Convert Datetime column from UTC to local time in select statement

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

The easiest answer is not always at the bottom, but this time it is, and can be seen already somewhere hidden in above comments.

Take your own 'AT TIME ZONE' to capture the TzOffset for your column/data field, and not the current SYSDATETIME.

In below data, 2 queries, one on feb data (DST is off, winter in Amsterdam) +1 diff, and 2nd query on april data in Amsterdam, so +2 hour diff.

SELECT TOP 2 
    MONTH(receiveTimeUTC) AS MonthInWinterOrSpring,
    receiveTimeUTC,
    CONVERT(datetime, SWITCHOFFSET(CONVERT(datetimeoffset,  receiveTimeUTC), DATENAME(TzOffset, SYSDATETIMEOFFSET()))) AS LocalTimeWrongNoDST,
    CONVERT(datetime, SWITCHOFFSET(CONVERT(datetimeoffset,  receiveTimeUTC), DATENAME(TzOffset, receiveTimeUTC AT TIME ZONE 'Central European Standard Time' ))) AS LocalTimeWithDST
FROM
    sensordetails 
ORDER BY 
    id

SELECT TOP 2 
    MONTH(receiveTimeUTC) AS MonthInWinterOrSpring, 
    receiveTimeUTC,  
    CONVERT(datetime, SWITCHOFFSET(CONVERT(datetimeoffset,  receiveTimeUTC), DATENAME(TzOffset, SYSDATETIMEOFFSET()))) AS LocalTimeWrongNoDST,
    CONVERT(datetime, SWITCHOFFSET(CONVERT(datetimeoffset,  receiveTimeUTC), DATENAME(TzOffset, receiveTimeUTC AT TIME ZONE 'Central European Standard Time' ))) AS LocalTimeWithDST
FROM
    sensordetails 
ORDER BY
    id DESC

Results:

So this is a T-SQL (SQL Server Answer), no need for a stored procedure or function.

Answer 2

This function will convert a UTC time to EST time with DST adjustment. You can change your designed time zone name in this function, or get it from registry:

Create Function fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime(
    @UTCTime as datetime
)
returns datetime
as
begin
    return convert(datetime, convert(varchar(23), @UTCTime AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time', 121), 121)
end
go

select dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-3-8 5:00:00.000')
    , dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-3-8 6:00:00.000')
    , dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-3-8 7:00:00.000')
    , dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-3-8 8:00:00.000')

--returns 0:00am, 1:00am, 3:00am, 4:00am

select dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-11-1 4:00:00.000')
    , dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-11-1 5:00:00.000')
    , dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-11-1 6:00:00.000')
    , dbo.fnConvertUTCTimetoESTTime ('2020-11-1 7:00:00.000')

--returns 0:00am, 1:00am, 1:00am, 2:00am

Note you can not just return "@UTCTime AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time'" as the result because this result is actually a UTC time in EST format (when you compare this "fake" EST time or include it in an order clause it will be converted back to a UTC time).

Answer 3

For anyone still trying to solve this issue, here's a proof of concept that works in SQL Server 2017

 declare
    @StartDate date = '2020-01-01'

;with cte_utc as
(
    select 
         1 as i
        ,CONVERT(datetime, @StartDate) AS UTC
        ,datepart(weekday, CONVERT(datetime, @StartDate)) as Weekday
        ,datepart(month, CONVERT(datetime, @StartDate)) as [Month]
        ,datepart(YEAR, CONVERT(datetime, @StartDate)) as [Year]
        
    union all

    Select
         i + 1
        ,dateadd(d, 1, utc)
        ,datepart(weekday, CONVERT(datetime, dateadd(d, 1, utc))) as Weekday
        ,datepart(month, CONVERT(datetime, dateadd(d, 1, utc))) as [Month]
        ,datepart(YEAR, CONVERT(datetime, dateadd(d, 1, utc))) as [Year]
    from    
        cte_utc
    where
        (i + 1) < 32767

), cte_utc_dates as 
(
    select 
        *,
        DENSE_RANK()OVER(PARTITION BY [Year], [Month], [Weekday] ORDER BY Utc) WeekDayIndex
    from
        cte_utc

), cte_hours as (
    select 0 as [Hour]
    union all
    select [Hour] + 1 from cte_hours where [Hour] < 23
)

select
    d.*
    , DATEADD(hour, h.Hour, d.UTC) AS UtcTime
    ,CONVERT(datetime, DATEADD(hour, h.Hour, d.UTC) AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE 'Central Standard Time') CST
    ,CONVERT(datetime, DATEADD(hour, h.Hour, d.UTC) AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time') EST
from
    cte_utc_dates d, cte_hours h
where
    ([Month] = 3 and [Weekday] = 1 and WeekDayIndex = 2 )-- dst start
    or 
    ([Month] = 11 and [Weekday] = 1 and WeekDayIndex = 1 )-- dst end
order by
    utc
OPTION (MAXRECURSION 32767)

