Pretty soon, most folks in the U.S. will notice the sun hanging around a bit longer in the evening, courtesy of Daylight Saving Time kicking in. It’s a ritual that still stirs up plenty of grumbling—most of the world skips it entirely, and detractors say it messes with our sleep and even our health. Some U.S. lawmakers have pushed to lock it in year-round, and plenty of Americans are fed up with the biannual clock dance. Here’s your rundown for 2025, covering all the essentials.
When do we set the clocks forward in 2025?
For the parts of the U.S. that do it, Daylight Saving Time starts on the second Sunday in March. That’s March 9 this year—clocks jump ahead one hour at 2 a.m. local time, flipping straight to 3 a.m. Mark your calendars.
Want more? Check out: The U.S. Experiment With Permanent Daylight Saving Time
What’s the deal with Daylight Saving Time?
It’s all about shuffling daylight. In spring, we nudge an hour of morning light to the evening, giving us more usable sunshine when the weather’s nicer. Come fall—specifically the first Sunday in November—clocks roll back an hour at 2 a.m., shifting the sun’s rise and set earlier for the chillier months. Congress locked in these dates back in 2005.
Who’s in on this clock-switching game?
Globally, only about a third of countries bother with Daylight Saving Time, per the Pew Research Center. Europe’s mostly on board, and chunks of the U.S. and Canada join in, along with some spots in Latin America and the Caribbean. Start dates can differ, though. In the U.S., Hawaii and most of Arizona sit it out, as do territories like American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the Department of Transportation.
Curious? Dive into: Why Daylight Saving Time Drives Us Nuts
What’s Trump saying about it?
Back in December 2024, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social, vowing that the “Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time.” He called it a hassle and a drain on the country. Since taking office last month, he’s signed a flurry of Executive Orders, but so far, no action on this promise. Stay tuned.