Convert Datetime column from UTC to local time in

Question

I'm doing a few SQL select queries and would like to convert my UTC datetime column into local time to be displayed as local time in my query results. Note, I am NOT looking to do this conversion via code but rather when I am doing manual and random SQL queries against my databases.

Answer 1

There is no simple way to do this in a correct AND generic way.

First of all it must be understood that the offset depends on the date in question, the Time Zone AND DST. GetDate()-GetUTCDate only gives you the offset today at the server's TZ, which is not relevant.

I have seen only two working solution and I have search a lot.

1) A custom SQL function with a a couple of tables of base data such as Time Zones and DST rules per TZ. Working but not very elegant. I can't post it since I don't own the code.

EDIT: Here is an example of this method https://gist.github.com/drumsta/16b79cee6bc195cd89c8

2) Add a .net assembly to the db, .Net can do this very easily. This is working very well but the downside is that you need to configure several parameters on server level and the config is easily broken e.g. if you restore the database. I use this method but I cant post it since I don't own the code.

Answer 2

It's simple. Try this for Azure SQL Server:

SELECT YourDateTimeColumn AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time' FROM YourTable

For Local SQL Server :

SELECT CONVERT(datetime2, SWITCHOFFSET(CONVERT(datetimeoffset, gETDATE()), DATENAME(TzOffset, gETDATE() AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time'))) FROM YourTable

Answer 3

Ron's answer contains an error. It uses 2:00 AM local time where the UTC equivalent is required. I don't have enough reputation points to comment on Ron's answer so a corrected version appears below:

-- =============================================
-- Author:      Ron Smith
-- Create date: 2013-10-23
-- Description: Converts UTC to DST
--              based on passed Standard offset
-- =============================================
CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[fn_UTC_to_DST]
(
    @UTC datetime,
    @StandardOffset int
)
RETURNS datetime
AS
BEGIN

declare 
    @DST datetime,
    @SSM datetime, -- Second Sunday in March
    @FSN datetime  -- First Sunday in November
-- get DST Range
set @SSM = datename(year,@UTC) + '0314' 
set @SSM = dateadd(hour,2 - @StandardOffset,dateadd(day,datepart(dw,@SSM)*-1+1,@SSM))
set @FSN = datename(year,@UTC) + '1107'
set @FSN = dateadd(second,-1,dateadd(hour,2 - (@StandardOffset + 1),dateadd(day,datepart(dw,@FSN)*-1+1,@FSN)))

-- add an hour to @StandardOffset if @UTC is in DST range
if @UTC between @SSM and @FSN
    set @StandardOffset = @StandardOffset + 1

-- convert to DST
set @DST = dateadd(hour,@StandardOffset,@UTC)

-- return converted datetime
return @DST

END

Answer 4

None of these worked for me but this below worked 100%. Hope this can help others trying to convert it like I was.

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[fn_UTC_to_EST]
(
    @UTC datetime,
    @StandardOffset int
)
RETURNS datetime
AS
BEGIN

declare 
    @DST datetime,
    @SSM datetime, -- Second Sunday in March
    @FSN datetime  -- First Sunday in November
-- get DST Range
set @SSM = DATEADD(dd,7 + (6-(DATEDIFF(dd,0,DATEADD(mm,(YEAR(GETDATE())-1900) * 12 + 2,0))%7)),DATEADD(mm,(YEAR(GETDATE())-1900) * 12 + 2,0))+'02:00:00' 
set @FSN = DATEADD(dd, (6-(DATEDIFF(dd,0,DATEADD(mm,(YEAR(GETDATE())-1900) * 12 + 10,0))%7)),DATEADD(mm,(YEAR(GETDATE())-1900) * 12 + 10,0)) +'02:00:00'

-- add an hour to @StandardOffset if @UTC is in DST range
if @UTC between @SSM and @FSN
    set @StandardOffset = @StandardOffset + 1

-- convert to DST
set @DST = dateadd(hour,@StandardOffset,@UTC)

-- return converted datetime
return @DST

END

Answer 5

First function: configured for italian time zone (+1, +2), switch dates: last sunday of march and october, return the difference between the current time zone and the datetime as parameter.

