Days in Des Moines are currently getting shorter, about 19 minutes shorter than a week ago.*
* Calculated from sunrise and sunset times; actual visible daylight can vary slightly with weather, elevation and atmospheric conditions.
Geographic position of Des Moines
Des Moines is located in the Northern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere. Its coordinates are 41.6005° N, 93.6091° W.
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Distance from the Equator:
about 4,631 km (2,878 mi)
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Distance from the North Pole:
about 5,388 km (3,348 mi)
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Distance from the South Pole:
about 14,650 km (9,103 mi)
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Distance from the Prime Meridian:
about 7,792 km (4,842 mi) west
Des Moines lies in the temperate latitude zone. This latitude affects daylight length, seasonal variation and how local solar time compares with standard clock time.
Antipode of Des Moines
The point on Earth exactly opposite Des Moines is near Perth - when it's noon in Des Moines, it's close to midnight there.
Golden Hour & Blue Hour in Des Moines
Approximate times based on sunrise/sunset. Actual golden hour quality varies with weather and season.
Current Season in Des Moines
Des Moines is currently in Autumn. Autumn begins around September 22, which is 1 day from now.
Because Des Moines is in the Northern Hemisphere, its seasons run opposite to cities in the other hemisphere. When it is autumn here, places on the other side of the equator are experiencing the opposite season at the same time.
Longest & Shortest Day in Des Moines
In Des Moines, the longest day of the year falls around June 21 and lasts about 15h 11m. The shortest day falls around December 21 and lasts about 9h 9m, a difference of roughly 6h 2m between the two.
This seasonal swing depends on Des Moines's latitude: cities closer to the equator see little variation in daylight throughout the year, while cities farther from it, like Des Moines at 41.60° N, experience a much wider gap between summer and winter daylight.
Population Ranking of Des Moines
With a population of 214,133, Des Moines ranks as the 119th most populous city in United States, out of 3,397 cities tracked on this site.
Airport in Des Moines
Des Moines International Airport (DSM / KDSM) is a major international airport serving Des Moines directly.
Current local time at the airport is 09:21:24.
Daylight saving time changes in Des Moines
Des Moines uses the IANA time zone identifier America/Chicago. The current local offset is UTC-5 / CDT.
2026
Previous change: Daylight saving time started
- The offset changed from UTC-6 / CST to UTC-5 / CDT.
- The clock was moved forward from 02:00 to 03:00 local time.
2026
Next change: Standard time starts
- The offset will change from UTC-5 / CDT to UTC-6 / CST.
- The clock will be moved back from 02:00 to 01:00 local time.
Best Time to Call Des Moines
Business hours in Des Moines (9 AM-5 PM local time) fall at these local times elsewhere:
- New York: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM ( Convenient)
- Los Angeles: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM ( Partial overlap)
- London: 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM ( Partial overlap)
- Dubai: 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM (next day) ( Partial overlap)
- Mumbai: 7:30 PM - 3:30 AM (next day) ( Partial overlap)
- Tokyo: 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM (next day) ( Outside normal hours)
- Sydney: 12:00 AM (next day) - 8:00 AM (next day) ( Outside normal hours)
Times shown reflect current UTC offsets and may shift by up to an hour around daylight saving transitions.
Time Difference from Des Moines
Compare time in Des Moines with major cities worldwide.
Time now in other cities in United States
Public Holidays Affecting Des Moines
Official national holiday observed in United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Des Moines in?
Des Moines follows the America/Chicago time zone, the official IANA identifier used by computers and databases worldwide to track local time accurately. Right now, this puts Des Moines at UTC-5.
What time is it in Des Moines right now?
The current local time in Des Moines is 09:21:24 on Sunday, 20 September 2026. This page updates automatically, so refreshing it will always show the live time.
Does Des Moines observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Des Moines is currently observing daylight saving time, which temporarily shifts the clock forward by one hour compared to standard time.
How far ahead or behind UTC is Des Moines?
Des Moines is currently UTC-5, meaning local time is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
What is the nearest airport to Des Moines?
Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is the airport serving Des Moines. The current local time at the airport is 09:21:24.
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