CET to MST Converter
Convert time between Central European Time (CET) and Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Central European Time (CET)
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Time Difference
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is 0 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CET | MST |
|---|---|
| 03:00 | 19:00 |
| 05:00 | 21:00 |
| 07:00 | 23:00 |
| 09:00 | 01:00 |
| 11:00 | 03:00 |
| 13:00 | 05:00 |
| 15:00 | 07:00 |
| 17:00 | 09:00 |
| 19:00 | 11:00 |
| 21:00 | 13:00 |
| 23:00 | 15:00 |
| 01:00 | 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 CET to MST Time Conversion
Converting time between Central European Time (CET) and Mountain Standard Time (MST) is essential for coordinating activities between Europe and the US Mountain region. CET is UTC+1, while MST is UTC-7, making MST 8 hours behind CET.
This time zone converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations, accounting for daylight saving time transitions and regional variations. Whether you're scheduling business meetings between Europe and Denver, planning travel, or coordinating with Mountain region teams, our converter provides reliable results.
Common Use Cases for CET to MST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between European and Mountain region US offices
- Coordinating business operations across Europe and Colorado/Utah regions
- Planning transatlantic conference calls with Mountain time participants
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from Europe to Mountain region (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming)
- Coordinating with family and friends in Denver, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix
- Scheduling virtual events with Europe-Mountain region 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
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7 (UTC-6 during MDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Boise
- Coverage: Mountain region of United States and parts of Canada
Quick Reference: CET to MST
Remember: MST is always 8 hours behind CET
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CET and MST?
Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, while Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7. MST is 8 hours behind CET. This means when it's 6:00 PM in CET, it's 10:00 AM in MST. During daylight saving time (CEST UTC+2 and MDT UTC-6), the difference remains 8 hours.
Do both regions observe daylight saving time?
Yes, both Central Europe and the US Mountain region observe daylight saving time. Europe transitions from CET (UTC+1) to CEST (UTC+2) on the last Sunday in March, and back on the last Sunday in October. The US Mountain region transitions from MST (UTC-7) to MDT (UTC-6) on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November. The difference remains 8 hours throughout all transitions.
What major cities are in CET and MST timezones?
CET covers major European cities including Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Madrid, and Rome. MST covers Mountain region cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Albuquerque, and Boise. These are important business and tourist destinations on both continents.
How do I convert CET to MST manually?
To convert from CET to MST, subtract 8 hours from the CET time. For example, if it's 6:00 PM CET, it would be 10:00 AM MST. This works consistently year-round because both regions shift their clocks during daylight saving transitions.
What should I know about scheduling across CET and MST?
The CET-MST overlap is limited but workable. Morning in Europe (8-10 AM CET = 12-2 AM MST) is too early for Mountain time. Afternoon in Europe (2-4 PM CET = 6-8 AM MST) is early but possible, while evening in Europe (5-7 PM CET = 9-11 AM MST) offers the best overlap for business hours on both sides.
Why is the time difference always 8 hours?
Both CET and MST observe daylight saving time on roughly the same schedule. When Europe "springs forward" to CEST, the US Mountain region simultaneously "springs forward" to MDT, maintaining the 8-hour difference. The same happens during "fall back" transitions in October/November.
Pro Tips
- • MST is consistently 8 hours behind CET throughout the year, thanks to synchronized daylight saving transitions on both sides.
- • Morning European hours (8-10 AM CET) equal very early morning Mountain time (12-2 AM MST), making synchronous meetings impractical during these times.
- • Afternoon European hours (2-4 PM CET) correspond to early morning Mountain time (6-8 AM MST), which works but requires Mountain participants to join very early.
- • Evening European hours (5-7 PM CET) equal mid-morning Mountain time (9-11 AM MST), offering the best window for transatlantic meetings between Europe and the Mountain region.
- • Mark both daylight saving transition dates: Europe changes on the last Sunday of March/October, while the US Mountain region changes on the second Sunday of March/first Sunday of November.
- • Use the benchmark: 6:00 PM CET = 10:00 AM MST. This helps you quickly convert times during business day planning.