CET to GMT Converter
Convert time between Central European Time (CET) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Central European Time (CET)
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Time Difference
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is 0 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CET | GMT |
|---|---|
| 03:00 | 02:00 |
| 05:00 | 04:00 |
| 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 09:00 | 08:00 |
| 11:00 | 10:00 |
| 13:00 | 12:00 |
| 15:00 | 14:00 |
| 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 19:00 | 18:00 |
| 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 23:00 | 22:00 |
| 01:00 | 00:00 |
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 GMT Time Conversion
Converting time between Central European Time (CET) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is essential for coordinating business activities within Europe and between continental Europe and the United Kingdom. CET is UTC+1, while GMT is UTC+0, making CET just 1 hour ahead of GMT.
This time zone converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations. CET is observed across most of Continental Europe during winter (October to March), while GMT is observed in the UK during the same period. Whether you're scheduling business meetings between Paris and London, planning travel, or coordinating with UK teams, our converter provides reliable results.
Common Use Cases for CET to GMT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Continental Europe and UK offices
- Coordinating business operations between European and British regions
- Planning conference calls between EU and UK representatives
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from Continental Europe to the United Kingdom
- Coordinating with family and friends in the UK
- Scheduling virtual events with Continental Europe-UK audiences
Time Zone Information
Central European Time (CET)
- UTC Offset: UTC+1 (UTC+2 during CEST)
- IANA Timezone: Europe/Paris
- Daylight Saving: Last Sunday in March to Last Sunday in October
- Major Cities: Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Madrid, Rome
- Coverage: Central and Western Europe, including most EU countries (winter period)
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
- UTC Offset: UTC+0 (UTC+1 during BST)
- IANA Timezone: Europe/London
- Daylight Saving: Last Sunday in March to Last Sunday in October
- Major Cities: London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Dublin
- Coverage: United Kingdom and Ireland (winter period)
Quick Reference: CET to GMT
Remember: CET is always 1 hour ahead of GMT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CET and GMT?
Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, while Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is UTC+0. CET is 1 hour ahead of GMT. This means when it's 6:00 PM in CET, it's 5:00 PM in GMT. This simple 1-hour difference makes CET to GMT conversion one of the easiest timezone conversions in Europe.
When is CET active and when does it change to CEST?
Central European Time (CET) is active during winter months from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March. During the summer months (late March to late October), it transitions to Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). During CET period, the time difference from GMT is always 1 hour.
Does the UK also observe daylight saving time?
Yes, the UK observes daylight saving time. It transitions from GMT (UTC+0) to British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1) on the last Sunday in March and back to GMT on the last Sunday in October - the same dates as Continental Europe's CET/CEST transitions. This means the 1-hour difference between CET and GMT remains constant year-round.
What major cities are in CET and GMT timezones?
CET covers major Continental European cities including Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Madrid, and Rome. GMT covers UK and Irish cities like London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, and Dublin. These are important business hubs across Europe and the UK, making CET-GMT conversion essential for European business coordination.
How do I convert CET to GMT manually?
To convert from CET to GMT, simply subtract 1 hour from the CET time. For example, if it's 3:00 PM CET, it would be 2:00 PM GMT. This works consistently throughout the year because both regions transition their clocks on the same dates.
What should I know about scheduling across CET and GMT?
The time difference is minimal, making it easy to schedule meetings between Continental Europe and the UK. Morning hours in CET (8-10 AM) correspond to early morning GMT (7-9 AM), while afternoon CET (2-4 PM) corresponds to late morning GMT (1-3 PM). This makes nearly all business hours compatible for synchronous meetings.
Pro Tips
- • CET is consistently 1 hour ahead of GMT - the simplest major timezone conversion in Europe.
- • Both CET and GMT transition to daylight saving time (CEST and BST) on the same dates: last Sunday of March and October, maintaining the 1-hour difference year-round.
- • Morning hours work well for meetings: 8-10 AM CET = 7-9 AM GMT, allowing early risers in GMT to join standard European business hours.
- • Afternoon hours offer excellent overlap: 2-4 PM CET = 1-3 PM GMT, with both regions in productive business hours.
- • Use the simple rule: CET time minus 1 hour equals GMT time. This mental math makes it faster than using a converter for quick conversions.
- • London and Paris, the major business hubs, are only 1 hour apart, making Europe's most important business corridor easy to coordinate across.