CET to PDT Converter
Convert time between Central European Time (CET) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Central European Time (CET)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Time Difference
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is 0 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CET | PDT |
|---|---|
| 03:00 | 18:00 |
| 05:00 | 20:00 |
| 07:00 | 22:00 |
| 09:00 | 00:00 |
| 11:00 | 02:00 |
| 13:00 | 04:00 |
| 15:00 | 06:00 |
| 17:00 | 08:00 |
| 19:00 | 10:00 |
| 21:00 | 12:00 |
| 23:00 | 14:00 |
| 01:00 | 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 CET to PDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Central European Time (CET) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is essential for transatlantic coordination between Europe and the US West Coast. CET is UTC+1, while PDT is UTC-7, making PDT 8 hours behind CET.
This conversion is crucial for international business operations spanning Europe and Silicon Valley, multinational technology companies, transatlantic communications, and personal connections between Europe and the West Coast. Both regions observe daylight saving time, with CET transitioning to CEST (UTC+2) from March to October, and PDT being active from March to November. This means the actual difference can vary between 8 and 9 hours depending on the time of year.
Common Use Cases for CET to PDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling transatlantic business meetings between Europe and Silicon Valley tech companies
- Coordinating operations between European and US West Coast offices
- Managing international software development teams spanning Europe and California
- Coordinating international business operations across time zones
- Planning conference calls with distributed global teams
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Europe from the US West Coast
- Planning travel between Europe and California
- Scheduling virtual events and online meetings across the Atlantic
- Coordinating online classes, training, or collaboration sessions
- Tracking European events and live broadcasts from the West Coast
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, Prague, Milan, Madrid
- Coverage: Central Europe including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, and more
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7 (UTC-8 during PST)
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas
- Coverage: US Pacific Coast, Pacific Northwest, and parts of Western Canada and Mexico
Quick Reference: CET to PDT
Note: PDT is always 8 hours behind CET (March-October when PDT is active), or 9 hours behind when PST (UTC-8) is active (November-March)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CET and PDT?
Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, while Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7. This means CET is 8 hours ahead of PDT. When you have 9:00 AM in Paris (CET), it's 1:00 AM in Los Angeles (PDT) the same day. During winter months when PST (UTC-8) is active instead of PDT, the difference becomes 9 hours.
How does the CET to PDT offset compare to other US time zones?
PDT is 1 hour behind CDT (Central) and 1 hour ahead of MDT (Mountain). Since CET is 8 hours ahead of PDT, it's 7 hours ahead of CDT and 9 hours ahead of MDT. CET is also 7 hours ahead of EDT (Eastern). This makes PDT the furthest west coast time zone, providing the longest delay from European morning business hours.
Does Europe observe daylight saving time like PDT does?
Yes, Europe observes daylight saving time. CET transitions to CEST (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. PDT is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. The transitions happen on different dates, creating periods where the offset is either 8 or 9 hours.
When do the daylight saving time transitions occur?
Europe transitions to summer time on the last Sunday in March and back to standard time on the last Sunday in October. The US transitions to daylight time on the second Sunday in March and back to standard time on the first Sunday in November. This means there are 1-2 week periods where the offset differs by one hour when only one region is in daylight saving time.
What are the best times to schedule calls between Europe and the West Coast?
Due to the large 8-hour difference, overlapping business hours are limited. Early morning in Europe (7-9 AM CET) corresponds to late evening on the West Coast (11 PM-1 AM PDT). Evening in Europe (5-7 PM CET) corresponds to early morning West Coast (9-11 AM PDT). The 9-11 AM PDT window (5-7 PM CET) offers the best afternoon-evening overlap for both regions.
Why is the CET to PDT conversion important for tech companies?
Many European companies have operations or partnerships with Silicon Valley and West Coast tech firms. The CET to PDT conversion is essential for coordinating product releases, engineering standups, customer support, and business development across Europe and California. Understanding this 8-hour offset helps teams optimize meeting schedules and asynchronous communication strategies for distributed teams.
Pro Tips
- • Europe transitions on the last Sunday of March and October, while the US transitions on the second Sunday of March and first Sunday of November. Mark your calendar for these dates as they create temporary offset changes.
- • The 8-hour gap is substantial - a 5 PM CET call is 9 AM PDT. For urgent Europe-West Coast meetings, 9 AM PDT (5 PM CET) is often the sweet spot where both regions are in business hours.
- • European morning standups (9-10 AM CET) overlap with West Coast evening (1-2 AM PDT). Consider scheduling critical discussions at 5-6 PM CET (9-10 AM PDT) instead, when the West Coast team is more alert.
- • Use "follow-the-sun" work patterns: morning in Europe, afternoon handoff, West Coast evening work. This maximizes productivity across the 8-hour gap and enables 24/7 coverage.
- • Always confirm meeting times in both CET and PDT in writing. Time zone confusion is common with such a large offset - document in both zones to prevent scheduling errors.
- • The 9 AM PDT window (5 PM CET) is prime real estate for Europe-West Coast meetings. Consider this your "golden hour" for synchronous collaboration and time-sensitive discussions.
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