MST to CDT Converter
Convert time between Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Time Difference
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is 0 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| MST | CDT |
|---|---|
| 19:00 | 20:00 |
| 21:00 | 22:00 |
| 23:00 | 00:00 |
| 01:00 | 02:00 |
| 03:00 | 04:00 |
| 05:00 | 06:00 |
| 07:00 | 08:00 |
| 09:00 | 10:00 |
| 11:00 | 12:00 |
| 13:00 | 14:00 |
| 15:00 | 16:00 |
| 17:00 | 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 MST to CDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT) helps coordinate activities between the Mountain region during winter and the Central region during summer. MST is UTC-7 and is observed from November to March, while CDT is UTC-5 and is observed from March to November. This creates a 2-hour time difference between these zones during their overlapping periods.
This conversion is particularly useful during the transition periods when one region is observing daylight saving time and the other is not. Our converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations and handles the complexities of seasonal timezone changes.
Common Use Cases for MST to CDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Coordinating business operations between Mountain and Central regions during seasonal transitions
- Scheduling meetings and conference calls during spring and fall months
- Planning project timelines that span across different daylight saving periods
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between Mountain and Central time zones during spring and summer
- Coordinating with family and friends in different regions during daylight saving season
- Managing recurring events across regional time boundaries
Time Zone Information
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7 (Standard Time)
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Active from First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, Phoenix
- Coverage: Mountain United States and parts of Canada
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5 (Daylight Saving Time)
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Active from Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Austin, Memphis
- Coverage: Central United States, parts of Canada and Mexico
Quick Reference: MST to CDT
Remember: CDT is always 2 hours ahead of MST. MST is used in winter (November-March), while CDT is used in summer (March-November) in their respective regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between MST and CDT?
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7, while Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5. This means CDT is 2 hours ahead of MST. When it's 12:00 PM in Denver during winter (MST), it would be 2:00 PM in Chicago during summer (CDT). The 2-hour difference occurs because MST is winter time in the Mountain region while CDT is summer time in the Central region.
When are MST and CDT active?
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is active from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. Central Daylight Time (CDT) is active from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During the overlap periods (March 2-second Sunday and first Sunday November through November), both zones are active simultaneously, creating the 2-hour time difference.
What regions use MST and CDT?
MST covers the Mountain region of the United States and Canada, including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, and parts of Idaho and Texas. Major cities include Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, and Boise. CDT covers the Central region including Illinois, Texas, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and parts of other states. Major cities include Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Austin, and Memphis.
Why is MST to CDT conversion useful?
This conversion is particularly useful during spring and summer months when the Mountain region observes standard time while the Central region observes daylight saving time. It helps coordinate business operations, schedule meetings, plan travel, and manage communications between these regions during seasons when they don't observe the same daylight saving status. This is common for companies with operations spanning both regions.
How do transitions affect MST to CDT scheduling?
MST and CDT transitions happen on different dates. In March, CDT starts (2nd Sunday) while MST is still active, increasing the difference. In November, MST starts (1st Sunday) while CDT is still active, temporarily increasing the difference even more. During these transition weeks, extra care is needed when scheduling recurring meetings. Always specify the IANA timezone (America/Denver and America/Chicago) rather than manual times to avoid errors.
How does seasonal timing affect this conversion pair?
Unlike conversions between two regions on the same daylight saving schedule (like EST to CST), MST to CDT is unique because it compares winter time in one region to summer time in another. This means the time difference reflects not just geographic separation, but also seasonal differences. When the Central region switches to CST in November, the difference becomes 1 hour instead of 2, so this conversion is most relevant during March through October.
Pro Tips
- • CDT is always 2 hours ahead of MST - a simple rule: add 2 hours to MST to get CDT time.
- • This conversion is most relevant from March (when CDT starts) through October (before CDT ends). From November to March, the Central region observes CST instead of CDT, making the difference 1 hour instead of 2.
- • Remember that MST is winter time (standard time) in the Mountain region while CDT is summer time (daylight saving time) in the Central region. They transition on different dates, so be careful during March and November.
- • When scheduling recurring meetings between Mountain and Central regions during daylight saving season, use your calendar application's IANA timezone settings (America/Denver and America/Chicago) to avoid manual conversion errors.
- • Arizona (except Navajo Nation) does not observe daylight saving time and remains on MST year-round, even during summer. This can be confusing when coordinating between Arizona and the rest of the Mountain region.
- • Some parts of Texas observe Central time, while others observe Mountain time. Always verify the specific timezone for locations in border regions when scheduling meetings.
Update Logs
View the latest updates and features