Current time in Germany
13:00:00CEST
Thursday 1 October 2026
Germany is 1 hour ahead of the UK right now.
In the UK it is 12:00 BST. Your device: 12:00 (Same as UK).
Germany time zone
Germany uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) in summer. In German they are MEZ (Mitteleuropäische Zeit) and MESZ. The IANA zone is Europe/Berlin. Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Czechia, Italy and most of central Europe show the same time.
Time difference between the UK and Germany
Germany is 1 hour ahead of the UK all year. Both sides follow the same rule. EU Directive 2000/84/EC starts summer time at 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday of March and ends it at 01:00 UTC on the last Sunday of October, and the UK's Summer Time Order 2002 uses the same instants. The clocks change at exactly the same moment, so the gap never moves.
| Period | UK | Germany |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January to 29 March 2026 | GMT (UTC+0) | MEZ (UTC+1): 1 hour ahead |
| 29 March to 25 October 2026 | BST (UTC+1) | MESZ (UTC+2): 1 hour ahead |
| 25 October 2026 to 28 March 2027 | GMT (UTC+0) | MEZ (UTC+1): 1 hour ahead |
| 28 March to 31 October 2027 | BST (UTC+1) | MESZ (UTC+2): 1 hour ahead |
| 31 October 2027 to 26 March 2028 | GMT (UTC+0) | MEZ (UTC+1): 1 hour ahead |
The DCF77 time signal
Germany's legal time is kept by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and broadcast by the DCF77 longwave transmitter at Mainflingen, near Frankfurt, on 77.5 kHz. Its official range is about 2,000 km, and many radio-controlled clocks across Europe set themselves from it, including the clock change. The UK has its own signal, MSF, from Anthorn in Cumbria. A clock built for DCF77 will show German time in the UK unless you set a −1 hour offset.
Best times to call Germany from the UK
| UK time | Germany | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 08:00 | Early start in Germany |
| 11:00 | 12:00 | Midday in Germany |
| 15:00 | 16:00 | Before many German offices finish |
| 19:00 | 20:00 | Evening calls to friends |
Office hours overlap for almost the whole working day. A 9am start in Frankfurt is 8am in London.
Converting the time
A Bundesliga match that kicks off at 3:30pm in Germany starts at 2:30pm UK time, in August and in December alike. A 9am meeting in Berlin is at 8am in London all year. For other places use the time zone converter, or the meeting planner to compare several cities.
Related pages
- World clockLive times in 25 cities and their gap from the UK.
- Time in FranceCET and CEST, one hour ahead all year.
- Time in PolandCET and CEST, one hour ahead all year.
- Time in SpainMainland CET, Canary Islands on UK time.
- GMT time nowThe UK's winter time, and the base for every offset on this page.
- When the UK clocks changeExact dates for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Frequently asked questions
Is Germany always 1 hour ahead of the UK?
Yes. Germany and the UK change their clocks at the same moment, so Germany stays 1 hour ahead all year.
What is MEZ?
MEZ is Mitteleuropäische Zeit, the German name for Central European Time (CET, UTC+1). MESZ is the summer version, CEST, UTC+2.
What is DCF77?
DCF77 is the German longwave time signal on 77.5 kHz, sent from Mainflingen near Frankfurt. Radio-controlled clocks across much of Europe set themselves from it.
Does Germany have daylight saving time?
Yes. Clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March and back on the last Sunday of October, at the same moment as in the UK.