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Time Difference: Los Angeles to Shanghai

🇺🇸Los AngelesUTC-8
vs
🇨🇳ShanghaiUTC+8
🇺🇸
Los Angeles, US
Wed, Jun 3
🇨🇳
Shanghai, China
Wed, Jun 3

Click a time to convert

Time Difference
15 hours
Shanghai is 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles
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🇺🇸
Los Angeles
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🇨🇳
Shanghai
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Los Angeles vs Shanghai timezone guide

Los Angeles (US) uses the America/Los_Angeles timezone at UTC-8, while Shanghai (China) uses Asia/Shanghai at UTC+8. This means Shanghai is 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles (based on standard offsets — the live difference above accounts for daylight saving time).

Best meeting times between Los Angeles and Shanghai

Standard 9-to-5 working hours in Los Angeles and Shanghai do not overlap. To meet synchronously, one side will need to start early or stay late — see the hour-by-hour planner below for the least disruptive options.

Hour-by-hour planner

Los AngelesShanghaiStatus
6am9pmLos Angeles early, Shanghai evening
7am10pmLos Angeles early, Shanghai late evening
8am11pmLos Angeles early, Shanghai late evening
9am12amLos Angeles working hours, Shanghai asleep
10am1amLos Angeles working hours, Shanghai asleep
11am2amLos Angeles working hours, Shanghai asleep
12pm3amLos Angeles working hours, Shanghai asleep
1pm4amLos Angeles working hours, Shanghai asleep
2pm5amLos Angeles working hours, Shanghai asleep
3pm6amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
4pm7amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
5pm8amLos Angeles evening, Shanghai early
6pm9amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
7pm10amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
8pm11amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
9pm12pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
10pm1pmLos Angeles late evening, Shanghai working hours

Green = standard working hours (9 AM – 5 PM). Amber = early (6–9 AM). Orange = evening (5–10 PM). Grey = asleep or late.

Daylight saving time between Los Angeles and Shanghai

Los Angeles observes daylight saving time, but Shanghai does not. That means the difference between the two cities changes seasonally — by one hour, around Los Angeles's transition dates.

  • Dec 31 → Mar 8Los Angeles is 16 hours behind Shanghai
  • Mar 8 → Nov 1Los Angeles is 15 hours behind Shanghai
  • Nov 1 → Dec 31Los Angeles is 16 hours behind Shanghai

Distance between Los Angeles and Shanghai

Great-circle distance
10,434 km
Direct flight time
~13h 17m

Los Angeles and Shanghai are 10,434 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly ~13h 17m, depending on aircraft type, winds, and routing.

More comparisons

Los Angeles to New YorkLos Angeles to LondonLos Angeles to TokyoLos Angeles to SydneyShanghai to New YorkShanghai to LondonShanghai to TokyoShanghai to Sydney

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between Los Angeles and Shanghai?
The current time difference is 15 hours. Los Angeles is currently 15 hours behind Shanghai.
Is Los Angeles ahead of Shanghai?
No. Los Angeles is currently 15 hours behind Shanghai.
What time is it in Shanghai when it's 9 AM in Los Angeles?
When it's 9 AM in Los Angeles, it's 12am in Shanghai.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between Los Angeles and Shanghai?
Standard 9-to-5 working hours in Los Angeles and Shanghai do not overlap. To meet synchronously, one side will need to start before 9 AM or work past 5 PM — see the planner above for the least disruptive options.
Do Los Angeles and Shanghai observe daylight saving time?
Los Angeles observes daylight saving time, but Shanghai does not — the difference between the two cities changes by one hour around the DST transition dates.
How far apart are Los Angeles and Shanghai?
Los Angeles and Shanghai are 10,434 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly 13 hours 17 minutes.