Central Daylight Time (CDT)
CDT is UTC-5. Current Central Time (US & Canada) and when CDT applies.
Central Time (US & Canada) now
--:--:--
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
CSTUTC-6
Central Time is on CST right now, not CDT
Exact CDT (UTC-5) time now: --:--:--
About CDT
- Full Name
- Central Daylight Time
- Abbreviation
- CDT
- UTC Offset
- UTC-5
- Central Time is on
- Standard Time (CST)
- Daylight Saving Time
- Central Time: Starts Mar 14, 2027 · switches between CST and CDT
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5. It is the daylight saving time used on Central Time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Most of Saskatchewan and most of Mexico do not use CDT and stay on CST (UTC-6) all year.
Where CDT is used
Switches between CST and CDT
- Chicago, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans and most of the central United States
- Manitoba, Canada (Winnipeg)
- Mexican border areas in Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas (such as Piedras Negras, Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros), and Ojinaga, ChihuahuaThese border areas follow US daylight saving dates, unlike the rest of Mexico.
Not to be confused with: Cuba Daylight Time (UTC-4).
Major Cities in Central Time
Chicago--:--CST
Dallas--:--CSTFort Worth--:--CST
Houston--:--CSTSan Antonio--:--CSTArlington--:--CSTAustin--:--CSTBaton Rouge--:--CSTCorpus Christi--:--CSTDes Moines--:--CSTHuntsville--:--CSTKansas City--:--CSTEach city shows its own current abbreviation, so places on daylight saving time are labelled accordingly.
CDT vs Other Time Zones
| Comparison | By definition | Right now (local clocks) |
|---|---|---|
| CDT to CST | -1 hour | Same region |
| CDT to EDT | +1 hour | +1 hour |
| CDT to PDT | -2 hours | -2 hours |
| CDT to IST | +10 hours 30 minutes | +11 hours 30 minutes |
| CDT to UTC | +5 hours | +6 hours |
“By definition” compares the fixed offsets of the abbreviations. “Right now” compares the actual local time in each region today, including daylight saving time.
CDT FAQs
What is CDT?
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5. It is the daylight saving time used on Central Time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Most of Saskatchewan and most of Mexico do not use CDT and stay on CST (UTC-6) all year.
What is the UTC offset of CDT?
CDT is always UTC-5. When Central Time is not on daylight saving time, it uses CST (UTC-6) instead.
Is it CDT or CST right now?
Central Time is on CST right now, not CDT. CST is UTC-6, 1 hour behind CDT (UTC-5). Central Time switches to CDT on Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 2:00 AM.
When does Central Time switch between CST and CDT?
In 2026, Central Time switches to CDT on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM (clocks go forward 1 hour) and back on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM (clocks go back 1 hour).
Is CDT used all year anywhere?
No major region uses CDT all year. It is only in effect during daylight saving time; the rest of the year the same places use CST.
Does CDT have other meanings?
Yes. CDT can also mean Cuba Daylight Time (UTC-4). This page covers Central Daylight Time (UTC-5). When sharing a time, adding the UTC offset avoids confusion.