CET to PST Converter
Convert time between Central European Time (CET) and Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Central European Time (CET)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Time Difference
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is 0 hours ahead of Central European Time (CET)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CET | PST |
|---|---|
| 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 PST Time Conversion
Converting time between Central European Time (CET) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is essential for coordinating between Europe and the US West Coast. CET is UTC+1 (observed November to March), while PST is UTC-8 (observed November to March). CET is 9 hours ahead of PST. From March to October, Europe observes CEST (UTC+2) and the Pacific region observes PDT (UTC-7), maintaining a 9-hour difference.
This conversion is crucial for international businesses, startups coordinating between European headquarters and Silicon Valley offices, and personal communication with family and friends across the Atlantic. Our converter automatically handles seasonal daylight saving time transitions and accounts for the slight differences in transition dates between Europe and North America.
Common Use Cases for CET to PST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between European and Silicon Valley teams
- Coordinating international tech companies across time zones
- Planning conference calls between Berlin and San Francisco offices
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends across the Atlantic
- Planning travel between Europe and US West Coast
- Organizing virtual international events and webinars
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
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8 (UTC-7 during PDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada
Quick Reference: CET to PST
Remember: CET is always 9 hours ahead of PST (varies briefly during daylight saving transitions)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CET and PST?
Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, while Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8. CET is 9 hours ahead of PST. However, from late March to late October, Europe observes CEST (Central European Summer Time, UTC+2) and North America observes PDT (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-7), making the difference 9 hours throughout the year.
When do CET and PST overlap in time?
CET (UTC+1) and PST (UTC-8) overlap during winter months. From late October to late March, CET is 9 hours ahead of PST. From late March to late October, CEST (UTC+2) is 9 hours ahead of PDT (UTC-7). The transition dates differ slightly between Europe and North America, creating brief periods where the difference is 8 or 10 hours.
How do I convert CET to PST?
To convert from CET to PST, subtract 9 hours from the CET time. For example, if it is 12:00 PM CET, it would be 3:00 AM PST. Note that when Europe observes CEST and North America observes PDT, the difference remains 9 hours. Be aware of the brief transition periods where the difference temporarily becomes 8 or 10 hours.
Which cities are in the CET timezone?
Major cities in the Central European Time zone include Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Prague, Madrid, and Warsaw. This region covers most of Western and Central Europe including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and other European Union countries.
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. From November to March, these cities observe PST. From March to November, most observe PDT (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-7).
How does daylight saving time affect CET to PST conversion?
Both Europe and North America observe daylight saving time but on different dates. CET becomes CEST on the last Sunday of March and reverts on the last Sunday of October. PST becomes PDT on the second Sunday of March and reverts on the first Sunday of November. This creates brief periods where the time difference is 8 or 10 hours instead of the usual 9 hours.
Pro Tips
- • CET is 9 hours ahead of PST - when it is noon in Europe, it is 3 AM on the US West Coast.
- • Europe and North America change clocks on different dates, so the time difference temporarily varies between 8-10 hours a few times per year.
- • For international business calls between Europe and Silicon Valley, consider meeting times that work for both regions.
- • The last Sunday of March and October are key dates when Europe transitions daylight saving time.
- • PST areas are much farther west than most of Europe is east, making synchronous communication challenging.
- • Use UTC as a reference point to avoid confusion when dealing with CET/CEST and PST/PDT transitions.