CDT to PST Converter
Convert time between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Time Difference
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is 0 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CDT | PST |
|---|---|
| 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 PST Time Conversion
Converting time between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is essential for coordinating between major North American business regions. CDT is UTC-5 (observed from March to November), while PST is UTC-8 (observed from November to March). PST is 3 hours behind CDT during their overlapping periods.
This conversion is crucial for businesses coordinating between the Central region (Chicago, Houston, Dallas) and the Pacific West Coast region (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle). When the Pacific region observes PDT (UTC-7) from March to November, the time difference becomes 2 hours. Our converter automatically handles these seasonal transitions using the IANA timezone database.
Common Use Cases for CDT to PST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Central and West Coast teams
- Coordinating technology operations across continental US regions
- Planning conference calls between Chicago and Silicon Valley offices
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends on the West Coast
- Planning travel between Central and Pacific regions
- Scheduling video calls across time zones
Time Zone Information
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, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8 (UTC-7 during PDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada
Quick Reference: CDT to PST
Remember: PST is always 3 hours behind CDT (2 hours when PDT is active)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CDT and PST?
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5, while Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8. PST is 3 hours behind CDT. CDT is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, while PST is observed from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. During overlapping periods, the Pacific region observes PDT (UTC-7).
When do CDT and PST overlap?
CDT and PST overlap during the winter months (November to March) when the Central region observes CDT and the Pacific region observes PST. From March to November, CDT is active in Central and PDT is active in the Pacific region, increasing the time difference to 2 hours.
How do I convert CDT to PST?
To convert from CDT to PST, subtract 3 hours from the CDT time. For example, if it is 12:00 PM CDT, it would be 9:00 AM PST. Keep in mind that from March to November, when PDT is active, you would subtract 2 hours instead.
Which cities are in the CDT timezone?
Major cities in the Central Daylight Time zone include Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans, Memphis, and Kansas City. This region covers the central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico.
Which cities are in the PST timezone?
Major cities in the Pacific Standard Time zone include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Las Vegas, and Anchorage. During winter months, these cities observe PST. However, from March to November, most observe PDT (Pacific Daylight Time).
How does daylight saving time affect CDT to PST conversion?
The time difference between CDT and PST varies with daylight saving time. From November to March, PST is 3 hours behind CDT. From March to November, PDT is 2 hours behind CDT. Both regions transition on the same dates: second Sunday in March (spring forward) and first Sunday in November (fall back).
Pro Tips
- • PST is 3 hours behind CDT when both are in standard/daylight mode during their respective seasons.
- • When scheduling meetings across Central and Pacific time zones, the Pacific participant time is 3 hours later.
- • From March to November, the time difference becomes 2 hours because PDT is 2 hours behind CDT.
- • Both regions transition to daylight saving time on the same dates, but the effect on the time difference is different.
- • West Coast tech companies typically start business calls 3 hours earlier than Central time during winter.
- • Always verify whether PDT (daylight) or PST (standard) is currently observed when calculating precise time differences.