Central European (CET/CEST)
Berlin operates on Central European (CET/CEST). Berlin observes summer time (DST), shifting clocks forward one hour in March and back in October.
Time Zone: Central European Time / Central European Summer Time — Standard Offset: UTC+1 (CET) — DST Offset: UTC+2 (CEST)
Country: Germany
This city observes Daylight Saving Time, so the UTC offset changes twice per year. Always verify the current offset when scheduling across time zones.
Berlin shares the CET (UTC+1) time zone with the rest of Germany and most of the EU. As the capital of Europe's largest economy, Berlin's business hours ripple across global supply chains. Germany's export-oriented economy means German companies routinely coordinate with partners in Asia (manufacturing), the US (tech and automotive), and across Europe (intra-EU trade). CET's central position between Asian and American time zones supports this global reach.
German business culture places high value on punctuality — being late to a meeting is considered disrespectful. Business hours typically run 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange (the largest in Germany and one of the largest globally) trades from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM CET. Germany's reputation for efficiency extends to scheduling: meetings start and end exactly on time, making accurate time zone conversion essential.
Germany follows EU DST rules, changing clocks on the last Sunday of March (to CEST/UTC+2) and last Sunday of October (back to CET/UTC+1). The German public has historically favored abolishing DST, and surveys consistently show a majority of Germans prefer permanent summer time. Until the EU reaches consensus, the twice-yearly clock change continues, temporarily disrupting the time difference with non-EU partners.
Berlin's CET offset allows reasonable overlap with most major business regions. For US coordination, 2-5 PM CET aligns with 8-11 AM ET — the morning productivity window for American colleagues. For UK calls, the 1-hour difference with London is negligible. For Asia, early morning Berlin meetings (7-8 AM CET) catch Singapore at 2-3 PM and Tokyo at 3-4 PM. Berlin's central position makes it one of the easiest European cities to schedule with globally.