CST to EST Converter
Convert Central Time (CST/CDT) to Eastern Time (EST/EDT) for any date — with live clocks and daylight saving handled automatically.
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Eastern Time is 1 hours ahead of Central Time.
All 24 hours on this date
| CT | ET |
|---|
How to convert CST to EST
- See the current time in both zones at the top — it updates by itself.
- Pick a date and type a time in Central Time.
- Read the Eastern Time result, or open the 24-hour table for that date.
CST to EST time difference
Eastern Time is 1 hour ahead of Central Time: 9:00 AM CST = 10:00 AM EST. In winter the zones use standard time — CST (UTC−6) and EST (UTC−5); from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November they use daylight time — CDT (UTC−5) and EDT (UTC−4). Because both switch on the same dates at 2:00 AM local time, the difference stays 1 hour all year, except briefly on the nights the clocks change.
| Central Time (CST/CDT) | Eastern Time (EST/EDT) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM CT | 1:00 AM ET |
| 6:00 AM CT | 7:00 AM ET |
| 7:00 AM CT | 8:00 AM ET |
| 8:00 AM CT | 9:00 AM ET |
| 9:00 AM CT | 10:00 AM ET |
| 10:00 AM CT | 11:00 AM ET |
| 11:00 AM CT | 12:00 PM ET |
| 12:00 PM CT | 1:00 PM ET |
| 1:00 PM CT | 2:00 PM ET |
| 2:00 PM CT | 3:00 PM ET |
| 3:00 PM CT | 4:00 PM ET |
| 5:00 PM CT | 6:00 PM ET |
| 6:00 PM CT | 7:00 PM ET |
| 8:00 PM CT | 9:00 PM ET |
| 9:00 PM CT | 10:00 PM ET |
| 11:00 PM CT | 12:00 AM next day ET |
The table applies to any normal day. The converter above uses your browser's time zone database (America/Chicago and America/New_York), so it's exact for every date, including the changeover nights.
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between CST and EST?
Eastern Time is 1 hour ahead of Central Time — for example, 9:00 AM CST = 10:00 AM EST. The difference is the same in summer (CDT to EDT).
Is it CST or CDT right now?
CST (UTC−6) is used from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March; the rest of the year Central Time is CDT (UTC−5). Many people say “CST” all year — the live clock above shows the abbreviation in effect today.
Which cities use Central Time and Eastern Time?
Central Time: Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, New Orleans, Minneapolis and Winnipeg (Canada). Eastern Time: New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Detroit and Toronto (Canada).
Does this converter handle daylight saving time?
Yes. Times are calculated with the IANA time zone database built into your browser (Intl API) for America/Chicago and America/New_York, so daylight saving changes are applied automatically for any date you pick.
Is CST the same as Mexico City time?
Only in winter. Since 2022 most of Mexico no longer changes to daylight saving time, while Chicago and the rest of US Central Time do (CDT, UTC−5). In summer, Mexico City is one hour behind Chicago.