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CST – Central Standard Time

Current Offset:UTC-5(Daylight Time Active)

Timezone Overview

Central Standard Time (CST) is a time standard used across the North America region. The current local UTC offset is UTC-5. CST (UTC-6) is the standard time variant of Central Time (CT). Regions following this timezone advance clocks to CDT (UTC-5) during daylight saving periods.

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Central Time (CT) Variant

Daylight Saving Time Counterpart: CDT

CST is the standard-time variant (UTC-6) of Central Time. During the daylight saving period in summer, regions following Central Time switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5).

View CDT Timezone →

CST Timezone Details

Abbreviation
CST
Standard Offset
UTC-6
Current Offset
UTC-5
Daylight Offset
UTC-5
DST Status
Active (Daylight)
IANA Identifier
America/Chicago
Region
North America
Clock Changes
Seasonal (2x/year)

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Information

Central Standard Time (CST) participates in daylight saving time adjustments. During the standard time period, clocks operate at UTC-6, and during the daylight saving period, clocks advance by 1 hour to UTC-5.

Standard Time
UTC-6
CST
Daylight Saving Time
UTC-5
CDT

Specific changeover dates depend on jurisdictional regulations. In North America transitions generally take place in March and November, in Europe transitions occur in late March and late October, and Southern Hemisphere zones transition between October and April.

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Major Cities in CST Time

Representative cities currently observing Central Standard Time (CST) with their live local times.

15 major cities listed
CityCountryCurrent TimeCurrent Offset
ChicagoUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
HoustonUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
San AntonioUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
DallasUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
AustinUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
Fort WorthUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
NashvilleUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
Oklahoma CityUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
MemphisUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
MilwaukeeUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
Kansas CityUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
OmahaUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
MinneapolisUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
New OrleansUnited States1:19 AMUTC-5
WinnipegCanada1:19 AMUTC-5

Countries & Territories Represented

United StatesCanada

CST Time Zone Converters

Convert CST to other major international time zones with live clocks.

All converters →
IST to CST
India Standard Time
EST to CST
Eastern Standard Time
PST to CST
Pacific Standard Time
GMT to CST
Greenwich Mean Time
CST to IST
India Standard Time
CST to EST
Eastern Standard Time
CST to PST
Pacific Standard Time
CST to GMT
Greenwich Mean Time

Other North America Timezones

EST
UTC-5
EDT
UTC-4
CDT
UTC-5
MST
UTC-7
MDT
UTC-6
PST
UTC-8

Frequently Asked Questions about CST

Accurate, factual answers regarding Central Standard Time (CST) and its seasonal schedule.

What is CST and what does it stand for?

CST stands for Central Standard Time. It is a civil time standard used in North America with a standard offset of UTC-6 from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Its current offset is UTC-5.

Does CST observe Daylight Saving Time (DST)?

Yes, Central Standard Time participates in seasonal daylight saving time shifts. Standard time is UTC-6 and daylight saving time is UTC-5. Clocks in this zone are currently advancing for daylight saving time.

What is the difference between CST and CDT?

CST is the standard-time variant (UTC-6) of Central Time. During the daylight saving period in summer, regions following Central Time switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5).

Which major cities use CST?

Major cities operating in or aligned with Central Standard Time include Chicago (United States), Houston (United States), San Antonio (United States), Dallas (United States), Austin (United States), among others.

How do I convert CST to another timezone?

To convert CST (UTC-5) to your local time or another zone, calculate the hour difference between your local UTC offset and UTC-5. You can also use the live interactive converters listed on this page for instant side-by-side time comparisons.