What the tool does
The converter lets you add cities or IANA zones, choose a date, and set working hours per city. It renders an overlap heatmap so you can see meeting friendly windows instantly. You can copy a slot to the clipboard, export an ICS file, or share a tiny link for small configurations.
Related tools to streamline planning: Word and Character Counter for tight agendas, Quick Table Generator to format decisions, Code Diff Checker for review sessions, JSON ↔ YAML ↔ TOML Converter when sharing config times across systems.
Why this matters
- Accuracy: DST rules change. IANA zones stay current and avoid ambiguous abbreviations.
- Velocity: A visual overlap grid cuts back and forth scheduling emails.
- Inclusion: Respecting sleep windows and local holidays improves morale and participation.
How to compare cities and copy meeting friendly slots
- Add cities or zones: Search for a city like London or paste an IANA zone like America/Los_Angeles.
- Pick a date and duration: The converter uses the selected date to apply local DST rules.
- Set working hours per city: For example 9 to 17 local time. The heatmap updates to show overlap strength.
- Choose the darkest window: That is your most friendly slot across the selected cities.
- Copy or export: One click copies the slot in each local time. Export an ICS and attach it to email or Slack.
Always write times like 2025-09-20 14:00 America/New_York instead of EDT or EST. Abbreviations change with DST and vary by region. IANA zones are unambiguous and supported by major calendar apps.
Need to convert config files too? Try the JSON ↔ YAML ↔ TOML Converter to keep schedules in sync across services.
IANA zones and DST explained
An IANA zone is a stable identifier like Europe/Berlin. Each zone has historical and future offset rules. When a government updates DST, the database updates and your conversions remain correct for the chosen date. This is more reliable than short labels like PST or IST which can refer to multiple regions.
Scheduling etiquette across regions
- Rotate inconvenience: If someone meets early this week, rotate so another team carries the load next time.
- Share async options: Pair live sessions with a short agenda and a document for comments. The Quick Table Generator helps you format decisions fast.
- Confirm in local time: Copy the slot with each participant’s local time to reduce confusion.
FAQ
- Can I add more than three cities
- Yes. Add as many as you need. For large sets, filter to a core decision group and share the slot text with observers.
- What if my city is not listed
- Search by IANA zone or a nearby major city in the same zone. You can also paste an explicit IANA ID like Africa/Nairobi.
- How do I share the plan
- Use Copy to Clipboard for a clean text snippet or export an ICS invite. For small inputs you can also share a tiny link with the selection embedded.
- How do I avoid DST mistakes
- Always schedule using the date you intend to meet. The converter applies the correct offset for that day.
Time zones do not have to be hard. Use a converter that respects IANA rules, highlights overlap windows, and outputs shareable invites. Pair it with lightweight planning tools and clear etiquette for smoother, friendlier meetings.