Back to map

Time Difference: San Francisco to Sydney

🇺🇸San FranciscoUTC-8
vs
🇦🇺SydneyUTC+10
🇺🇸
San Francisco, US
Wed, Oct 7
🇦🇺
Sydney, Australia
Thu, Oct 8

Click a time to convert

Time Difference
18 hours
Sydney is 18 hours ahead of San Francisco
Compare on map
🇺🇸
San Francisco
View city page
🇦🇺
Sydney
View city page

San Francisco vs Sydney timezone guide

San Francisco (US) uses the America/Los_Angeles timezone at UTC-8, while Sydney (Australia) uses Australia/Sydney at UTC+10. This means Sydney is 18 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 Sydney

Standard 9-to-5 working hours in San Francisco and Sydney 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 FranciscoSydneyStatus
6am12amSan Francisco early, Sydney asleep
7am1amSan Francisco early, Sydney asleep
8am2amSan Francisco early, Sydney asleep
9am3amSan Francisco working hours, Sydney asleep
10am4amSan Francisco working hours, Sydney asleep
11am5amSan Francisco working hours, Sydney asleep
12pm6amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
1pm7amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
2pm8amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
3pm9amBoth at work — ideal meeting time
4pm10amBoth at work — ideal meeting time
5pm11amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
6pm12pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
7pm1pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
8pm2pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
9pm3pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
10pm4pmSan Francisco late evening, Sydney 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 Sydney

Both cities observe daylight saving time, but on different schedules. This creates short windows each year where the usual difference of 17 hours behind temporarily shifts.

  • Dec 31 → Mar 8Difference temporarily 19 hours behind.
  • Mar 8 → Apr 4Difference temporarily 18 hours behind.
  • Oct 3 → Nov 1Difference temporarily 18 hours behind.
  • Nov 1 → Dec 31Difference temporarily 19 hours behind.

San Francisco transitions on March 8, 2026 and November 1, 2026. Sydney transitions on April 5, 2026 and October 4, 2026.

Distance between San Francisco and Sydney

Great-circle distance
11,948 km
Direct flight time
~15h 3m

San Francisco and Sydney are 11,948 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly ~15h 3m, depending on aircraft type, winds, and routing.

More comparisons

San Francisco to New YorkSan Francisco to LondonSan Francisco to TokyoSydney to New YorkSydney to LondonSydney to TokyoSydney to Dubai

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between San Francisco and Sydney?
The current time difference is 18 hours. San Francisco is currently 18 hours behind Sydney.
Is San Francisco ahead of Sydney?
No. San Francisco is currently 18 hours behind Sydney.
What time is it in Sydney when it's 9 AM in San Francisco?
When it's 9 AM in San Francisco, it's 3am in Sydney.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between San Francisco and Sydney?
Standard 9-to-5 working hours in San Francisco and Sydney 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 Sydney observe daylight saving time?
San Francisco and Sydney both observe daylight saving time, but on different schedules. Short windows each year (a week or two around each set of transitions) produce a temporarily different offset.
How far apart are San Francisco and Sydney?
San Francisco and Sydney are 11,948 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly 15 hours 3 minutes.