Offset
The time difference between Eastern Time and China Standard Time is 12 hours.
Eastern Time (EDT) is behind China Standard Time (CST).
EDT: UTC-4
CST: UTC+8
Eastern Time is currently observing daylight saving time; China Standard Time is not.
When to schedule
Standard business hours (9 AM–5 PM, Mon–Fri) in Eastern Time and China Standard Time don't overlap on the same weekday. China Standard Time is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Time.
With some flexibility, there are two workable windows outside standard hours, depending on which side takes the early or late slot:
- 7 AM–8 AM in Eastern Time (7 PM–8 PM in China Standard Time) — suggest 7:00 AM Eastern Time (7:00 PM China Standard Time).
- 7 PM–8 PM in Eastern Time (7 AM–8 AM the next day in China Standard Time) — suggest 7:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 AM China Standard Time).
Either is an early start or late finish for one side, but workable for a one-off meeting.
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
United States
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMon, Jan 19
- Presidents DayMon, Feb 16
- Memorial DayMon, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence DayFri, Jun 19
- Independence DayFri, Jul 3
- Labour DayMon, Sep 7
- Columbus DayMon, Oct 12
- Veterans DayWed, Nov 11
- Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 26
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
China
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)Tue, Feb 17
- Labour DayFri, May 1
- Dragon Boat FestivalFri, Jun 19
- Mid-Autumn FestivalFri, Sep 25
- National DayThu, Oct 1
About these zones
Eastern Time is also known as EST, or EDT. To call United States, dial +1.
China Standard Time is also known as CST. To call China, dial +86.
China Standard Time is approximately 7,350 miles north of Eastern Time.
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| EST | CST-CHINA | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 1:00 am | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 2:00 am | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 3:00 am | 3:00 pm | Same day |
| 4:00 am | 4:00 pm | Same day |
| 5:00 am | 5:00 pm | Same day |
| 6:00 am | 6:00 pm | Same day |
| 7:00 am | 7:00 pm | Same day |
| 8:00 am | 8:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 9:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 10:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 11:00 pm | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 12:00 am | +1 day |
| 1:00 pm | 1:00 am | +1 day |
| 2:00 pm | 2:00 am | +1 day |
| 3:00 pm | 3:00 am | +1 day |
| 4:00 pm | 4:00 am | +1 day |
| 5:00 pm | 5:00 am | +1 day |
| 6:00 pm | 6:00 am | +1 day |
| 7:00 pm | 7:00 am | +1 day |
| 8:00 pm | 8:00 am | +1 day |
| 9:00 pm | 9:00 am | +1 day |
| 10:00 pm | 10:00 am | +1 day |
| 11:00 pm | 11:00 am | +1 day |
Daylight saving time
Eastern Time observes daylight saving time; China Standard Time does not. The offset between the two zones changes when Eastern Time transitions: on Sunday, November 1, 2026, clocks fall back from EDT to EST.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 5:27 AM
- Sunset
- 8:24 PM
- Day length
- 14h 58m
- Sunrise
- 4:51 AM
- Sunset
- 6:56 PM
- Day length
- 14h 5m
Daylight overlap: 1h 29m — 5:27 AM–6:56 AM in Eastern Time (5:27 PM–6:56 PM in China Standard Time). Both locations are in daylight during this window.
Cities in these zones
Cities in Eastern Time
Cities in China Standard Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in Eastern Time
- EWR
- HPN
- JFK
- LGA
- TEB
- ILG
- PHL
- TTN
- CLT
- USA
Airports in China Standard Time
- PVG
- SHA
- PEK
- PKX
- SZX
- CAN
- FUO
- CTU
- TFU
- TSN
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am EST in CST-CHINA?
- 9:00 am EST is 9:00 pm CST-CHINA.
- What is 12:00 pm EST in CST-CHINA?
- 12:00 pm EST is 12:00 am CST-CHINA, the next day.
- What is 12:30 pm EST in CST-CHINA?
- 12:30 pm EST is 12:30 am CST-CHINA, the next day.
- What is 2:00 pm EST in CST-CHINA?
- 2:00 pm EST is 2:00 am CST-CHINA, the next day.
- What is 5:00 pm EST in CST-CHINA?
- 5:00 pm EST is 5:00 am CST-CHINA, the next day.
- What is 11:30 pm EST in CST-CHINA?
- 11:30 pm EST is 11:30 am CST-CHINA, the next day.