Current Time in Kaohsiung
How to Check Current Time in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Open the Kaohsiung time converter page: Go to https://www.xconvert.com/time-converter/taiwan/kaohsiung, where Kaohsiung is already loaded on the comparison grid in the Asia/Taipei time zone. This is useful if you are planning a supplier call with manufacturers in southern Taiwan, checking port coordination around Kaohsiung Harbor, or confirming local business hours before calling a contact in Taiwan.
Add comparison cities with the “+ Add City” button: Click + Add City and search for cities such as New York, London, and Tokyo to compare Kaohsiung with major finance, trade, and logistics hubs. This is especially practical for electronics sourcing, shipping coordination, and remote team scheduling because Kaohsiung works closely with East Asian markets while also connecting with US and European business hours.
Drag on the grid to select a meeting window: Click Select if needed, then drag across Kaohsiung’s row to highlight a time range in purple, such as 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Kaohsiung. That selection shows immediately that the same window is 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM in New York the previous day during Eastern Standard Time, 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM in London during GMT, and 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Tokyo, helping you see whether a Taiwan morning works for your overseas team.
Export and share the selected time: After selecting a range, use the export options for ICS download, Google Calendar, Gmail, Copy to clipboard, or Share link. For example, if you are arranging a procurement meeting with a Kaohsiung-based factory and a London buying office, exporting the slot ensures everyone receives the meeting in their own local time without manually converting UTC+8.
About Kaohsiung Time Zone
Kaohsiung uses the Asia/Taipei IANA time zone, which is the standard time zone for all of Taiwan. Its standard offset is UTC+8, meaning local time in Kaohsiung is eight hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. This is the same offset used in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and other Taiwanese cities, so there is no domestic time difference when scheduling across Taiwan.
Kaohsiung does not currently observe daylight saving time, so the city stays on UTC+8 year-round. That makes time planning simpler than in places like New York or London, where offsets shift seasonally. Because Taiwan has no DST transitions, the time difference between Kaohsiung and many Western cities changes when those cities move their clocks in March, April, October, or November.
Geographically, Kaohsiung is in southern Taiwan and shares its UTC+8 relationship with nearby regional business centers such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. It is 1 hour behind Tokyo (UTC+9) and often aligned with major manufacturing and shipping activity across East and Southeast Asia, which is important for semiconductor supply chains, container shipping, and cross-border procurement.
Kaohsiung City Details
Kaohsiung is one of Taiwan’s largest cities, with a population of 1,519,711. It is located at 22.61626° N, 120.31333° E in southern Taiwan, where it serves as a major port, industrial center, and transportation hub with strong links to shipping, petrochemicals, steel, and advanced manufacturing.
The local currency is the New Taiwan dollar (TWD), which is used for everyday transactions, hotel bookings, transport, and business payments across the city. If you are calling Kaohsiung from abroad, Taiwan’s country dialing code is +886, so international business calls and travel contact numbers should be formatted accordingly.
Time Differences from Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is in UTC+8, so its time difference with other major cities depends on whether those cities are on standard time or daylight saving time.
- New York: Kaohsiung is 13 hours ahead of New York during Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) and 12 hours ahead during Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). When it is 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung, it is 8:00 PM the previous day in New York during EST or 9:00 PM the previous day during EDT.
- London: Kaohsiung is 8 hours ahead of London during Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0) and 7 hours ahead during British Summer Time (UTC+1). When it is 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung, it is 1:00 AM in London during GMT or 2:00 AM during BST.
- Tokyo: Kaohsiung is 1 hour behind Tokyo because Tokyo uses UTC+9 year-round. When it is 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung, it is 10:00 AM in Tokyo, which makes Japan one of the easiest nearby markets for same-day communication.
- Sydney: Kaohsiung is 2 hours behind Sydney during Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10) and 3 hours behind during Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC+11). When it is 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung, it is 11:00 AM in Sydney during AEST or 12:00 PM during AEDT.
- Dubai: Kaohsiung is 4 hours ahead of Dubai, which operates on UTC+4 year-round with no daylight saving time. When it is 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung, it is 5:00 AM in Dubai, a useful reference for trade and logistics calls between East Asia and the Gulf region.
Because Kaohsiung does not change clocks seasonally, the main scheduling complexity comes from cities that do. In 2025, US daylight saving time begins on March 9 and ends on November 2, while UK daylight saving time begins on March 30 and ends on October 26; those dates change the gap between Kaohsiung and New York or London even though Kaohsiung itself stays fixed at UTC+8.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Kaohsiung in?
Kaohsiung is in the Asia/Taipei time zone. This time zone runs at UTC+8 and is used throughout Taiwan, including Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Hsinchu, so there is no time difference within the country.
Does Kaohsiung observe daylight saving time?
No, Kaohsiung does not observe daylight saving time. The city remains on UTC+8 all year, which makes it easier to schedule recurring meetings with Taiwan because the local clock does not shift in spring or autumn.
What is the time difference between Kaohsiung and New York?
Kaohsiung is usually 12 or 13 hours ahead of New York, depending on whether New York is on daylight saving time. During EST, 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung is 8:00 PM the previous day in New York; during EDT, 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung is 9:00 PM the previous day in New York.
What is the best time to call Kaohsiung from the US?
For callers in the US, the best time is often late afternoon or evening in the US, which corresponds to morning in Kaohsiung on the next calendar day. For example, 6:00 PM in New York during EDT is 6:00 AM in Kaohsiung, while 9:00 PM in New York during EDT is 9:00 AM in Kaohsiung, a more practical business start time in Taiwan.
What is the best time to call Kaohsiung from the UK?
From the UK, the most workable overlap is usually early morning in London and afternoon in Kaohsiung. For example, 8:00 AM in London during BST is 3:00 PM in Kaohsiung, which is suitable for business calls with Taiwanese partners before the UK trading and office day becomes too busy.
What is the UTC offset for Kaohsiung?
Kaohsiung’s UTC offset is UTC+8. Since the city does not use daylight saving time, that offset stays the same throughout the year, unlike cities in North America and Europe where the UTC offset changes seasonally.
What currency does Kaohsiung use?
Kaohsiung uses the New Taiwan dollar (TWD). If you are traveling, paying suppliers, or budgeting for accommodation and transport in southern Taiwan, all local pricing will normally be quoted in TWD rather than US dollars or Chinese yuan.