GMT to CST Converter
Convert time between Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Central Standard Time (CST)
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Central Standard Time (CST)
Time Difference
Central Standard Time (CST) is 0 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| GMT | CST |
|---|---|
| 02:00 | 20:00 |
| 04:00 | 22:00 |
| 06:00 | 00:00 |
| 08:00 | 02:00 |
| 10:00 | 04:00 |
| 12:00 | 06:00 |
| 14:00 | 08:00 |
| 16:00 | 10:00 |
| 18:00 | 12:00 |
| 20:00 | 14:00 |
| 22:00 | 16:00 |
| 00:00 | 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 GMT to CST Time Conversion
Converting time from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to Central Standard Time (CST) is essential for UK to US Central region coordination. GMT is UTC+0, while CST is UTC-6, making CST 6 hours behind GMT.
This conversion is crucial for international business operations between the United Kingdom and the US Central region, including major business hubs in Texas, Illinois, and Missouri. Whether you're scheduling meetings, coordinating project deadlines, or planning travel, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures you never miss the time difference.
Common Use Cases for GMT to CST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling UK to US Central business meetings
- Coordinating London and Texas operations
- Managing global finance and trading across time zones
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from UK to US Central region (Texas, Illinois, Missouri)
- Coordinating with US Central family and friends from UK
- Scheduling virtual events for UK-US Central audiences
Time Zone Information
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
- UTC Offset: UTC+0 (UTC+1 during BST)
- IANA Timezone: Europe/London
- Daylight Saving: Last Sunday in March to Last Sunday in October
- Major Cities: London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Dublin
- Coverage: United Kingdom and Ireland
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, Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Memphis, Nashville
- Coverage: Central United States and Canada
Quick Reference: GMT to CST
Remember: CST is always 6 hours behind GMT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between GMT and CST?
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is 6 hours ahead of CST (Central Standard Time). When it is noon (12:00 PM) in GMT, it is 6:00 AM in CST. This difference remains consistent because both regions adjust for daylight saving time at approximately the same periods.
How do I quickly calculate GMT to CST conversion?
Simply subtract 6 hours from the GMT time to get CST. For example: 8:00 PM GMT minus 6 hours equals 2:00 PM CST. If the result is negative or crosses midnight, you'll need to adjust to the previous day.
Does daylight saving time affect GMT to CST conversion?
GMT itself doesn't observe daylight saving time, but the UK (where GMT is based) changes to BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) in summer. Meanwhile, CST changes to CDT (Central Daylight Time, UTC-5). During these periods, the time difference may shift by 1 hour. Our converter automatically handles these changes.
When should I use this GMT to CST converter?
Use this converter when scheduling international calls, planning business meetings, arranging travel, coordinating projects, or communicating with people in both the UK and US Central regions. It's particularly useful for companies operating between London and major cities like Houston, Dallas, Chicago, and Austin.
What major cities are in the CST timezone?
CST covers the US Central region and includes major cities like Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans. In Canada, it includes parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Central timezone is home to major business and finance hubs in Texas.
How does CST differ from other US timezones?
CST is UTC-6 (or CDT at UTC-5 during daylight saving). It lies between EST (Eastern, UTC-5) and MST (Mountain, UTC-7) in the US. If you need conversions with other timezones, our GMT to EST and GMT to PST converters are also available.
Pro Tips
- • When scheduling morning meetings with GMT colleagues, remember CST is 6 hours behind—6 AM GMT is midnight CST.
- • Use online calendars with timezone support to automatically show meeting times in both GMT and CST.
- • Peak overlap hours are typically 2 PM-6 PM CST / 8 PM-12 AM GMT for convenient business communication.
- • Double-check meeting times when daylight saving time transitions occur in March and November.
- • Texas business hubs often observe CST, making this conversion essential for UK-Texas operations.
- • Always specify "GMT" or "CST" when scheduling to avoid confusion with other similar-sounding timezones.
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