The best time for meetings between the US and Asia
Meetings between the Americas and Asia rarely have a comfortable slot for everyone. The working days do not overlap, so one side always joins early in the morning or in the evening. The goal is to choose the least painful option and share the burden.
Time differences with Asia
None of these Asian cities use daylight saving time, so the differences change only when the US changes its clocks (in 2026, on March 8 and November 1).
| From New York | US summer | US winter |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai (UTC+4) | 8 h ahead | 9 h ahead |
| Mumbai, New Delhi (UTC+5:30) | 9 h 30 ahead | 10 h 30 ahead |
| Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila (UTC+8) | 12 h ahead | 13 h ahead |
| Tokyo, Seoul (UTC+9) | 13 h ahead | 14 h ahead |
From Los Angeles add three hours to each difference: Tokyo is 16 hours ahead during the US summer and 17 hours during the US winter.
The date line effect
When it is evening in the Americas it is already the next morning in East Asia. A call set for Tuesday 7:00 PM in Los Angeles happens on Wednesday morning in Tokyo. Always write the date for both sides in the invite, or Asian participants may show up a day late.
Practical slots
US East Coast and Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore
- 8:00 PM New York = 9:00 AM Tokyo (next day) during the US summer. The US side works late, Asia starts its day.
- 7:00 AM New York = 7:00 PM Singapore / 8:00 PM Tokyo in the US summer. Asia stays late, the US starts early.
- Alternate between the two options for recurring meetings so neither side always carries the cost.
US West Coast and East Asia
The West Coast has the best position: 4:00 to 6:00 PM Pacific is 8:00 to 10:00 AM in Tokyo the next day during the US summer (9:00 to 11:00 AM in the US winter). This is why many US–Asia teams are anchored in California.
US and India
India's half-hour offset surprises people. 8:00 to 9:30 AM Eastern is 5:30 to 7:00 PM in India during the US summer, a common slot for teams that work together daily. In the US winter, the same 8:00 AM call is 6:30 PM in India.
US and Dubai
Dubai is the easiest Asian city for the US East Coast: 8:00 to 9:00 AM Eastern is 4:00 to 5:00 PM in Dubai in the US summer. Remember that the UAE work week runs Monday to Friday, with many companies finishing early on Friday.
Three ways to make it sustainable
- Rotate the inconvenient slot monthly or quarterly. Our guide on fair recurring meetings explains how.
- Keep calls short and send the material in advance, so the meeting is for decisions, not presentations.
- Use written updates for status reports and reserve live calls for topics that need discussion.
Example invite
Los Angeles: Tuesday, November 10, 4:00 PM
Tokyo: Wednesday, November 11, 9:00 AM
Singapore: Wednesday, November 11, 8:00 AM
The planner shows the date next to each guest's time when the call crosses midnight, so you can copy the invite without converting anything by hand.