A novel method and apparatus for calibrating DC offsets in a direct conversion receiver. The present DC offset calibration method and apparatus comprises a direct conversion receiver equipped with a frequency shifter means and a DC offset measurement and correction technique. In accordance with the present invention, DC offsets are calibrated in direct conversion receivers through an inventive method including two steps: a DC offset measurement step and a DC offset correction step. In the DC offset measurement step the frequency of a local oscillation signal (typically generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)) is shifted by a selected frequency shift value during the inactive time intervals of the receiver. DC offsets are measured while the frequency of the down-conversion oscillation signal is shifted by the frequency shift value. Before the inactive time interval expires, the frequency of the down-conversion oscillator signal is shifted back to its original value. In the DC offset correction step of the present invention incoming signals are corrected using a correction means that removes the DC offset measured during the DC offset measurement step.