CDT to CST Converter
Convert time between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Central Standard Time (CST)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Central Standard Time (CST)
Time Difference
Central Standard Time (CST) is 0 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CDT | CST |
|---|---|
| 20:00 | 20:00 |
| 22:00 | 22:00 |
| 00:00 | 00:00 |
| 02:00 | 02:00 |
| 04:00 | 04:00 |
| 06:00 | 06:00 |
| 08:00 | 08:00 |
| 10:00 | 10:00 |
| 12:00 | 12:00 |
| 14:00 | 14:00 |
| 16:00 | 16:00 |
| 18:00 | 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 CDT to CST Time Conversion
Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Central Standard Time (CST) both refer to the same geographic region, the Central Time Zone in North America. CDT is UTC-5 (observed during daylight saving time from March to November), while CST is UTC-6 (observed during standard time from November to March). CST is 1 hour behind CDT.
Understanding the difference between CDT and CST is essential for anyone working with time references in the Central region, including major cities like Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans. This converter helps you quickly convert times between these two seasonal time designations within the same timezone region.
Common Use Cases for CDT to CST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling events across seasonal timezone transitions
- Documenting historical times in the Central timezone region
- Planning business operations during daylight saving time transitions
Personal & Travel
- Understanding time differences during seasonal changes
- Planning travel within the Central timezone during transitions
- Organizing meetings when daylight saving time changes occur
Time Zone Information
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico
Central Standard Time (CST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico
Quick Reference: CDT to CST
Remember: CST is always 1 hour behind CDT (same timezone, different seasons)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CDT and CST?
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5, while Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6. CST is 1 hour behind CDT. However, these times are observed in the same timezone region but at different times of the year. CDT is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, while CST is observed from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March.
When do CDT and CST transition?
CDT transitions to CST on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM. Clocks "fall back" one hour. CST transitions to CDT on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM. Clocks "spring forward" one hour. These transitions happen simultaneously across the entire Central timezone region.
How do I convert CDT to CST?
To convert from CDT to CST, subtract 1 hour from the CDT time. For example, if it is 12:00 PM CDT, it would be 11:00 AM CST. Keep in mind that this conversion typically only applies during the winter months when both times could theoretically be referenced.
Are CDT and CST in the same timezone?
Yes, CDT and CST both refer to the Central Time Zone in North America. They are the same geographic region but different time designations. CDT is the daylight saving time version (summer), and CST is the standard time version (winter). The IANA timezone identifier for both is America/Chicago.
Which cities observe CDT and CST?
Major cities in the Central Time Zone include Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans, Memphis, Kansas City, and St. Louis. All these cities observe CDT during summer and CST during winter. This applies to the central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico.
Why do we have CDT and CST instead of using one time?
The United States observes daylight saving time to make better use of daylight hours. During summer (March-November), clocks are set forward 1 hour to CDT to shift daylight to evening hours. During winter (November-March), clocks are set back to CST to align with natural sunrise and sunset times. This practice conserves energy and provides more daylight for evening activities.
Pro Tips
- • CST is 1 hour behind CDT - both are in the same Central timezone region.
- • Remember 'spring forward' (March) for CDT and 'fall back' (November) for CST.
- • Most major cities and business operations in the Central region automatically adjust for daylight saving time.
- • When scheduling across daylight saving time transitions, always confirm the current time zone being observed.
- • Some areas within the Central timezone region do not observe daylight saving time - always verify local practices.
- • Using 24-hour time format can reduce confusion when dealing with timezone transitions.