Practical digital skills

Plan a meeting across time zones

Set the event's dated time zone and confirm each participant's local time, including daylight-saving changes.

Step-by-step guideUpdated
Follow the method ↓
A calendar displays one meeting in several participants' time zones

The answer in 30 seconds

A time difference observed today may differ on a future meeting date because regions change clocks on different schedules. Recurring meetings need particular care around those transitions.

Choose the meeting date and named time zone in the calendar, inspect the displayed local time for each participant on that exact date, and include duration and time zone in the invitation.

Examples to adapt

A one-off call

Confirm the recipient's local start time before sending.

A weekly meeting

Review occurrences near seasonal clock changes.

An external invitation

Specify a named zone or offset together with the date, not just 'morning'.

Follow the method

  1. 1
    Set the date

    Create the event on the actual day rather than using today's offset as a shortcut.

  2. 2
    Choose a named zone

    Select the event's time zone in the calendar and enter start and end times.

  3. 3
    Check participant times

    Review each person's local display or ask them to confirm the invitation.

  4. 4
    Review repeats

    For recurring events, inspect dates near daylight-saving transitions.

A checklist to keep

Use these checks to record what you found. The grid supports a decision; it does not make one for you.

Plan a meeting across time zones: checklist
CheckWhat to examineAction
DateWhich calendar date applies?Set
ZoneWhat named time zone is used?Choose
StartWhat does each person see?Confirm
DurationIs the end time clear?Check
RepeatDo later dates cross clock changes?Review

Download the CSV checklist

Free, no sign-up. UTF-8 text with semicolon-separated columns.

What to check

A fixed UTC offset is not always equivalent to a region's time zone.

A recurring meeting may shift locally for one participant.

Calendar defaults can follow the creator's zone without making it clear to others.

Common questions

Can I write only '3 pm'?

Include the date and a named time zone, or send a calendar invitation that renders locally.

Why did the time move for one participant?

Check seasonal clock changes and the time zone assigned to the event and each device.

Sources and documentation

Documentation consulted on . Examples are illustrative; interfaces and results may change.

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