CDT to MST Converter
Convert time between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Time Difference
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is 0 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CDT | MST |
|---|---|
| 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 | 17:00 |
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 MST Time Conversion
Converting time between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Mountain Standard Time (MST) helps coordinate activities between the Central region during summer and the Mountain region during winter. CDT is UTC-5 and is observed from March to November, while MST is UTC-7 and is observed from November to March. This creates a 2-hour time difference between these zones during their overlapping periods.
This conversion is particularly useful during the transition periods when one region is observing daylight saving time and the other is not. Our converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations and handles the complexities of seasonal timezone changes.
Common Use Cases for CDT to MST Conversion
Business & Work
- Coordinating business operations between Central and Mountain regions during seasonal transitions
- Scheduling meetings and conference calls during spring and fall months
- Planning project timelines that span across different daylight saving periods
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between Central and Mountain time zones during spring and summer
- Coordinating with family and friends in different regions during daylight saving season
- Managing recurring events across regional time boundaries
Time Zone Information
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5 (Daylight Saving Time)
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Active from Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Austin, Memphis
- Coverage: Central United States, parts of Canada and Mexico
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7 (Standard Time)
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Active from First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, Phoenix
- Coverage: Mountain United States and parts of Canada
Quick Reference: CDT to MST
Remember: MST is always 2 hours behind CDT. CDT is used in summer (March-November), while MST is used in winter (November-March) in their respective regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CDT and MST?
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5, while Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7. This means CDT is 2 hours ahead of MST. When you have 12:00 PM in Chicago (CDT), it's 10:00 AM the same day in Denver (MST).
When does the time difference change?
The time difference changes between 2 hours and 1 hour depending on the season. From March to November, CDT is 2 hours ahead of MST (when MST is observing standard time). From November to March, when MST transitions from MDT to MST, the difference is 2 hours during the overlap. When both observe daylight saving time (MDT and CDT), the difference is 1 hour.
Does Mountain timezone observe daylight saving time?
Yes, the Mountain timezone observes daylight saving time. From March to November, it observes Mountain Daylight Time (MDT, UTC-6). From November to March, it observes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7). This means the offset changes seasonally relative to CDT.
What are the best times to schedule calls between CDT and MST regions?
Since there's a 2-hour difference (CDT 2 hours ahead), standard business hours overlap well. 8:00 AM CDT equals 6:00 AM MST, and 5:00 PM CDT equals 3:00 PM MST. This makes it easy to find meeting times that work for both Central US (Chicago, Dallas, Houston) and Mountain regions (Denver, Salt Lake City).
Why would I need to convert between CDT and MST?
Many organizations operate across both Central and Mountain regions. Businesses in Chicago, Dallas, or Houston often need to coordinate with offices in Denver, Salt Lake City, or Phoenix. Travel planning, remote work, and cross-regional scheduling all require understanding the CDT to MST conversion.
Are there any special considerations during daylight saving transitions?
Both regions transition on the same dates (second Sunday in March for spring forward, first Sunday in November for fall back). This makes transitions relatively straightforward. However, it's still important to verify times during the transition period, especially for meetings scheduled around these dates.
Pro Tips
- • CDT is exactly 2 hours ahead of MST. A quick mental math trick: subtract 2 hours from any CDT time to get MST time.
- • Both regions transition to/from daylight saving time on the same dates, so the 2-hour offset remains constant throughout the year.
- • Morning meetings work well for cross-region coordination: 8-9 AM CDT is 6-7 AM MST, a reasonable early start for Mountain teams.
- • Afternoon meetings also align nicely: 2-3 PM CDT is noon-1 PM MST, perfect timing for lunch or early afternoon discussions.
- • When scheduling recurring meetings, always specify both time zones to avoid confusion during scheduling transitions.
- • Major cities in CDT: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin. Major cities in MST: Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise.
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