CST — Central Standard Time
UTC-06:00 · 6 hours behind UTC · DST active
Details
| Abbreviation | CST |
| Full name | Central Standard Time |
| UTC offset | UTC-06:00 |
| IANA identifier | America/Chicago |
| DST status | Active |
| Standard offset | UTC-06:00 |
| DST offset | UTC-05:00 |
| Clocks forward | Sunday, March 8, 2026 |
| Clocks back | Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
Countries Using CST
Current offset differs from the label
CST is listed as UTC-06:00, but the live IANA zone America/Chicago is currently UTC-05:00. This usually happens during daylight saving time.
Time Difference from CST
| City | Difference |
|---|---|
| New York | -1h |
| Los Angeles | +2h |
| London | -6h |
| Paris | -7h |
| Moscow | -8h |
| Dubai | -9h |
| Mumbai | -10h 30m |
| Bangkok | -12h |
| Shanghai | -13h |
| Tokyo | -14h |
| Sydney | -15h |
| Auckland | -17h |
Using CST in practice
Planning notes for business hours, handoffs, and recurring meetings in this timezone.
Right now
It is currently morning in CST, which is near the edge of the workday. Standard business-hour checks should use 9:00 AM-5:00 PM local time.
Best overlap
The best listed workday overlap is with New York: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM CST equals 10:00 AM-5:00 PM there.
Recurring events
This zone observes daylight saving time, so recurring meetings can shift by one hour for people outside the same DST rule.
| Market | CST | Their time |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM | 10:00 AM-5:00 PM |
| Los Angeles | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM | 9:00 AM-3:00 PM |
| London | 9:00 AM-11:00 AM | 3:00 PM-5:00 PM |
| Auckland | 4:00 PM-5:00 PM | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Paris | 9:00 AM-10:00 AM | 4:00 PM-5:00 PM |
Convert CST to Other Time Zones
About CST (Central Standard Time)
CST (Central Standard Time) is a time zone with a UTC offset of -06:00, meaning it is 6 hours behind UTC. The IANA timezone database identifies it as America/Chicago. It is used in 2 countries, including Mexico, United States.
This time zone observes daylight saving time. During standard time, the offset is UTC-06:00. When DST is active, clocks are advanced by one hour to UTC-05:00. In 2026, DST begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. DST is currently active.
Major cities in CST include Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, and 86 more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CST?
CST stands for Central Standard Time. It is 6 hours behind UTC (UTC-06:00). The IANA timezone identifier is America/Chicago.
What is the current time in CST?
The current CST time is shown at the top of this page and updates every second. CST is UTC-06:00, which is 6 hours behind UTC.
Does CST observe daylight saving time?
Yes. When DST is active, the offset changes from UTC-06:00 to UTC-05:00. In 2026, clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
What countries use CST?
Countries and regions using CST include Mexico, United States.
How do I convert CST to my local time?
Use our time zone converter to convert CST to any other time zone. You can also check the time difference table on this page which shows the offset between CST and 13 major world cities.