CET to EDT Converter
Convert time between Central European Time (CET) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Central European Time (CET)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Time Difference
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is 0 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CET | EDT |
|---|---|
| 03:00 | 21:00 |
| 05:00 | 23:00 |
| 07:00 | 01:00 |
| 09:00 | 03:00 |
| 11:00 | 05:00 |
| 13:00 | 07:00 |
| 15:00 | 09:00 |
| 17:00 | 11:00 |
| 19:00 | 13:00 |
| 21:00 | 15:00 |
| 23:00 | 17:00 |
| 01:00 | 19:00 |
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 CET to EDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Central European Time (CET) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is essential for coordinating activities between Europe and the US East Coast during the daylight saving period. CET is UTC+1, while EDT is UTC-4, making EDT 5 hours behind CET.
This time zone converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations. Note that this conversion is specifically for when Europe observes standard time (CET, not CEST) and the US East Coast observes daylight time (EDT, not EST). Whether you're scheduling business meetings, planning travel, or coordinating with East Coast teams, our converter provides reliable results.
Common Use Cases for CET to EDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between European and US East Coast offices during daylight saving season
- Coordinating transatlantic business operations during summer months
- Planning conference calls between Europe and New York during daylight time
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from Europe to US East Coast
- Coordinating with family and friends on the East Coast during summer
- Scheduling virtual events with Europe-US East Coast audiences
Time Zone Information
Central European Time (CET)
- UTC Offset: UTC+1 (winter standard time)
- IANA Timezone: Europe/Paris
- Daylight Saving: October to March (transitions last Sunday October and last Sunday March)
- Major Cities: Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Madrid, Rome
- Coverage: Central and Western Europe, including most EU countries (winter period)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-4 (summer daylight saving)
- IANA Timezone: America/New_York
- Daylight Saving: March to November (transitions second Sunday March and first Sunday November)
- Major Cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami
- Coverage: Eastern United States and Canada (daylight saving period)
Quick Reference: CET to EDT
Remember: EDT is always 5 hours behind CET
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CET and EDT?
Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, while Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is UTC-4. EDT is 5 hours behind CET. This means when it's 6:00 PM in CET, it's 1:00 PM in EDT. This conversion applies specifically when Europe is in standard time (CET, typically October-March) and the US East Coast is in daylight saving time (EDT, typically March-November).
When does this time difference apply?
The CET to EDT conversion applies during the specific period when Europe observes standard time (CET, late October to late March) AND the US East Coast observes daylight saving time (EDT, mid-March to early November). This window is typically in early November to late October with some date overlaps. Outside these specific periods, you would use CET to EST or CEST to EDT conversions.
What major cities are in CET and EDT timezones?
CET covers major European cities including Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Madrid, and Rome during the winter months. EDT covers major US East Coast cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, and Miami during daylight saving time. These are important business hubs for transatlantic coordination.
How do I convert CET to EDT manually?
To convert from CET to EDT, subtract 5 hours from the CET time. For example, if it's 6:00 PM CET, it would be 1:00 PM EDT. Remember that this conversion only applies when Europe is in CET (standard time) and the US East Coast is in EDT (daylight saving time). Check the current date to ensure both regions are in their appropriate time zones.
What should I know about scheduling across CET and EDT?
The overlap between European and US East Coast business hours is good during this period. Morning in Europe (8-10 AM CET) corresponds to early morning East Coast (3-5 AM EDT), while afternoon in Europe (2-4 PM CET) corresponds to late morning East Coast (9-11 AM EDT). This makes afternoon European times the sweet spot for transatlantic meetings.
Is this the same as CEST to EDT?
No, CET to EDT is different from CEST to EDT. CET (Central European Time, UTC+1) is used in winter, while CEST (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2) is used in summer. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4) is used in summer on the US East Coast. CET to EDT is a specific seasonal conversion, while CEST to EDT is another conversion with only a 4-hour difference.
Pro Tips
- • EDT is consistently 5 hours behind CET during the specific period when Europe observes standard time and the US observes daylight saving time.
- • This CET-EDT conversion window is typically early November (when US ends daylight saving) to late March (when Europe ends standard time), though exact dates vary by a week.
- • Morning European hours (8-10 AM CET) equal very early morning East Coast (3-5 AM EDT), making this time impractical for meetings unless one party works overnight.
- • Afternoon European hours (2-4 PM CET) correspond to late morning East Coast (9-11 AM EDT), which offers the best window for transatlantic business meetings.
- • Use the benchmark: 6:00 PM CET = 1:00 PM EDT. This helps you quickly calculate conversions during the daylight-to-standard time overlap period.
- • Remember that daylight saving transitions happen on different dates: Europe transitions on the last Sunday of March/October, while the US East Coast transitions on the second Sunday of March/first Sunday of November.