US Eastern Time to US Central Time
Convert times between US Eastern Time (EST, UTC-5:00) and US Central Time (CST, UTC-6:00). US Central Time is 1 hour behind US Eastern Time in standard time.
UTC-5:00 / -4:00→UTC-6:00 / -5:00
Live timezone converterUTC Offset Reference
| Timezone | Abbreviation | Standard offset | DST offset | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Eastern Time | EST / EDT | UTC-5:00 | UTC-4:00 | United States |
| US Central Time | CST / CDT | UTC-6:00 | UTC-5:00 | United States |
* DST offset applies during summer months. Exact transition dates vary by year.
Standard Time Conversion (EST → CST)
| US Eastern Time | US Central Time |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM EST | 11:00 PM (prev day) CST |
| 6:00 AM EST | 5:00 AM CST |
| 9:00 AM EST | 8:00 AM CST |
| 12:00 PM EST | 11:00 AM CST |
| 3:00 PM EST | 2:00 PM CST |
| 6:00 PM EST | 5:00 PM CST |
| 9:00 PM EST | 8:00 PM CST |
Daylight Saving Time (DST) Notes
- US Eastern Time observes DST. Clocks advance 1 hour to EDT (UTC-4:00) roughly from month 3 to 11.
- 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 EST to CST?
Add (-1) hours to the EST time to get CST. For example, 9:00 AM EST = 8:00 AM CST.
What is the current UTC offset for US Eastern Time?
US Eastern Time is UTC-5:00 during standard time (EST) and UTC-4:00 during summer daylight saving time (EDT).
Is US Central Time ahead or behind US Eastern Time?
US Central Time is 1 hour behind US Eastern Time in standard time.
When is a good time to schedule a meeting between EST and CST?
A good overlap window is around 12:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM CST, which falls within business hours for both timezones.
Related Timezone Conversions
US Eastern Time → US Mountain TimeEST / MSTUS Eastern Time → US Pacific TimeEST / PSTUS Eastern Time → US Alaska TimeEST / AKSTUS Eastern Time → Hawaii TimeEST / HSTUS Eastern Time → Canada Atlantic TimeEST / ASTUS Eastern Time → Greenwich Mean TimeEST / GMTUS Eastern Time → India Standard TimeEST / ISTUS Eastern Time → China Standard TimeEST / CST
Need the exact current time?
Use the live ToolsHub timezone converter to see current times, DST status, and schedule across time zones.