EST to CST time conversion
CST is 1 hour behind EST.
EST is always UTC-5. Right now most places that use EST are on EDT (UTC-4): CST is 2 hours behind EDT.
CST is always UTC-6. Right now most places that use CST are on CDT (UTC-5): CDT has the same time as EST.
Time difference with your location
EST is 5 hours behind UTC. Compare with your local time →
Choose a date and time
Choose the local time in EST to convert it to CST on that date.
Skipped clock-change times are unavailable; a repeated time uses its first occurrence.
24-hour conversion chart · EST → CST
This table converts each hour in EST to CST on 2026-10-21.
- Working hours
- Outside working hours
- Night hours
| EST | CST | Shared working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 00:0012:00 AM | 23:0011:00 PM -1 day | |
| 01:001:00 AM | 00:0012:00 AM | |
| 02:002:00 AM | 01:001:00 AM | |
| 03:003:00 AM | 02:002:00 AM | |
| 04:004:00 AM | 03:003:00 AM | |
| 05:005:00 AM | 04:004:00 AM | |
| 06:006:00 AM | 05:005:00 AM | |
| 07:007:00 AM | 06:006:00 AM | |
| 08:008:00 AM | 07:007:00 AM | |
| 09:009:00 AM | 08:008:00 AM | ✓ |
| 10:0010:00 AM | 09:009:00 AM | ✓ |
| 11:0011:00 AM | 10:0010:00 AM | ✓ |
| 12:0012:00 PM | 11:0011:00 AM | ✓ |
| 13:001:00 PM | 12:0012:00 PM | ✓ |
| 14:002:00 PM | 13:001:00 PM | ✓ |
| 15:003:00 PM | 14:002:00 PM | ✓ |
| 16:004:00 PM | 15:003:00 PM | ✓ |
| 17:005:00 PM | 16:004:00 PM | ✓ |
| 18:006:00 PM | 17:005:00 PM | |
| 19:007:00 PM | 18:006:00 PM | |
| 20:008:00 PM | 19:007:00 PM | |
| 21:009:00 PM | 20:008:00 PM | |
| 22:0010:00 PM | 21:009:00 PM | |
| 23:0011:00 PM | 22:0010:00 PM |
Quick conversion examples
These examples use EST (UTC-5) and CST (UTC-6); choosing a date applies the local clock changes.
Conversion formula: CST = EST − 1h · EDT − 2h · CDT = EDT − 1h · CDT = EST.
| EST | CST |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM EST | = 5:00 AM CST |
| 7:00 AM EST | = 6:00 AM CST |
| 8:00 AM EST | = 7:00 AM CST |
| 9:00 AM EST | = 8:00 AM CST |
| 10:00 AM EST | = 9:00 AM CST |
| 12:00 PM EST | = 11:00 AM CST |
| 3:00 PM EST | = 2:00 PM CST |
| 5:00 PM EST | = 4:00 PM CST |
| 6:00 PM EST | = 5:00 PM CST |
| 8:00 PM EST | = 7:00 PM CST |
Overlapping meeting hours
The 08:00–18:00 working day in EST and CST overlaps for 9 hours on 2026-10-21.
- Shared working hours
- 09:00–18:00 EST · 08:00–17:00 CST
Clock changes on both sides, 2026–2028
EST and CST have the following local clock changes in 2026–2028; all times in the table are local to that side.
| Year | EST | CST |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | · 02:00 → 03:00 · 02:00 → 01:00 | · 02:00 → 03:00 · 02:00 → 01:00 |
| 2027 | · 02:00 → 03:00 · 02:00 → 01:00 | · 02:00 → 03:00 · 02:00 → 01:00 |
| 2028 | · 02:00 → 03:00 · 02:00 → 01:00 | · 02:00 → 03:00 · 02:00 → 01:00 |
At the start of 2026, CST is 1 hour behind EST. The difference changes during the following periods.
- From 2026-03-08 03:00 EDT until 2026-03-08 04:00 EDT, CST is 2 hours behind EDT.
- From 2026-11-01 01:00 EST until 2026-11-01 02:00 EST, CDT has the same time as EST.
- From 2027-03-14 03:00 EDT until 2027-03-14 04:00 EDT, CST is 2 hours behind EDT.
- From 2027-11-07 01:00 EST until 2027-11-07 02:00 EST, CDT has the same time as EST.
- From 2028-03-12 03:00 EDT until 2028-03-12 04:00 EDT, CST is 2 hours behind EDT.
- From 2028-11-05 01:00 EST until 2028-11-05 02:00 EST, CDT has the same time as EST.
Frequently asked questions
What time is 9 AM EST in CST?
9:00 AM EST = 8:00 AM CST, using UTC-5 and UTC-6. Choose a date above for the seasonal local time.
Does the time difference between EST and CST change during the year?
Yes. During 2026–2028: CST is 2 hours behind EST; CST is 1 hour behind EST; CST has the same time as EST. The clock-change table gives the dates for both sides.
How do I tell whether it is day or night in CST?
Read the CST clock above: this guide counts 06:00–18:00 local time as daytime and the rest as nighttime, without using sunrise and sunset.
What is the best time to call between EST and CST?
The shared 08:00–18:00 working window is 09:00–18:00 EST / 08:00–17:00 CST, a total of 9 hours.
What is the time difference between EST and CST now?
Right now, CST is 1 hour behind EST. Conversion formula: CST = EST − 1h · EDT − 2h · CDT = EDT − 1h · CDT = EST.