EDT to CST Converter
Convert time between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Central Standard Time (CST)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Central Standard Time (CST)
Time Difference
Central Standard Time (CST) is 0 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| EDT | CST |
|---|---|
| 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 23:00 | 22:00 |
| 01:00 | 00:00 |
| 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 |
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 EDT to CST Time Conversion
Converting time between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Central Standard Time (CST) is essential for coordinating activities across these North American time zones. EDT is UTC-4 (during daylight saving), while CST is UTC-6, making CST 2 hours behind EDT during their respective seasons.
This conversion is particularly important for business coordination between East Coast and Central region teams. Note that EDT and CST are only simultaneous during spring (March-May) and fall (October-November) when one zone has transitioned but the other has not. Our converter handles these seasonal complexities automatically.
Common Use Cases for EDT to CST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling business meetings between East Coast and Central region offices
- Coordinating project deadlines across Eastern and Central time zones
- Planning conference calls between New York and Chicago teams
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in different time zones
- Planning travel between East Coast and Central region destinations
- Scheduling virtual events across different regions
Time Zone Information
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-4 (EST is UTC-5)
- IANA Timezone: America/New_York
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Washington DC
- Coverage: Eastern United States and Eastern Canada
Central Standard Time (CST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6 (CDT is UTC-5)
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada and Mexico
Quick Reference: EDT to CST
Remember: CST is always 1 hour behind EDT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EDT and CST?
EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) is UTC-4, while CST (Central Standard Time) is UTC-6, making CST 2 hours behind EDT. However, these time zones are only in use simultaneously during spring and fall transitions. Most of the year, EDT is compared with CDT (Central Daylight Time, UTC-5), which is 1 hour behind EDT.
When do EDT and CST overlap, and when do they not?
EDT and CST are only simultaneous during brief periods during daylight saving transitions: typically mid-March to early May and early November to mid-November. During these windows, the Eastern zone has switched to daylight time but the Central zone has not yet. For the rest of the year, you'd typically be converting between EDT and CDT.
What is the difference between CST and CDT?
CST (Central Standard Time) is UTC-6 and used during winter (November to March). CDT (Central Daylight Time) is UTC-5 and used during daylight saving time (March to November). When comparing EDT to CST, you're looking at a 2-hour difference, but when comparing EDT to CDT, the difference is only 1 hour.
Which US cities are in the Central time zone?
Major cities in the Central time zone include Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Denver. The Central time zone covers the central portion of the United States and extends into parts of Canada and Mexico.
How do I convert EDT to CST manually?
To convert EDT to CST, subtract 2 hours from the EDT time. For example, if it is 3:00 PM EDT, the corresponding CST time would be 1:00 PM (15:00 - 2 hours = 13:00). If the result is negative, add 24 hours and subtract 1 day.
Why is understanding EDT to CST conversion important?
Understanding EDT to CST conversion is crucial for business coordination between East Coast and Central region teams, travel planning, and scheduling across time zones. While the conversion may be temporary during seasonal transitions, accurate timezone awareness ensures reliable scheduling and communication across regions.
Pro Tips
- • Remember that EDT and CST only overlap during brief spring and fall periods. Most of the year, you'll be converting between EDT and CDT, which have a 1-hour difference instead of 2 hours.
- • When scheduling business meetings during March and early November (and early May), verify which time zone each party is observing to avoid confusion during the transition period.
- • Chicago observes Central time, which means it's always 1-2 hours behind New York depending on whether daylight saving is active or not.
- • Our converter automatically handles the complexities of daylight saving transitions, so you don't need to worry about manual calculation errors during these periods.
- • For international communication, it's often easier to reference UTC times to avoid confusion with regional time zone transitions.
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