GO

Answer 4

In postgres this works very nicely..Tell the server the time at which the time is saved, 'utc', and then ask it to convert to a specific timezone, in this case 'Brazil/East'

quiz_step_progresses.created_at  at time zone 'utc' at time zone 'Brazil/East'

Get a complete list of timezones with the following select;

select * from pg_timezone_names;

See details here.

https://popsql.com/learn-sql/postgresql/how-to-convert-utc-to-local-time-zone-in-postgresql

Answer 5

Well if you store the data as UTC date in the database you can do something as simple as

select 
 [MyUtcDate] + getdate() - getutcdate()
from [dbo].[mytable]

this was it's always local from the point of the server and you are not fumbling with AT TIME ZONE 'your time zone name', if your database get moved to another time zone like a client installation a hard coded time zone might bite you.

Answer 6

If your local date time is say Eastern Standard Time and you want to convert from UTC to that, then in Azure SQL and SQL Server 2016 and above, you can do:

SELECT YourUtcColumn AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time' AS
       LocalTime
FROM   YourTable

The full list of timezone names can be found with:

SELECT * FROM sys.time_zone_info 

And yes, the timezones are badly named - even though it is Eastern Standard Time, daylight savings is taken into account.

Answer 7

I have code to perform UTC to Local and Local to UTC times which allows conversion using code like this

DECLARE @usersTimezone VARCHAR(32)='Europe/London'
DECLARE @utcDT DATETIME=GetUTCDate()
DECLARE @userDT DATETIME=[dbo].[funcUTCtoLocal](@utcDT, @usersTimezone)

and

DECLARE @usersTimezone VARCHAR(32)='Europe/London'
DECLARE @userDT DATETIME=GetDate()
DECLARE @utcDT DATETIME=[dbo].[funcLocaltoUTC](@userDT, @usersTimezone)

The functions can support all or a subset of timezones in the IANA/TZDB as provided by NodaTime - see the full list at https://nodatime.org/TimeZones

Be aware that my use case means I only need a 'current' window, allowing the conversion of times within the range of about +/- 5 years from now. This means that the method I've used probably isn't suitable for you if you need a very wide period of time, due to the way it generates code for each timezone interval in a given date range.

The project is on GitHub: https://github.com/elliveny/SQLServerTimeConversion

This generates SQL function code as per this example

Answer 8

For Azure SQL and @@Version >= SQL Server 2016 users, Below is a simple function using AT TIME ZONE.

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[Global_Convert_UTCTimeTo_LocalTime]
(
   @LocalTimeZone        VARCHAR(50),
   @UTCDateTime          DATETIME
)
RETURNS DATETIME
AS
BEGIN
   DECLARE @ConvertedDateTime DATETIME;

   SELECT @ConvertedDateTime = @UTCDateTime AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE @LocalTimeZone
   RETURN @ConvertedDateTime

END
GO

For types of values that @LocalTimeZone can take, please go to this link or Go to KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Time Zones

Answer 9

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 10

Best way for Oracle:

With hardcoded datetime:

SELECT TO_CHAR(CAST((FROM_TZ(CAST(TO_DATE('2018-10-27 21:00', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI') AS TIMESTAMP), 'UTC') AT  TIME ZONE 'EET') AS DATE), 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI') UTC_TO_EET FROM DUAL

Result: 2018-10-28 00:00

With column and table names:

SELECT TO_CHAR(CAST((FROM_TZ(CAST(COLUMN_NAME AS TIMESTAMP), 'UTC') AT  TIME ZONE 'EET') AS DATE), 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI') UTC_TO_EET FROM TABLE_NAME

Answer 11

You have to reformat the string as well as converting to the correct time. In this case I needed Zulu time.

