UTC12

UTC12, commonly written as UTC+12, is a time offset that adds 12 hours to Coordinated Universal Time. In formal usage, offsets are expressed as UTC plus or minus a number of hours; UTC12 is not an official designation, but it is widely used in reference materials to denote the same offset as UTC+12.

Geographic usage and examples of regions observing UTC+12 vary by country and season. It is the standard time for several Pacific territories, including Fiji, Nauru, Tuvalu, and most of Kiribati’s Gilbert Islands. Kiribati is notable for spanning multiple offsets across its territory, with areas using UTC+12 as well as UTC+13 and UTC+14. The Marshall Islands also observe UTC+12 year-round, without daylight saving. In addition, the Chatham Islands of New Zealand operate at UTC+12:45 as standard time and shift to UTC+13:45 during New Zealand daylight saving time.

Daylight saving and variations: Some jurisdictions on UTC+12 observe daylight saving time, shifting to UTC+13 for part of the year (as in New Zealand). Others do not observe DST, keeping a constant offset year-round. A few localities near UTC+12 may use nonstandard quarter-hour offsets, such as the Chatham Islands, which maintain a 45-minute offset rather than a whole-hour offset.

Notes: The designation UTC+12 reflects time relative to Coordinated Universal Time rather than a fixed geographical zone. The International Date Line to the east and west of the Pacific Ocean influences calendar dates across UTC+12 regions, making them among the last to experience a new calendar day in the world.