Working with a US team from India means finding the few hours when both sides are at their desks. India is 9½ to 13½ hours ahead of the US mainland, and the gap changes twice a year because the US moves its clocks and India doesn't.
Time differences between India and the US
| US time zone | Standard time (Nov – Mar) | Daylight time (Mar – Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (New York) | IST is 10h 30m ahead | IST is 9h 30m ahead |
| Central (Chicago) | 11h 30m ahead | 10h 30m ahead |
| Mountain (Denver) | 12h 30m ahead | 11h 30m ahead |
| Pacific (San Francisco) | 13h 30m ahead | 12h 30m ahead |
How the overlap is calculated
The calculator converts the US working day into IST for the date you choose, using the official time zone database, and finds where it meets your own working hours.
Example: Your hours 11 am – 8 pm IST, team in New York working 9 am – 5 pm
In January (EST), their day runs 7:30 pm to 3:30 am IST. Overlap: 30 minutes, 7:30–8 pm IST.
In July (EDT), it runs 6:30 pm to 2:30 am IST. Overlap: 90 minutes, 6:30–8 pm IST.
With a team in San Francisco in January, their day starts at 10:30 pm IST, so there's no overlap unless someone shifts hours.
Making the overlap work
- Agree on a fixed 1–2 hour overlap window and keep meetings inside it.
- Shifting your day to start at 1 or 2 pm IST is common for East Coast teams; West Coast teams usually need someone to start early or finish late.
- Work asynchronously the rest of the day: written updates, recorded demos and clear tickets.
- Put the November and March clock changes in your calendar; meetings move by an hour for you.
- If you're asked to work US hours fully, factor the night-shift cost into your rate or salary.
How to use this calculator
- Choose the US time zone and their working hours.
- Enter your working hours in India.
- Pick a date. The gap changes when US clocks change.
FAQs
What time is 9 am New York in India?
6:30 pm IST from March to early November, and 7:30 pm IST the rest of the year.
How much overlap do US companies expect?
Two to four hours is common for early-career remote roles: enough for a daily call and quick questions.
Results are estimates and aren't financial advice. For decisions about your own money, check with a qualified adviser. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.