Clocks 'spring forward' this weekend — Daylight saving time 2025 explained

For most Americans, this weekend marks the return of longer evenings and shorter nights. At exactly 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2025, clocks across the United States jumped forward by one hour, instantly pushing the time to 3 a.m.

This biannual ritual is known as Daylight Saving Time (DST). It is designed to make better use of daylight by shifting an hour of morning sunlight into the evening. However, it also results in the loss of an hour of sleep.

While the idea of adjusting clocks for seasonal daylight changes has been around for over a century, DST remains a debated topic. Some praise the practice for extending evening daylight, which can make outdoor activities more enjoyable and potentially reduce energy consumption.

Others argue that it disrupts sleep cycles and increases health risks. Discussions about whether to make DST permanent or eliminate it altogether are ongoing, and some states have already opted out of practice.

What is daylight saving time?

Daylight Saving Time is the period between March and November when clocks are set one hour ahead, USA Today reports. This adjustment is intended to extend daylight into the evening hours, reducing the need for artificial lighting and making better use of natural light.

The transition in spring differs from the change in fall. In November, clocks "fall back" by one hour, giving people an extra hour of sleep. In March, they "spring forward," resulting in the loss of an hour of sleep but providing longer daylight hours in the evening.

When does daylight saving time begin and end in 2025?

• Start: Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2 a.m. (clocks move forward to 3 a.m.)
• End: Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2 a.m. (clocks move back to 1 a.m.)

The concept of Daylight Saving Time dates back to the early 20th century, NBC News reports. The United States first introduced DST with the Standard Time Act of 1918, during World War I, as a way to conserve energy. The idea was that longer daylight hours in the evening would reduce electricity use.

Although DST was repealed after the war, it made a comeback during World War II. By 1966, the Uniform Time Act established nationwide guidelines for DST, though states were allowed to opt out.

While most of the U.S. follows Daylight Saving Time, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not.

• Hawaii: Since the state is close to the equator, daylight hours remain relatively consistent throughout the year, which arguably makes DST irrelevant.
• Arizona: The state chose to stick with standard time to avoid extending daylight hours into the evening. However, the Navajo Nation within Arizona does observe DST.

Several U.S. territories do not observe DST, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

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