EST to CST Converter
CST is 1 hour behind EST · CST → EST
CST
Central Standard Time · CDT · UTC-05:00
Current offset note
The live clocks use today's IANA timezone rules. Right now EST is displaying as EDT (UTC-04:00) and CST is displaying as CDT (UTC-05:00), so this table reflects the current real-world offset.
Best time to call
Schedule between 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST — that’s 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST. These are the overlapping business hours (9 AM – 5 PM) in both time zones.
Meeting planner for EST and CST
Use these notes for recurring calls, handoffs, webinars, and launch timing across both zones.
Current difference
CST is 1 hour behind EST using the current offsets shown by the live clocks.
Workday overlap
Overlap is strong: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST equals 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST.
Recurring meetings
If either zone changes for daylight saving time, recheck the conversion before March-April and October-November meetings.
Quick Reference
| EST | CST |
|---|---|
| Midnight (00:00) | 11:00 PM |
| 6 AM (06:00) | 5:00 AM |
| 9 AM (09:00) | 8:00 AM |
| Noon (12:00) | 11:00 AM |
| 3 PM (15:00) | 2:00 PM |
| 6 PM (18:00) | 5:00 PM |
| 9 PM (21:00) | 8:00 PM |
EST to CST Conversion Table
Green rows indicate overlapping business hours (9 AM – 5 PM) in both zones
| EST (24h) | EST (12h) | CST (24h) | CST (12h) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | 12:00 AM | 23:00 | 11:00 PM | prev day |
| 01:00 | 1:00 AM | 00:00 | 12:00 AM | |
| 02:00 | 2:00 AM | 01:00 | 1:00 AM | |
| 03:00 | 3:00 AM | 02:00 | 2:00 AM | |
| 04:00 | 4:00 AM | 03:00 | 3:00 AM | |
| 05:00 | 5:00 AM | 04:00 | 4:00 AM | |
| 06:00 | 6:00 AM | 05:00 | 5:00 AM | |
| 07:00 | 7:00 AM | 06:00 | 6:00 AM | |
| 08:00 | 8:00 AM | 07:00 | 7:00 AM | |
| 09:00 | 9:00 AM | 08:00 | 8:00 AM | |
| 10:00 | 10:00 AM | 09:00 | 9:00 AM | ● |
| 11:00 | 11:00 AM | 10:00 | 10:00 AM | ● |
| 12:00 | 12:00 PM | 11:00 | 11:00 AM | ● |
| 13:00 | 1:00 PM | 12:00 | 12:00 PM | ● |
| 14:00 | 2:00 PM | 13:00 | 1:00 PM | ● |
| 15:00 | 3:00 PM | 14:00 | 2:00 PM | ● |
| 16:00 | 4:00 PM | 15:00 | 3:00 PM | ● |
| 17:00 | 5:00 PM | 16:00 | 4:00 PM | |
| 18:00 | 6:00 PM | 17:00 | 5:00 PM | |
| 19:00 | 7:00 PM | 18:00 | 6:00 PM | |
| 20:00 | 8:00 PM | 19:00 | 7:00 PM | |
| 21:00 | 9:00 PM | 20:00 | 8:00 PM | |
| 22:00 | 10:00 PM | 21:00 | 9:00 PM | |
| 23:00 | 11:00 PM | 22:00 | 10:00 PM |
About EST and CST
EST — Eastern Standard Time
| UTC offset | UTC-04:00 |
| IANA identifier | America/New_York |
| Abbreviation | EST |
Major cities: New York City.
CST — Central Standard Time
| UTC offset | UTC-05:00 |
| IANA identifier | America/Chicago |
| Abbreviation | CST |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EST and CST?
EST (Eastern Standard Time) is UTC-04:00, while CST (Central Standard Time) is UTC-05:00. CST is 1 hour behind EST. When it’s 12:00 PM (noon) in EST, it’s 11:00 AM in CST.
When is 9 AM EST in CST?
9:00 AM EST is 8:00 AM CST. This conversion is useful for scheduling morning meetings or calls across these time zones.
What is the best time to schedule a call between EST and CST?
The overlapping business hours are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST, which corresponds to 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CST. Green rows in the conversion table above mark these hours.
Does daylight saving time affect the EST to CST conversion?
Yes, if either time zone observes DST, the offset between them may change by 1 hour during spring and autumn transitions (typically March/April and October/November). The table above shows the current offset. Use the live clocks at the top of this page for real-time accuracy, or check our interactive converter for custom dates.
How do I convert EST to CST manually?
Subtract 1 hour from the EST time. For example, 2:00 PM EST − 1 hour = 1:00 PM CST. If the result is 24 or more, subtract 24 and add one day. If negative, add 24 and subtract one day.