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EST to CST converter

Central Time (CST) is 1 hour behind Eastern Time (EST) for most of the year, and the same time as or 2 hours for the rest because of daylight saving time.

Eastern Time · EDT

5:01 AM

Sunday 25 October

Central Time · CDT

4:01 AM

Sunday 25 October

Right now, Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time. Updates live from your device’s clock.

Hour by hour

Today’s conversion. Green dots mark 9-to-5 working hours.

EST to CST time conversion table for today
ESTCST
12:00 AM11:00 PMprev day
1:00 AM12:00 AM
2:00 AM1:00 AM
3:00 AM2:00 AM
4:00 AM3:00 AM
5:00 AM4:00 AM
6:00 AM5:00 AM
7:00 AM6:00 AM
8:00 AM7:00 AM
9:00 AM8:00 AM
10:00 AM9:00 AM
11:00 AM10:00 AM
12:00 PM11:00 AM
1:00 PM12:00 PM
2:00 PM1:00 PM
3:00 PM2:00 PM
4:00 PM3:00 PM
5:00 PM4:00 PM
6:00 PM5:00 PM
7:00 PM6:00 PM
8:00 PM7:00 PM
9:00 PM8:00 PM
10:00 PM9:00 PM
11:00 PM10:00 PM

Best time to meet

When both sides are inside 9 AM–5 PM on a weekday. If there’s no overlap, we show when both are awake (8 AM–9 PM).

  • 10:00 AM–5:00 PMin EST=9:00 AM–4:00 PMin CST

When the gap changes

  • 25 October 2026 → 1 November 2026CST −1h
  • 1 November 2026 → 1 November 2026CST Same time
  • 1 November 2026 → 14 March 2027CST −1h
  • 14 March 2027 → 14 March 2027CST −2h
  • 14 March 2027 → 7 November 2027CST −1h

Eastern Time is EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) from March to November. It covers New York, Washington, Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Toronto.

US Central Time is CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) from March to November. It covers Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Austin.

Questions

What is the time difference between Eastern Time and Central Time?

Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time for most of the year. Because of daylight saving time, the gap is the same time as or 2 hours for part of the year.

If it's 9 AM in Eastern Time, what time is it in Central Time?

When it's 9:00 AM in Eastern Time, it's 8:00 AM in Central Time. At 5:00 PM in Eastern Time, it's 4:00 PM in Central Time. (Based on today's offsets.)

What is the best time for a call between Eastern Time and Central Time?

Working hours overlap from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Eastern Time, which is 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM in Central Time.

Does Eastern Time use daylight saving time?

Yes. Eastern Time's next clock changes are on Sunday, 1 November 2026 (back one hour) and Sunday, 14 March 2027 (forward one hour).

Does Central Time use daylight saving time?

Yes. Central Time's next clock changes are on Sunday, 1 November 2026 (back one hour) and Sunday, 14 March 2027 (forward one hour).