What is Central Time (CST)?

Central Time (CT) is UTC−6, shifting to UTC−5 in summer — the widest US zone, from the Great Lakes down through Texas and into Mexico.

CST is UTC−6 in standard time and UTC−5 during daylight saving time.

Does Central Time observe daylight saving time?

Yes. The next change is on November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back from CDT to CST.

Central Time (CST) — current time & UTC offset

About Central Time

Standard offset: UTC−6
Daylight offset: UTC−5
Abbreviations: CST, CDT
Observes DST: Yes

Used in: United States, Canada, Mexico.

Central Time covers more of the US population than any zone except Eastern, stretching from Chicago and the industrial Midwest down through the South to the Gulf Coast.

Daylight saving time

Central Time observes daylight saving time. The next transition is on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back from CDT to CST.

See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.

Daylight today

Sun times at the representative location for Central Time.

Sunrise: 5:18 AM
Sunset: 8:22 PM
Day length: 15h 4m

Major cities in Central Time

The current local time in these cities matches Central Time.

Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.

Convert Central Time to

See all conversions

Frequently asked questions

What is Central Time (CST)?: Central Time (CT) is UTC−6, shifting to UTC−5 in summer — the widest US zone, from the Great Lakes down through Texas and into Mexico.
What is CST in UTC?: CST is UTC−6 in standard time and UTC−5 during daylight saving time.
Does Central Time observe daylight saving time?: Yes. The next change is on November 1, 2026, when clocks fall back from CDT to CST.