Central Standard Time (CST) is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is in use during standard time in: North America Central America.
See full time zone mapWhat Is Central Standard Time?
Central Standard Time (CST) is the second easternmost time zone in the United States and is also used in Canada.
It covers all or parts of 20 states in the US and three provinces or territories in Canada. It is also used in Mexico and Central America.
About a third of the population in the USA live in the CST time zone. It spans from northern Canada and all the way south to Costa Rica near the equator.
In North AmericaCentral Standard Time shares a border with Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the east and with Mountain Standard Time (MST) in the west.
Central Standard Time Zone
Central Standard Time (CST) is a standard time zone in use from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March—when Daylight Saving Time (DST) is not in effect. Central Daylight Time (CDT) is used during the remainder of the year.
CST Is the Central Time Zone
In everyday usageCST is often referred to as Central Time (CT) or the Central Time Zone. This can add a bit of confusion as the term Central Time does not differentiate between standard time and Daylight Saving Timeso Central Time switches between CST and CDT in areas that use DST during part of the year.
Most North American time zones also have generic termsincluding Pacific Time (PT)Mountain Time (MT)Eastern Time (ET)and Atlantic Time (AT).
Converting Central Time to Other US Time Zones
- Central Standard Time (CST) is 1 hour behind Eastern Standard Time (EST).
To convert CST to ESTyou have to add one hour. - Central Standard Time (CST) is 1 hour ahead of Mountain Standard Time (MST).
To convert CST to MSTyou have to subtract one hour. - Central Standard Time (CST) is 2 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST).
To convert CST to PSTyou have to subtract two hours.
Where and When is CST Observed?
North America
US states using CST in the winter and CDT in the summer
- Florida - North-West partsBayCalhounEscambiaHolmesJacksonOkaloosaSanta RosaWalton and Washington counties and norther Gulf county
- Indiana - these few north-western counties near Chicago (LakePorterLa PorteNewtonJasperStarke) and these south-western counties in Indiana near EvansvilleGibsonPoseyVanderburghWarrickPerrySpencer
- Kentucky - Western partAdairAllenBallardBarrenBreckinridgeButlerCaldwellCallowayCarlisleChristianClintonCrittendenCumberlandDaviessEdmonsonFultonGravesGraysonGreenHansockHartHendersonHickmanHopkinsLivingstonLoganLyonMarshallMcCrackenMcLeanMetcalfeMonroeMuhlenbergOhioRussellSimpsonToddTriggUnionWarren and Webster counties
- Michigan - A few western countiesDickinsonGogebicIronand Menominee
- North Dakota - North and Eastern partscounties of BarnesBensonBottineauBurkeBurleighCassCavalierDickeyDivideEddyEmmonsFosterGrand ForksGriggsKidderLamoureLoganMcHenryMcIntoshMcLeanMountrailNelsonOliverPembinaPierceRamseyRansomRenvilleRichlandRoletteSargentSheridanSteeleStutsmanTownerTraillWalshWardWellsWilliams and northern parts of McKenzie and Dunnwesternmost part of Morton and Fort Yates in Sioux
- South Dakota - Eastern partscounties of AuroraBeadleBon HommeBrookingsBrownBruleBuffaloCampbellCharles MixClarkClayCodingtonDavisonDayDeuelDouglasEdmundsFaulkGrantGregoryHamlinHandHansonHughesHutchinsonHydeJerauldJonesKingsburyLakeLincolnLymanMarshallMcCookMcPhersonMelletteMinerMinnehahaMoodyPotterRobertsSpinkSanbornSullyToddTrippTurnerUnionYanktonWalworth and eastern parts of Stanley
- Tennessee - Western partcounties of BedfordBentonBledsoeCannonCarrollCheathamChesterClayCoffeeCrockettCumberlandDavidsonDecaturDeKalbDicksonDyerFayetteFentressFranklinGibsonGilesGrundyHardemanHardinHaywoodHendersonHenryHickmanHoustonHumphreysJacksonLakeLauderdaleLawrenceLewisLincolnMcNairyMaconMadisonMarionMarshallMauryMontgomeryMooreObionOvertonPerryPickettPutnamRobertsonRutherfordSequatchieShelbySmithStewartSumnerTiptonTrusdaleVan BurenWarrenWayne WeakleyWhiteWillamsonWilson
- Texas - Allbut a few counties in westEl Paso and Hudspeth and part of Culberson
Canadian provinces using CST in the winter and CDT in the summer
Canadian provinces using CST all year round
- Ontario - a few communitiesAtikokanNew OsnaburghPickle Lake
Mexican states using CST in the winter and CDT in the summer
Mexican states using CST all year round
Central America
Central American countries using CST all year round
Other Central Standard Time Zones
Time zones can have similar names and abbreviations but have a different UTC offset:
- Australian Central Standard Time (ACST): UTC +9:30
- Australian Central Western Standard Time (ACWST): UTC +8:45
- Central European Time (CET): UTC +1
- Central Africa Time (CAT): UTC +2
- Central Indonesian Time (WITA): UTC +2