Jet Lag Calculator

Estimate how many days your body needs to adjust after crossing time zones.

Informational content. This tool does not replace advice from a qualified professional. Use the results as a reference only.

How to use

  1. Type the UTC offset of your origin (e.g. -3 for BRT) and destination (e.g. +9 for JST).
  2. Click Calculate to see the timezone difference and estimated adaptation time.
  3. The tool also notes whether you are travelling east or west — eastward travel is harder.

About this tool

Jet lag is the mismatch between your body clock and the local time after crossing time zones. The rule of thumb is one day of adaptation per hour of difference, but eastward travel is harder because your body's natural cycle is slightly longer than 24 hours, so advancing the clock (earlier bedtime) is harder than delaying it.

This calculator estimates the adaptation period based on the timezone difference. It does not account for individual variation, age, or strategies like light exposure and melatonin timing — but it gives a realistic baseline for trip planning.

Practical advice: for short trips (1-3 days), it may be better to stay on home time rather than adapt. For longer stays, shift your schedule 1-2 hours per day starting a few days before departure.

The formula

Adaptation days ≈ timezone difference × 0.75. Eastward adds ~25% more time.

Frequently asked questions

Is travelling east really harder?

Yes — your body's natural cycle is about 24.2 hours, so delaying (west) is easier than advancing (east). Most people adapt about 1.5 hours/day going west but only 1 hour/day going east.

Does melatonin help?

Evidence supports it for eastward travel. Take 0.5-3 mg at the destination bedtime, starting the first night.

What about stopovers?

A stopover in an intermediate timezone can help break the adjustment into smaller steps.

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