Declare @Date datetime;
Declare @DateString varchar(50);
set @Date = GETDATE(); 
declare @ZuluTime datetime;

Declare @DateFrom varchar (50);
Declare @DateTo varchar (50);
set @ZuluTime = DATEADD(second, DATEDIFF(second, GETDATE(), GETUTCDATE()), @Date);
set @DateString =  FORMAT(@ZuluTime, 'yyyy-MM-ddThh:mm:ssZ', 'en-US' )  
select @DateString;

Answer 12

This can be done without a function. Code below will convert a UTC time to Mountain time accounting for daylight savings. Adjust all the -6 and -7 numbers to your timezone accordingly (i.e. for EST you would adjust to -4 and -5 respectively)

--Adjust a UTC value, in the example the UTC field is identified as UTC.Field, to account for daylight savings time when converting out of UTC to Mountain time.
CASE
    --When it's between March and November, it is summer time which is -6 from UTC
    WHEN MONTH ( UTC.Field ) > 3 AND MONTH ( UTC.Field ) < 11 
        THEN DATEADD ( HOUR , -6 , UTC.Field )
    --When its March and the day is greater than the 14, you know it's summer (-6)
    WHEN MONTH ( UTC.Field ) = 3
        AND DATEPART ( DAY , UTC.Field ) >= 14 
        THEN
            --However, if UTC is before 9am on that Sunday, then it's before 2am Mountain which means it's still Winter daylight time.
            CASE 
                WHEN DATEPART ( WEEKDAY , UTC.Field ) = 1 
                    AND UTC.Field < '9:00'
                    --Before 2am mountain time so it's winter, -7 hours for Winter daylight time
                    THEN DATEADD ( HOUR , -7 , UTC.Field )
                --Otherwise -6 because it'll be after 2am making it Summer daylight time
                ELSE DATEADD ( HOUR , -6 , UTC.Field )
            END
    WHEN MONTH ( UTC.Field ) = 3
        AND ( DATEPART ( WEEKDAY , UTC.Field ) + 7 ) <= DATEPART ( day , UTC.Field ) 
        THEN 
            --According to the date, it's moved onto Summer daylight, but we need to account for the hours leading up to 2am if it's Sunday
            CASE 
                WHEN DATEPART ( WEEKDAY , UTC.Field ) = 1 
                    AND UTC.Field < '9:00'
                    --Before 9am UTC is before 2am Mountain so it's winter Daylight, -7 hours
                    THEN DATEADD ( HOUR , -7 , UTC.Field )
                --Otherwise, it's summer daylight, -6 hours
                ELSE DATEADD ( HOUR , -6 , UTC.Field )
            END
    --When it's November and the weekday is greater than the calendar date, it's still Summer so -6 from the time
    WHEN MONTH ( UTC.Field ) = 11
        AND DATEPART ( WEEKDAY , UTC.Field ) > DATEPART ( DAY , UTC.Field ) 
        THEN DATEADD ( HOUR , -6 , UTC.Field )
    WHEN MONTH ( UTC.Field ) = 11
        AND DATEPART ( WEEKDAY , UTC.Field ) <= DATEPART ( DAY , UTC.Field ) 
            --If the weekday is less than or equal to the calendar day it's Winter daylight but we need to account for the hours leading up to 2am.
            CASE 
                WHEN DATEPART ( WEEKDAY , UTC.Field ) = 1 
                    AND UTC.Field < '8:00'
                    --If it's before 8am UTC and it's Sunday in the logic outlined, then it's still Summer daylight, -6 hours
                    THEN DATEADD ( HOUR , -6 , UTC.Field )
                --Otherwise, adjust for Winter daylight at -7
                ELSE DATEADD ( HOUR , -7 , UTC.Field )
            END
    --If the date doesn't fall into any of the above logic, it's Winter daylight, -7
    ELSE
        DATEADD ( HOUR , -7 , UTC.Field )
END

Answer 13

-- get indian standard time from utc

CREATE FUNCTION dbo.getISTTime
(
@UTCDate datetime
)
RETURNS datetime
AS
BEGIN

    RETURN dateadd(minute,330,@UTCDate)

END
GO

Answer 14

The UNIX timestamp is merely the number of seconds between a particular date and the Unix Epoch,

SELECT DATEDIFF(SECOND,{d '1970-01-01'},GETDATE()) // This Will Return the UNIX timestamp In SQL server

you can create a function for local date time to Unix UTC conversion using Country Offset Function to Unix Time Stamp In SQL server

Answer 15

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 16

This should be able to get server time with DST

declare @dt datetime
set @dt = getutcdate() -- GMT equivalent

sysdatetimeoffset takes DST into account

select [InputTime] = @dt
       , [LocalTime2] = dateadd(mi, datediff(mi, sysdatetimeoffset(),getdate()), @dt) 

Answer 17

If you need a conversion other than your server's location, here is a function that allows you to pass a standard offset and accounts for US Daylight Savings Times:

-- =============================================
-- 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,dateadd(day,datepart(dw,@SSM)*-1+1,@SSM))
    set @FSN = datename(year,@UTC) + '1107'
    set @FSN = dateadd(second,-1,dateadd(hour,2,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

