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Time Difference: San Francisco to Shanghai

🇺🇸San FranciscoUTC-8
vs
🇨🇳ShanghaiUTC+8
🇺🇸
San Francisco, US
Fri, Jun 5
🇨🇳
Shanghai, China
Fri, Jun 5

Click a time to convert

Time Difference
15 hours
Shanghai is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco
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🇺🇸
San Francisco
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🇨🇳
Shanghai
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San Francisco vs Shanghai timezone guide

San Francisco (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 San Francisco (based on standard offsets — the live difference above accounts for daylight saving time).

Best meeting times between San Francisco and Shanghai

Standard 9-to-5 working hours in San Francisco 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

San FranciscoShanghaiStatus
6am9pmSan Francisco early, Shanghai evening
7am10pmSan Francisco early, Shanghai late evening
8am11pmSan Francisco early, Shanghai late evening
9am12amSan Francisco working hours, Shanghai asleep
10am1amSan Francisco working hours, Shanghai asleep
11am2amSan Francisco working hours, Shanghai asleep
12pm3amSan Francisco working hours, Shanghai asleep
1pm4amSan Francisco working hours, Shanghai asleep
2pm5amSan Francisco working hours, Shanghai asleep
3pm6amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
4pm7amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
5pm8amSan Francisco 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
10pm1pmSan Francisco 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 San Francisco and Shanghai

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

  • Dec 31 → Mar 8San Francisco is 16 hours behind Shanghai
  • Mar 8 → Nov 1San Francisco is 15 hours behind Shanghai
  • Nov 1 → Dec 31San Francisco is 16 hours behind Shanghai

Distance between San Francisco and Shanghai

Great-circle distance
9,879 km
Direct flight time
~12h 37m

San Francisco and Shanghai are 9,879 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly ~12h 37m, depending on aircraft type, winds, and routing.

More comparisons

San Francisco to New YorkSan Francisco to LondonSan Francisco to TokyoSan Francisco to SydneyShanghai to New YorkShanghai to LondonShanghai to TokyoShanghai to Sydney

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between San Francisco and Shanghai?
The current time difference is 15 hours. San Francisco is currently 15 hours behind Shanghai.
Is San Francisco ahead of Shanghai?
No. San Francisco is currently 15 hours behind Shanghai.
What time is it in Shanghai when it's 9 AM in San Francisco?
When it's 9 AM in San Francisco, it's 12am in Shanghai.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between San Francisco and Shanghai?
Standard 9-to-5 working hours in San Francisco 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 San Francisco and Shanghai observe daylight saving time?
San Francisco 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 San Francisco and Shanghai?
San Francisco and Shanghai are 9,879 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly 12 hours 37 minutes.