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Central European Time to US Central Time

Convert times between Central European Time (CET, UTC+1:00) and US Central Time (CST, UTC-6:00). US Central Time is 7 hours behind Central European Time in standard time.

UTC+1:00 / +2:00UTC-6:00 / -5:00
Live timezone converter

UTC Offset Reference

TimezoneAbbreviationStandard offsetDST offsetCountry
Central European TimeCET / CESTUTC+1:00UTC+2:00France / Germany
US Central TimeCST / CDTUTC-6:00UTC-5:00United States

* DST offset applies during summer months. Exact transition dates vary by year.

Standard Time Conversion (CETCST)

Central European TimeUS Central Time
12:00 AM CET5:00 PM (prev day) CST
6:00 AM CET11:00 PM (prev day) CST
9:00 AM CET2:00 AM CST
12:00 PM CET5:00 AM CST
3:00 PM CET8:00 AM CST
6:00 PM CET11:00 AM CST
9:00 PM CET2:00 PM CST

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Notes

  • Central European Time observes DST. Clocks advance 1 hour to CEST (UTC+2:00) roughly from month 3 to 10.
  • US Central Time observes DST. Clocks advance 1 hour to CDT (UTC-5:00) roughly from month 3 to 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert CET to CST?
Add (-7) hours to the CET time to get CST. For example, 9:00 AM CET = 2:00 AM CST.
What is the current UTC offset for Central European Time?
Central European Time is UTC+1:00 during standard time (CET) and UTC+2:00 during summer daylight saving time (CEST).
Is US Central Time ahead or behind Central European Time?
US Central Time is 7 hours behind Central European Time in standard time.
When is a good time to schedule a meeting between CET and CST?
Due to the 7-hour difference, business-hours overlap may be limited. Use the live timezone converter to find a mutually convenient time.

Need the exact current time?

Use the live ToolsHub timezone converter to see current times, DST status, and schedule across time zones.

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