CST to AKST Converter
Convert time between Central Standard Time (CST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Central Standard Time (CST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Central Standard Time (CST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| CST | AKST |
|---|---|
| 20:00 | 17:00 |
| 22:00 | 19:00 |
| 00:00 | 21:00 |
| 02:00 | 23:00 |
| 04:00 | 01:00 |
| 06:00 | 03:00 |
| 08:00 | 05:00 |
| 10:00 | 07:00 |
| 12:00 | 09:00 |
| 14:00 | 11:00 |
| 16:00 | 13:00 |
| 18:00 | 15:00 |
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 CST to AKST Time Conversion
Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6 and is used across the central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9 and is used throughout Alaska. CST is 3 hours ahead of AKST, making it one of the largest time differences within North America. This conversion is essential for coordinating with Alaska-based operations, businesses, and individuals.
Alaska does not observe daylight saving time for most locations, with the exception of certain areas that follow Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT, UTC-8). However, central US regions do observe daylight saving, which means the time difference can vary between 2-3 hours depending on the season. This converter helps navigate these complexities for accurate scheduling.
Common Use Cases for CST to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between central US offices and Alaska-based operations
- Coordinating with Alaska business partners and clients
- Managing customer service and support across time zones
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska
- Planning travel to Alaska and adjusting to local time
- Scheduling video calls with Alaska residents
Time Zone Information
Central Standard Time (CST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6 (UTC-5 during CDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, New Orleans
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (UTC-8 during AKDT in some areas)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Most of Alaska does not observe daylight saving time
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Ketchikan
- Coverage: Alaska
Quick Reference: CST to AKST
Remember: AKST is 3 hours behind CST. When it's noon in Chicago, it's 9 AM in Anchorage
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CST and AKST?
Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. This means CST is 3 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 12:00 PM (noon) in Chicago (CST), it's 9:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST).
Why is Alaska on a different time zone?
Alaska is geographically vast and located far west from the continental United States. The Alaska timezone (AKST/AKDT) was established to align the state's clock time with solar time. Alaska is divided into several time zones, but most of the state (including Anchorage) uses AKST, which is 3 hours behind the Central time zone.
Does Alaska observe daylight saving time?
Most of Alaska does NOT observe daylight saving time and stays on Alaska Standard Time (AKST) year-round. This is unlike the Central region, which transitions to CDT (UTC-5) during daylight saving. This means the time difference between CST and AKST can be 2 hours during summer months when central regions observe CDT.
What are the best times to schedule meetings between CST and AKST?
Since AKST is 3 hours behind, meeting windows are more limited. Early morning in the Central region (8-9 AM CST) aligns with 5-6 AM in Alaska (AKST), which is very early. The better window is 9-10 AM CST, which is 6-7 AM AKST. Alternatively, 2-3 PM CST works as 11 AM-12 PM AKST for Alaskan morning meetings.
What major cities are in Alaska's time zone?
The Alaska Standard Time zone includes Alaska's largest city, Anchorage, as well as Juneau (the capital), Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and most other major Alaskan cities. This converter is essential for coordinating with any Alaska-based business or personal contacts.
Why would I need to convert CST to AKST?
CST to AKST conversion is useful for business coordination with Alaska-based companies, scheduling calls with family or friends in Alaska, planning travel to Alaska, managing remote teams spanning central US and Alaska, and coordinating customer service operations across these regions.
Pro Tips
- • Remember: AKST is 3 hours behind CST. A quick way to convert is to subtract 3 hours from CST to get AKST.
- • Since Alaska doesn't observe daylight saving, note that summer time differences are only 2 hours when central regions observe CDT.
- • Early morning meetings don't work well for Alaska - 6 AM AKST is 9 AM CST, which is decent, but 7 AM AKST is 10 AM CST, which is better for both regions.
- • When traveling to Alaska, set your watch back 3 hours from Central Standard Time. During summer (when CDT is active), set back only 2 hours.
- • Alaska has unique challenges for business coordination - plan ahead and be flexible with timing when coordinating with Alaska-based teams.
- • Use this converter for scheduling meetings, planning travel, and coordinating business operations between Central US and Alaska.
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