When does daylight savings end and are we gaining or losing an hour?

Most Australians will enjoy an extra hour of sleep from this Sunday when daylight savings ends.

Clocks will be put back an hour at 3am on April 3, meaning many will enjoy a brighter start to their morning — but it will get darker earlier in the evening.

The occasion is also a reminder for many to change their smoke alarm batteries.

Smoke detectors
Australians are being reminded to change their clocks and smoke alarm batteries. Tom Huntley Credit: News Corp Australia

New South Wales, Victoria, the ACT, South Australia and Tasmania will all be affected, while Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory will remain the same as they do not run on Daylight Saving Time.

Digital devices like phones and laptops will automatically adjust, while items like clocks and some watches will need to be manually changed.

Daylight Savings Ends Tonight
Australians will notice it’s lighter in the morning, but darker in the evening. NCA NewsWire/ Luis Ascui Credit: News Corp Australia

Clocks will move forward an hour in six months’ time when daylight savings starts again on October 2.

Daylight savings is a seasonal time change, which is used in about 70 countries around the world including most of Europe and the United Kingdom.

While beginning and end dates vary across different nations, Australia’s daylight savings perioxjmtzywd stretches from October to April.