CST vs EST: what's the difference?
Eastern Time right now: --:-- () ·
Central Time right now: --:-- () ·
Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time, all year. CST is UTC−6 and EST is UTC−5; in summer both shift forward an hour (CDT and EDT), so the gap doesn't change.
| Eastern (ET) | Central (CT) |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 8:00 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 10:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 2:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
More: EST to CST converter · Central Time Zone · Eastern Time Zone · time zone converter
Questions people ask
Is CST 1 hour behind EST?
Yes. Central Time is always 1 hour behind Eastern Time. When it's noon in New York, it's 11:00 AM in Chicago.
What's the difference between CST and EST?
CST (Central Standard Time) is UTC−6 and EST (Eastern Standard Time) is UTC−5. In summer they become CDT (UTC−5) and EDT (UTC−4), but the 1-hour gap stays the same.
Which states are on Central Time?
Illinois, Texas (most), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas.