AKST to CDT Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Time Difference
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
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Select Time
Quick Reference
| AKST | CDT |
|---|---|
| 17:00 | 20:00 |
| 19:00 | 22:00 |
| 21:00 | 00:00 |
| 23:00 | 02:00 |
| 01:00 | 04:00 |
| 03:00 | 06:00 |
| 05:00 | 08:00 |
| 07:00 | 10:00 |
| 09:00 | 12:00 |
| 11:00 | 14:00 |
| 13:00 | 16:00 |
| 15:00 | 18:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
Related Time Zone Conversions
About AKST to CDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT) is essential for coordinating between Alaska and the US Central region during daylight saving time. AKST is UTC-9 while CDT is UTC-5, making CDT 4 hours ahead of AKST. This conversion applies from mid-March to early November when the Central region observes daylight saving time while Alaska remains on AKST.
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Alaska and Central region cities like Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, and St. Louis during the spring, summer, and early fall months. Whether you're scheduling meetings between Anchorage and Chicago headquarters, coordinating business operations, managing customer service, or planning travel, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations. The 4-hour difference during the CDT season is significant and requires careful attention to scheduling to maintain optimal business hour overlap between Alaska and the Central US region.
Common Use Cases for AKST to CDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Alaska to Central US business meetings during spring-summer-fall
- Coordinating between Anchorage and Chicago/Dallas headquarters during daylight hours
- Managing business operations across Alaska and the Central region during CDT season
- Planning conference calls between Alaska and Central US teams during daylight saving period
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in the Central US region during daylight saving months
- Planning travel between Alaska and Central US destinations
- Scheduling virtual events for Alaska-Central audiences during spring-summer-fall
- Arranging online meetings with Central-based colleagues during CDT season
Time Zone Information
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Standard time (first Sunday in November to second Sunday in March)
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka
- Coverage: Alaska (winter months)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November)
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis
- Coverage: Central United States and Canada (summer months)
Quick Reference: AKST to CDT
Remember: CDT is always 4 hours ahead of AKST during the daylight saving period (mid-March to early November). When CDT ends and CST begins (first Sunday in November), the difference decreases to 3 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and CDT?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5. This means CDT is 4 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 8:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 12:00 PM (noon) in Chicago (CDT).
When does the AKST to CDT conversion apply?
This conversion applies from mid-March to early November when the Central region observes daylight saving time (CDT) while Alaska remains on AKST. Before mid-March and after early November, Alaska and the Central region have a 3-hour difference (when Central uses CST). This is a seasonal conversion that only applies during the daylight saving months.
Why is the AKST to CDT difference larger than other Alaska pairs?
The 4-hour difference between AKST and CDT is the largest difference among Alaska-US mainland timezone pairs. This is because AKST is UTC-9 (the furthest west of mainland US timezones) and CDT is UTC-5 (east of the Mountain region). The 4-hour gap makes this one of the most challenging Alaska-US regional pairings for business coordination.
What are the best times to schedule meetings between Alaska and the Central region during CDT season?
With a 4-hour difference, early morning Alaska time (7-8 AM AKST) aligns with late morning Central time (11 AM-12 PM CDT), which works for business discussions. Mid-morning Alaska time (9-10 AM AKST) aligns with early afternoon Central time (1-2 PM CDT). The large difference makes it difficult to find overlapping afternoon hours, so early morning meetings work best.
Which major cities are in these timezones?
AKST covers Alaska's major cities including Anchorage (largest city), Fairbanks, Juneau (capital), Ketchikan, and Sitka. CDT covers Central US cities including Chicago (Illinois), Dallas (Texas), Houston (Texas), Kansas City (Missouri), St. Louis (Missouri), and Memphis (Tennessee) during daylight saving months.
What happens when daylight saving time ends?
When daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November, the Central region transitions from CDT to CST (UTC-6), while Alaska remains on AKST (UTC-9). This changes the time difference from 4 hours to 3 hours. The 4-hour difference only applies during the CDT season (mid-March to early November), making this one of the most variable Alaska-US timezone pairs.
Pro Tips
- • The 4-hour AKST to CDT difference is one of the largest Alaska-US regional pairings. Mark your calendar for DST transitions (second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November) to switch between 4-hour and 3-hour differences.
- • Early morning is your friend for Alaska-Central US meetings. An 8 AM AKST call is 12 PM (noon) CDT - perfect for a working lunch discussion. A 7 AM AKST call is 11 AM CDT, ideal for mid-morning meeting slots.
- • Mental math for AKST to CDT: add 4 hours to AKST times. An 11 AM AKST meeting is 3 PM CDT, a 2 PM AKST meeting is 6 PM CDT. This consistent +4 rule applies during the CDT season.
- • The 4-hour difference is challenging for afternoon coordination. A 3 PM AKST meeting is 7 PM CDT (too late). Plan recurring meetings in the early morning Alaska slot (7-9 AM AKST) for consistency.
- • For video calls, avoid meeting times after 10 AM AKST during CDT season, as that translates to 2 PM or later CDT. The best call windows are 7-10 AM AKST (11 AM-2 PM CDT).
- • When scheduling quarterly reviews or annual meetings between Alaska and Central US offices, always double-check your conversion during March and November transition periods to account for the 1-hour DST shift.
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