BST to CDT Converter
Convert time between British Summer Time (BST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT)
British Summer Time (BST)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Time Difference
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is 0 hours ahead of British Summer Time (BST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| BST | CDT |
|---|---|
| 02:00 | 20:00 |
| 04:00 | 22:00 |
| 06:00 | 00:00 |
| 08:00 | 02:00 |
| 10:00 | 04:00 |
| 12:00 | 06:00 |
| 14:00 | 08:00 |
| 16:00 | 10:00 |
| 18:00 | 12:00 |
| 20:00 | 14:00 |
| 22:00 | 16:00 |
| 00:00 | 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 BST to CDT Time Conversion
Converting time between British Summer Time (BST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT) is essential for coordinating activities between the UK and the US Central region during summer. BST is UTC+1, while CDT is UTC-5, making CDT 6 hours behind BST.
This time zone converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations, accounting for daylight saving time transitions and regional variations. Whether you're scheduling business meetings between London and Chicago, planning travel, or coordinating with teams across time zones, our converter provides reliable results. Note that the Central region observes CST (UTC-6) during winter months, making the difference 7 hours.
Common Use Cases for BST to CDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between UK and US Central region offices during summer
- Coordinating London and Chicago business operations
- Planning international summer conferences and webinars for Central Time
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel itineraries from UK to US Central region during summer
- Coordinating with family and friends in Chicago, Dallas, and Houston
- Scheduling virtual events with UK-US Central audiences during daylight saving time
Time Zone Information
British Summer Time (BST)
- UTC Offset: UTC+1 (UTC+0 during GMT)
- IANA Timezone: Europe/London
- Daylight Saving: Last Sunday in March to Last Sunday in October
- Major Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast
- Coverage: United Kingdom and Ireland (during daylight saving time)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5 (UTC-6 during CST)
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, New Orleans
- Coverage: Central United States and Canada (during daylight saving time)
Quick Reference: BST to CDT
Remember: CDT is always 6 hours behind BST. In winter, the Central region uses CST (UTC-6), making the difference 7 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between BST and CDT?
British Summer Time (BST) is UTC+1, while Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5. BST is 6 hours ahead of CDT. This means when it's 6:00 PM in BST, it's 12:00 PM (noon) in CDT. Both regions observe daylight saving time during overlapping periods (late March to early November).
When are BST and CDT both active?
Both BST and CDT are active during overlapping summer months. The UK observes BST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. The US Central region observes CDT from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During these overlapping periods, the time difference is 6 hours. Before late March and after early November, you'll need to adjust for different timezone standards.
What happens during daylight saving time transitions?
The UK and US Central region change their clocks on different dates. The UK changes on the last Sunday of March (forward) and October (back). The US Central region changes on the second Sunday of March (forward) and first Sunday of November (back). This creates brief periods where the standard time difference changes. Always verify the current date when scheduling international meetings during March and October/November.
What are the major cities in the CDT timezone?
Major cities in Central Daylight Time include Chicago (Illinois), Dallas (Texas), Houston (Texas), Memphis (Tennessee), New Orleans (Louisiana), and Kansas City (Missouri/Kansas). These are important business, financial, and cultural centers in the US Central region. During winter months, these cities switch to CST (Central Standard Time, UTC-6).
How do I convert BST to CDT manually?
To convert from BST to CDT, subtract 6 hours from the BST time. For example, if it's 6:00 PM BST, it would be 12:00 PM CDT. This conversion applies when both regions are observing daylight saving time (late March to early November). Outside this period, when the UK is in GMT and the US Central region is in CST, the difference is 7 hours.
What should I know about scheduling across BST and CDT?
The UK and US Central region have limited working hour overlap during summer. Early morning BST (8-10 AM) corresponds to 2-4 AM CDT, making synchronous morning meetings impractical. Mid-morning BST (10 AM-12 PM) roughly aligns with early morning CDT (4-6 AM), which is very early. Afternoon BST (2-4 PM) roughly aligns with morning CDT (8-10 AM), which is the most practical window for transatlantic scheduling. Late afternoon UK times (5-6 PM BST) work best for late morning CDT meetings (11 AM-12 PM). Successful scheduling requires flexibility from both parties.
Pro Tips
- • BST is 6 hours ahead of CDT during summer daylight saving time. When only one region observes daylight saving, the difference becomes 7 hours.
- • The UK and US Central region change clocks on different dates. UK: last Sunday of March/October. US Central: second Sunday of March/first Sunday of November.
- • Early morning BST (8-10 AM) equals 2-4 AM CDT. Late evening CDT (10 PM-midnight) equals next morning BST (4-6 AM), making synchronous meetings very difficult.
- • Afternoon BST (2-4 PM) roughly aligns with morning CDT (8-10 AM), which is the most practical window for transatlantic scheduling to avoid extreme hours.
- • Late afternoon UK times (5-6 PM BST) correspond to late morning Central region times (11 AM-12 PM CDT), making this the ideal window for important cross-timezone meetings.
- • Texas and other Central states have major business hubs (Austin, Dallas, Houston). Plan ahead for daylight saving transitions when scheduling with teams in these cities.