GO

Answer 18

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 19

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 20

I didn't find any of these example helpful in getting a datetime stored as UTC to a datetime in a specified timezone (NOT the timezone of the server because Azure SQL databases run as UTC). This is how I handled it. It's not elegant but it's simple and gives you the right answer without maintaining other tables:

select CONVERT(datetime, SWITCHOFFSET(dateTimeField, DATEPART(TZOFFSET, 
dateTimeField AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time')))

Answer 21

 declare @mydate2 datetime
 set @mydate2=Getdate()
 select @mydate2 as mydate,
 dateadd(minute, datediff(minute,getdate(),@mydate2),getutcdate())

Answer 22

Using new SQL Server 2016 opportunities:

CREATE FUNCTION ToLocalTime(@dtUtc datetime, @timezoneId nvarchar(256))
RETURNS datetime
AS BEGIN

return @dtUtc AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE @timezoneId

/* -- second way, faster

return SWITCHOFFSET(@dtUtc , DATENAME(tz, @dtUtc AT TIME ZONE @timezoneId))

*/

/* -- third way

declare @dtLocal datetimeoffset
set @dtLocal = @dtUtc AT TIME ZONE @timezoneId
return dateadd(minute, DATEPART (TZoffset, @dtLocal), @dtUtc)

*/

END
GO

But clr procedure works in 5 times faster :'-(

Pay attention that Offset for one TimeZone can change to winter or summer time. For example

select cast('2017-02-08 09:00:00.000' as datetime) AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time'
select cast('2017-08-08 09:00:00.000' as datetime) AT TIME ZONE 'Eastern Standard Time'

results:

2017-02-08 09:00:00.000 -05:00
2017-08-08 09:00:00.000 -04:00

You can't just add constant offset.

Answer 23

I've found that this function is faster than other solutions using a separate table or loops. It's just a basic case statement. Given that all months between April and October have a -4-hour offset (Eastern Time) we just need to add a few more case lines for the fringe days. Otherwise, the offset is -5 hours.

This is specific to a conversion from UTC to Eastern time, but additional time zone functions can be added as needed.

USE [YourDatabaseName]
GO

/****** Object:  UserDefinedFunction [dbo].[ConvertUTCtoEastern]    Script Date: 11/2/2016 5:21:52 PM ******/
SET ANSI_NULLS ON
GO

SET QUOTED_IDENTIFIER ON
GO


CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[ConvertUTCtoEastern]
(
@dtStartDate DATETIME
)
RETURNS DATETIME
AS
BEGIN
DECLARE @Working DATETIME
DECLARE @Returned DATETIME

SET @Working = @dtStartDate
SET @Working = 
case when month(@Working) between 4 and 10 then dateadd(HH,-4,@Working) 
     when @Working between '2017-03-12' and '2017-11-05' then dateadd(HH,-4,@Working) 
     when @Working between '2016-03-13' and '2016-11-06' then dateadd(HH,-4,@Working) 
     when @Working between '2015-03-08' and '2015-11-01' then dateadd(HH,-4,@Working) 
     when @Working between '2014-03-09' and '2014-11-02' then dateadd(HH,-4,@Working) 
     when @Working between '2013-03-10' and '2013-11-03' then dateadd(HH,-4,@Working) 
     when @Working between '2012-03-11' and '2012-11-04' then dateadd(HH,-4,@Working) 
else dateadd(HH,-5,@Working) end

SET @Returned = @Working

RETURN @Returned

END


GO

Answer 24

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 25

If enabling CLR on your database is an option as well as using the sql server's timezone, it can be written in .Net quite easily.

public partial class UserDefinedFunctions
{
    [Microsoft.SqlServer.Server.SqlFunction]
    public static SqlDateTime fn_GetLocalFromUTC(SqlDateTime UTC)
    {
        if (UTC.IsNull)
            return UTC;

        return new SqlDateTime(UTC.Value.ToLocalTime());
    }
}

A UTC datetime value goes in and the local datetime value relative to the server comes out. Null values return null.

Answer 26

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

Answer 27

As a warning - if you're going to use the following (note the milliseconds instead of minutes):

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

Keep in mind that the DATEDIFF part will not always return the same number. So don't use it to compare DateTimes down to milliseconds.

