PST to CDT Converter
Convert time between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
Time Difference
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is 0 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| PST | CDT |
|---|---|
| 18:00 | 20:00 |
| 20:00 | 22:00 |
| 22:00 | 00:00 |
| 00:00 | 02:00 |
| 02:00 | 04:00 |
| 04:00 | 06:00 |
| 06:00 | 08:00 |
| 08:00 | 10:00 |
| 10:00 | 12:00 |
| 12:00 | 14:00 |
| 14:00 | 16:00 |
| 16:00 | 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 PST to CDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT) involves coordinating between winter Pacific time and summer Central time. PST is UTC-8 (November to March) while CDT is UTC-5 (March to November), making CDT 3 hours ahead of PST during their overlapping periods in March and November.
This converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations for your scheduling needs. PST to CDT conversion is less common than standard-to-standard conversions since they don't overlap for most of the year, but it's useful for transitional period planning and understanding cross-seasonal time differences.
Common Use Cases for PST to CDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings during daylight saving transitions
- Planning business activities across seasonal time changes
- Coordinating with international offices observing different saving schedules
- Managing transition periods during spring and fall changes
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel during daylight saving time transitions
- Coordinating events across regions with different saving schedules
- Understanding time differences during seasonal changes
- Scheduling calls during transitional periods
Time Zone Information
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Observed: November to March
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada (winter)
Central Daylight Time (CDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5
- IANA Timezone: America/Chicago
- Daylight Saving: Observed: March to November
- Major Cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Memphis
- Coverage: Central United States and parts of Canada (summer)
Quick Reference: PST to CDT
Note: CDT is always 3 hours ahead of PST during their overlapping periods
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between PST and CDT?
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8, while Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5. This means CDT is 3 hours ahead of PST. When it's 9:00 AM in Los Angeles (PST), it's 12:00 PM in Chicago (CDT). This conversion occurs during the overlapping months of March and November.
When do PST and CDT overlap?
PST and CDT have limited overlap periods. CDT starts on the second Sunday in March (when PST ends and becomes PDT). PST resumes on the first Sunday in November (when CDT ends). So technically, they only truly overlap for brief periods during the DST transitions. Most of the year, Pacific regions observe PDT or PST, not both simultaneously with CDT.
Why would I need to convert PST to CDT?
PST to CDT conversion is useful during the transition periods in March and November, or when planning activities that bridge seasonal time differences. It's also helpful for understanding cross-seasonal scheduling, international coordination, or when dealing with systems that haven't updated their timezone references during DST transitions.
Is PST to CDT the same as PST to CST with an extra hour?
Not quite. PST to CST is a 2-hour difference (UTC-8 to UTC-6), while PST to CDT is a 3-hour difference (UTC-8 to UTC-5). CDT is 1 hour ahead of CST, so yes, the 3-hour difference reflects that extra hour of daylight saving time in the Central region.
What are the best times to schedule calls between PST and CDT regions?
Since PST and CDT don't typically overlap, this is primarily useful during transition weeks. During these periods, early morning in Pacific time (8-10 AM PST) aligns with late morning (11 AM-1 PM CDT). For most of the year, use PDT to CDT (1-hour difference) or PST to CST (2-hour difference) instead for practical scheduling.
How do DST transitions affect PST to CDT conversion?
Both regions change on the same dates: second Sunday in March (spring forward) and first Sunday in November (fall back). The 3-hour difference between PST and CDT is maintained during the brief overlap periods. For most of the year, you'll use PST to CST (winter) or PDT to CDT (summer) instead.
Pro Tips
- • PST and CDT have minimal practical overlap. During most of the year, use PST to CST (November-March, 2-hour difference) or PDT to CDT (March-November, 1-hour difference) for standard conversions.
- • The 3-hour PST to CDT difference occurs only briefly during DST transitions in March and November. Mark your calendar for second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November for transition planning.
- • When planning activities that span seasonal changes, consider both the PST to CST period (winter) and PDT to CDT period (summer) rather than relying on PST to CDT conversion.
- • 9 AM PST = 12 PM CDT. Remember the 3-hour gap if you need to schedule during the brief overlap periods.
- • For international or remote teams, document whether you're using standard time (PST/CST) or daylight time (PDT/CDT) to prevent scheduling confusion during transition periods.
- • Use automated calendar tools that recognize DST transitions automatically rather than manual PST to CDT conversions to avoid timezone-related scheduling errors.
Update Logs
View the latest updates and features