How to Schedule US-India Meetings
Working across US and India is one of the most common scheduling challenges for global remote teams. The total gap ranges from 10.5 hours (EST) to 13.5 hours (PST) during winter. With only a 2-3 hour overlap window available, getting this right matters.
Step 1: Identify which US timezone your team is in
East Coast (EST/EDT) is the easiest to bridge with India. Central (CST/CDT) is moderate. West Coast (PST/PDT) is the hardest. If your team is split across US timezones, plan around your East-most member.
Step 2: Pick the right time window
The golden window for ALL three US zones simultaneously is 6:30-8:00 PM IST. From this:
- EST: 8:00-9:30 AM (perfect)
- CST: 7:00-8:30 AM (perfect)
- PST: 5:00-6:30 AM (early but workable)
Step 3: Account for daylight saving time
The US observes DST (springs forward in March, falls back in November). India does not. Your regular 8 AM EST meeting will shift to 5:30 PM IST (instead of 6:30 PM) during US summer. Review recurring meetings every March and November.
Step 4: Rotate the burden
For teams that need multiple weekly syncs, alternate between early-morning-US and late-evening-US slots. This way neither team is always the inconvenienced one. Many India teams accept a 9:00 PM IST = 10:30 AM EST call for a Friday wrap-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time for a US-India meeting? ▾
The best window is 8:00 to 9:30 AM EST (6:30 to 8:00 PM IST). This is the only time both US East Coast and India are within reasonable working hours. For CST teams, 7:00 to 8:30 AM CST. For PST teams, 5:00 to 7:00 AM PST.
What time is 9 AM EST in India? ▾
9:00 AM EST = 7:30 PM IST. India is 10 hours 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Standard Time. During EDT (summer), 9:00 AM EDT = 6:30 PM IST.
How do you schedule a meeting between US and India? ▾
Schedule between 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM IST, which corresponds to 8:00-9:30 AM EST, 7:00-8:30 AM CST, or 5:00-7:00 AM PST. This is the only window where both sides are awake and in reasonable working hours.
How does daylight saving time affect US-India meetings? ▾
When the US is on summer time (EDT, CDT, PDT), the gap with IST shrinks by 1 hour. India does not observe DST so it stays at UTC+5:30 year-round. Your usual 8 AM EST recurring meeting will shift by 1 hour in IST every March and November.
Which US cities are easiest to schedule with India? ▾
East Coast cities (New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Miami) have the smallest gap with India at 10.5 hours EST. West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle) has a 13.5-hour gap, which is the hardest. Central US (Chicago, Dallas, Houston) sits in the middle at 11.5 hours.
Is this US-India meeting planner free? ▾
Yes, completely free. No sign-up, no ads, no tracking. Just open the page and the live clocks and overlap table work immediately.