many hours will you share with your US team?
The US spans six time zones, so where your hire lives changes everything. See your shared working hours, the best time for calls and the weeks when clock changes catch teams out.
Your team and your US hire
Some states span two time zones. We use the zone most people live in.
Clocks change on different dates in Europe and the US. Pick a date to see the exact overlap.
Shared working hours with every US time zone
| US time zone | Example states | Time difference | Shared hours |
|---|
Based on your working hours and the date you chose. Your hire's time zone is highlighted.
Time zones and clock changes use your browser's official time zone database, so the overlap stays accurate all year.
What is the time difference between the UK and the US?
The US is 5 to 10 hours behind the UK, depending on the state. New York and the East Coast are 5 hours behind London. Texas and Chicago are 6 hours behind, Colorado 7 and California 8. Hawaii is 10 hours behind in winter and 11 in summer. Most of Europe adds one more hour.
For a UK team working 9:00 to 17:30, that leaves about 3.5 hours a day with the East Coast and as little as 30 minutes with California. Twice a year, for a few weeks, the gap shrinks by an hour because the US and Europe change their clocks on different dates.
At Foothold America, all our clients run remote US teams. We help them choose where to hire, so the time difference works for the business rather than against it.
Working across time zones
Six ways to make the time difference work for you.
Hire on the East Coast first
Eastern time gives UK and European teams the most overlap. Many companies place their first US hire in New York, Boston or Florida.
Protect the overlap
Keep your shared hours for meetings and decisions. Use the rest of the day for focused work on both sides.
Agree core hours
A US hire who starts at 8:00 gains your team an extra hour of overlap every day. Agree core hours before you make an offer.
Watch the clock changes
In March and October/November the gap shrinks by an hour for a few weeks. Check recurring meetings when the clocks change.
Write things down
Clear written updates keep work moving when one side is offline. Good handovers matter more than extra meetings.
Follow US rules on hours
Moving a US employee’s hours can affect overtime and state rules. Check with your employment partner before you change schedules.
Planning your US team?
Where you hire matters as much as who you hire. We will help you find the right state for your team, your hours and your budget.
Laurie Spicer
Director of US Expansion. UK based.
What to expect on the call
- No sales pitch, just an honest read on your plans
- Advice on where to hire for overlap, talent and cost
- Clear advice on EOR, PEO+ or your own US entity
- Come as you are, no prep needed
Book a call with Laurie
US time zones: FAQs
Straight answers about working with a US team from the UK and Europe.
The US mainland has four main time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii add two more. Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, so it lines up with Pacific time in summer.
New York is usually 5 hours behind London. For a few weeks in March and late October or early November, the gap is 4 hours because the US changes its clocks on different dates.
The US moves its clocks forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November. The UK and EU change on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
States on Eastern time, such as New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, give the most overlap with the UK and Europe. That is usually 3 to 4 hours a day.
Yes, you can agree working hours that suit both teams. Set them out clearly in the offer. Check overtime rules, as many US employees are entitled to overtime pay.
It takes more planning, as shared hours can drop to an hour or less. Companies make it work with agreed core hours, written updates and the odd early or late call.
Yes. We help UK and European companies hire, employ and pay remote US teams in all 50 states. We can advise on where to hire as well as how.
Building a remote US team? Start in the right place.
Tell us where your team is based and what the role needs. We will help you choose where to hire and how to employ them.
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