CDT to PDT Converter
Convert time between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Time Difference
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is 0 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CDT | PDT |
|---|---|
| 20:00 | 18:00 |
| 22:00 | 20:00 |
| 00:00 | 22:00 |
| 02:00 | 00:00 |
| 04:00 | 02:00 |
| 06:00 | 04:00 |
| 08:00 | 06:00 |
| 10:00 | 08:00 |
| 12:00 | 10:00 |
| 14:00 | 12:00 |
| 16:00 | 14:00 |
| 18:00 | 16:00 |
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 PDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is essential for coordinating across the US during daylight saving time months (March to November). CDT is UTC-5 and PDT is UTC-7, making PDT 2 hours behind CDT. This is a straightforward two-hour difference during the daylight saving season.
This converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations during the daylight saving time period. Whether you're scheduling business meetings between Central and Pacific regions, planning travel, or coordinating distributed teams, this tool provides reliable real-time conversions for Central and Pacific coordination.
Common Use Cases for CDT to PDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Central and Pacific regions during daylight hours
- Coordinating with Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle business offices
- Managing distributed US teams across Central and Pacific time zones
- Planning conference calls and webinars across coasts
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between Central and Pacific regions
- Coordinating with family and friends across time zones
- Scheduling virtual events during daylight saving season
- Understanding broadcast and live event times
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, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Memphis
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada
Quick Reference: CDT to PDT
Note: PDT is always 2 hours behind CDT (March - November)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CDT and PDT?
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5, while Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7. This means CDT is 2 hours ahead of PDT. When you have 8:00 AM in Chicago (CDT), it's 6:00 AM in Los Angeles (PDT).
How does the CDT to PDT offset differ from PST?
When PDT is active (March to November), the difference is 2 hours with PST being 2 hours behind CDT. From November to March, PST is 3 hours behind CST (when Central Standard Time is active). CDT and PDT are both daylight saving time zones, so they maintain a consistent 2-hour difference during their overlap.
When does the time difference change?
Both CDT and PDT follow daylight saving time on the same dates. They both start on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November. During this entire period, the time difference remains a constant 2 hours.
What are the best times to schedule calls between Central and Pacific regions?
Business hour overlap is good due to the 2-hour difference. Morning in the Central region (8-9 AM CDT) corresponds to early morning on the West Coast (6-7 AM PDT). Afternoon in the Central region (2-5 PM CDT) overlaps with late morning to early afternoon (12-3 PM PDT), offering excellent meeting times for both regions.
Why is the CDT to PDT conversion important for businesses?
The Central and Pacific regions are home to major business hubs. Chicago, Dallas, and Houston in Central time coordinate with Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle in Pacific time. The 2-hour difference allows for significant business hour overlap, making it easier to schedule meetings, customer support, and operations across these major economic centers.
Do major cities in these regions have different timezone observations?
Within the Continental US, all major cities in the Central region (Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin) observe CDT during daylight saving, and all major Pacific cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland) observe PDT. However, Arizona and parts of Idaho do not observe daylight saving time, making their situation more complex.
Pro Tips
- • The 2-hour CDT to PDT difference is ideal for coast-to-coast US business coordination. Early morning meetings in Chicago are feasible for West Coast teams.
- • Both regions transition on the same dates (second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November), so the 2-hour difference remains constant throughout the year.
- • Schedule morning calls (9-11 AM CDT) for 7-9 AM PDT to catch West Coast teams before their workday fully ramps up.
- • Afternoon meetings (3-5 PM CDT) correspond to 1-3 PM PDT, giving both regions good daytime hours for collaborative work.
- • Use the CDT 1-2 PM window (11 AM-12 PM PDT) for urgent Central-Pacific discussions when both regions are most focused.
- • Always convert meeting times clearly in both CDT and PDT to prevent scheduling errors, especially during the transition weeks.
Update Logs
View the latest updates and features