If you live in the US and need to reach family, a business partner or a team in Nigeria, this is the conversion you need. Calling at 8 AM in New York already means early afternoon in Lagos. Right now WAT is 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time in summer and 6 hours ahead of in winter.
EST to WAT converter
WAT is 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time in summer and 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time in winter. Pick any date and time below to convert it, with daylight saving handled for you.
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Runs on your device with its built-in time zone rules. Nothing you enter is sent to our server.
US Eastern Time to WAT conversion table
| US Eastern Time | WAT, winter (WAT) | WAT, summer (WAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 12 PM | 11 AM |
| 7 AM | 1 PM | 12 PM |
| 8 AM | 2 PM | 1 PM |
| 9 AM | 3 PM | 2 PM |
| 10 AM | 4 PM | 3 PM |
| 11 AM | 5 PM | 4 PM |
| 12 PM | 6 PM | 5 PM |
| 1 PM | 7 PM | 6 PM |
| 2 PM | 8 PM | 7 PM |
| 3 PM | 9 PM | 8 PM |
| 4 PM | 10 PM | 9 PM |
| 5 PM | 11 PM | 10 PM |
| 6 PM | 12 AM (next day) | 11 PM |
| 7 PM | 1 AM (next day) | 12 AM (next day) |
| 8 PM | 2 AM (next day) | 1 AM (next day) |
| 9 PM | 3 AM (next day) | 2 AM (next day) |
| 10 PM | 4 AM (next day) | 3 AM (next day) |
| 11 PM | 5 AM (next day) | 4 AM (next day) |
Daylight saving time notes
- US Eastern Time: clocks go forward one hour on Sunday 8 March 2026, so US Eastern Time moves to EDT.
- US Eastern Time: clocks go back one hour on Sunday 1 November 2026, so US Eastern Time moves to EST.
Nigeria (WAT) and most of Africa do not use daylight saving, so only the other side moves. Between the change dates the winter or summer column applies; the live converter above always uses the exact date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between US Eastern Time and WAT?
WAT is 5 hours ahead of US Eastern Time in summer and 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time in winter. The gap changes when daylight saving time starts or ends; the converter above uses the exact rules for the date you pick.
What is 3 PM US Eastern Time in WAT time?
3 PM in US Eastern Time is 8 PM in WAT in summer and 9 PM in winter.
When do US Eastern Time and WAT working hours overlap?
On weekdays, a 9 AM to 5 PM day overlaps from 9 AM to 12 PM (US Eastern Time time) in summer, and from 9 AM to 11 AM in winter. Use the meeting planner to stretch the day or add more cities.
What time should I call Nigeria from New York?
Between 8 AM and 11 AM in New York is the safest window: it is early to late afternoon in Nigeria. After 4 PM in New York it is already 9 or 10 PM in Nigeria.
Does this tool handle daylight saving time?
Yes. It uses your browser's built-in time zone database (the IANA database that phones and computers use), so summer and winter time changes are applied for the exact date you pick. Nigeria (WAT, UTC+1) never changes its clocks, but the US, Canada, the UK and Europe do, so the gap to them moves by one hour twice a year.
Best time to talk between US Eastern Time and WAT
If both of you keep a 9 AM to 5 PM weekday, the shared window is 9 AM to 12 PM US Eastern Time time in summer (9 AM to 11 AM in winter). Put calls near the middle of it so nobody joins tired or rushed. Need three or four cities? Use the meeting planner. Want everyone to see the time in their own zone? Share your working-hours link.