When Does the Time Change in Washington?

2026 DST Schedule

🌸 Spring Forward

2026-03-08

2:00 AM → 3:00 AM

🍂 Fall Back

2026-11-01

2:00 AM → 1:00 AM

Spring Transition

Lose one hour of sleep but gain evening daylight

Summer Months

Enjoy extended daylight hours for outdoor activities

Fall Transition

Gain an extra hour of sleep as we return to standard time

Winter Months

Earlier sunrises help with morning routines

Economic Impact of DST in Washington

The economic implications of Daylight Saving Time in Washington are significant and multifaceted. Retail businesses often report increased sales during DST months due to extended evening daylight hours, which encourages shopping and dining out. The tourism and recreation industries particularly benefit, with golf courses, theme parks, and other outdoor venues seeing revenue increases of up to 7%.

However, the transition periods create temporary disruptions. Studies estimate that the Monday following the spring time change results in approximately $427 million in lost productivity nationwide due to sleep deprivation and adjustment issues.

Energy Consumption Patterns in Washington

Recent studies on energy consumption during DST in Washington show modest savings of approximately 1.2% in electricity usage. However, these savings are offset by increased gasoline consumption as people take advantage of extended daylight for travel and recreation. The net energy impact remains a subject of ongoing research and debate among policy makers.

Did You Know?

The European Union voted to end DST in 2019, but implementation has been delayed.
The energy savings from DST are debated, with modern studies showing minimal impact.
DST was extended in the US in 2007, adding 4 weeks to the DST period.