Returns:
current timezone < parameter timezone ==> +1
current timezone > parameter timezone ==> -1
else 0

The code is:

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[UF_ADJUST_OFFSET]
(
    @dt_utc datetime2(7)
)
RETURNS INT
AS
BEGIN


declare @month int,
        @year int,
        @current_offset int,
        @offset_since int,
        @offset int,
        @yearmonth varchar(8),
        @changeoffsetdate datetime2(7)

declare @lastweek table(giorno datetime2(7))

select @current_offset = DATEDIFF(hh, GETUTCDATE(), GETDATE())

select @month = datepart(month, @dt_utc)

if @month < 3 or @month > 10 Begin Set @offset_since = 1 Goto JMP End

if @month > 3 and @month < 10 Begin Set @offset_since = 2 Goto JMP End

--If i'm here is march or october
select @year = datepart(yyyy, @dt_utc)

if @month = 3
Begin

Set @yearmonth = cast(@year as varchar) + '-03-'

Insert Into @lastweek Values(@yearmonth + '31 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '30 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '29 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '28 03:00:00.000000'),
                         (@yearmonth + '27 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '26 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '25 03:00:00.000000')

--Last week of march
Select @changeoffsetdate = giorno From @lastweek Where  datepart(weekday, giorno) = 1

    if @dt_utc < @changeoffsetdate 
    Begin 
        Set @offset_since = 1 
    End Else Begin
        Set @offset_since = 2
    End
End

if @month = 10
Begin

Set @yearmonth = cast(@year as varchar) + '-10-'

Insert Into @lastweek Values(@yearmonth + '31 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '30 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '29 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '28 03:00:00.000000'),
                         (@yearmonth + '27 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '26 03:00:00.000000'),(@yearmonth + '25 03:00:00.000000')

--Last week of october
Select @changeoffsetdate = giorno From @lastweek Where  datepart(weekday, giorno) = 1

    if @dt_utc > @changeoffsetdate 
    Begin 
        Set @offset_since = 1 
    End Else Begin
        Set @offset_since = 2
    End
End

JMP:

if @current_offset < @offset_since Begin
    Set @offset = 1
End Else if @current_offset > @offset_since Set @offset = -1 Else Set @offset = 0

Return @offset

END

Then the function that convert date

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[UF_CONVERT]
(
    @dt_utc datetime2(7)
)
RETURNS datetime
AS
BEGIN

    declare @offset int


    Select @offset = dbo.UF_ADJUST_OFFSET(@dt_utc)

    if @dt_utc >= '9999-12-31 22:59:59.9999999'
        set @dt_utc = '9999-12-31 23:59:59.9999999'
    Else
        set @dt_utc = (SELECT DATEADD(mi, DATEDIFF(mi, GETUTCDATE(), GETDATE()), @dt_utc) )

    if @offset <> 0
        Set @dt_utc = dateadd(hh, @offset, @dt_utc)

    RETURN @dt_utc

END

Answer 6

You can do this as follows on SQL Server 2008 or greater:

SELECT CONVERT(datetime, 
               SWITCHOFFSET(CONVERT(datetimeoffset, 
                                    MyTable.UtcColumn), 
                            DATENAME(TzOffset, SYSDATETIMEOFFSET()))) 
       AS ColumnInLocalTime
FROM MyTable

You can also do the less verbose:

SELECT DATEADD(mi, DATEDIFF(mi, GETUTCDATE(), GETDATE()), MyTable.UtcColumn) 
       AS ColumnInLocalTime
FROM MyTable

Whatever you do, do not use - to subtract dates, because the operation is not atomic, and you will on occasion get indeterminate results due to race conditions between the system datetime and the local datetime being checked at different times (i.e., non-atomically).

Please note that this answer does not take DST into account. If you want to include a DST adjustment, please also see the following SO question:

How to create Daylight Savings time Start and End function in SQL Server