Answer 28

Here's a simpler one that takes dst in to account

CREATE FUNCTION [dbo].[UtcToLocal] 
(
    @p_utcDatetime DATETIME 
)
RETURNS DATETIME
AS
BEGIN
    RETURN DATEADD(MINUTE, DATEDIFF(MINUTE, GETUTCDATE(), @p_utcDatetime), GETDATE())
END

Answer 29

I found the one off function way to be too slow when there is a lot of data. So I did it through joining to a table function that would allow for a calculation of the hour diff. It is basically datetime segments with the hour offset. A year would be 4 rows. So the table function

dbo.fn_getTimeZoneOffsets('3/1/2007 7:00am', '11/5/2007 9:00am', 'EPT')

would return this table:

startTime          endTime   offset  isHr2
3/1/07 7:00     3/11/07 6:59    -5    0
3/11/07 7:00    11/4/07 6:59    -4    0
11/4/07 7:00    11/4/07 7:59    -5    1
11/4/07 8:00    11/5/07 9:00    -5    0

It does account for daylight savings. A sample of how it is uses is below and the full blog post is here.

select mt.startTime as startUTC, 
    dateadd(hh, tzStart.offset, mt.startTime) as startLocal, 
    tzStart.isHr2
from MyTable mt 
inner join dbo.fn_getTimeZoneOffsets(@startViewUTC, @endViewUTC, @timeZone)  tzStart
on mt.startTime between tzStart.startTime and tzStart.endTime

Answer 30

Here's a version that accounts for daylight savings, UTC offset, and is not locked into a particular year.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Name:     udfToLocalTime.sql
--Purpose:  To convert UTC to local US time accounting for DST
--Author:   Patrick Slesicki
--Date:     3/25/2014
--Notes:    Works on SQL Server 2008R2 and later, maybe SQL Server 2008 as well.
--          Good only for US States observing the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
--          Function doesn't apply for years prior to 2007.
--          Function assumes that the 1st day of the week is Sunday.
--Tests:        
--          SELECT dbo.udfToLocalTime('2014-03-09 9:00', DEFAULT)
--          SELECT dbo.udfToLocalTime('2014-03-09 10:00', DEFAULT)
--          SELECT dbo.udfToLocalTime('2014-11-02 8:00', DEFAULT)
--          SELECT dbo.udfToLocalTime('2014-11-02 9:00', DEFAULT)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALTER FUNCTION udfToLocalTime
    (
    @UtcDateTime    AS DATETIME
    ,@UtcOffset     AS INT = -8 --PST
    )
RETURNS DATETIME
AS 
BEGIN
    DECLARE 
        @PstDateTime    AS DATETIME
        ,@Year          AS CHAR(4)
        ,@DstStart      AS DATETIME
        ,@DstEnd        AS DATETIME
        ,@Mar1          AS DATETIME
        ,@Nov1          AS DATETIME
        ,@MarTime       AS TIME
        ,@NovTime       AS TIME
        ,@Mar1Day       AS INT
        ,@Nov1Day       AS INT
        ,@MarDiff       AS INT
        ,@NovDiff       AS INT

    SELECT
        @Year       = YEAR(@UtcDateTime)
        ,@MarTime   = CONVERT(TIME, DATEADD(HOUR, -@UtcOffset, '1900-01-01 02:00'))
        ,@NovTime   = CONVERT(TIME, DATEADD(HOUR, -@UtcOffset - 1, '1900-01-01 02:00'))
        ,@Mar1      = CONVERT(CHAR(16), @Year + '-03-01 ' + CONVERT(CHAR(5), @MarTime), 126)
        ,@Nov1      = CONVERT(CHAR(16), @Year + '-11-01 ' + CONVERT(CHAR(5), @NovTime), 126)
        ,@Mar1Day   = DATEPART(WEEKDAY, @Mar1)
        ,@Nov1Day   = DATEPART(WEEKDAY, @Nov1)

    --Get number of days between Mar 1 and DST start date
    IF @Mar1Day = 1 SET @MarDiff = 7
    ELSE SET @MarDiff = 15 - @Mar1Day

    --Get number of days between Nov 1 and DST end date
    IF @Nov1Day = 1 SET @NovDiff = 0
    ELSE SET @NovDiff = 8 - @Nov1Day

    --Get DST start and end dates
    SELECT 
        @DstStart   = DATEADD(DAY, @MarDiff, @Mar1)
        ,@DstEnd    = DATEADD(DAY, @NovDiff, @Nov1)

    --Change UTC offset if @UtcDateTime is in DST Range
    IF @UtcDateTime >= @DstStart AND @UtcDateTime < @DstEnd SET @UtcOffset = @UtcOffset + 1

    --Get Conversion
    SET @PstDateTime = DATEADD(HOUR, @UtcOffset, @UtcDateTime)
    RETURN @PstDateTime
END
GO