Central European Time (CET)
CET is UTC+1. Current Central European Time (Paris, Berlin) and when CET applies.
Central European Time (Paris, Berlin) now
--:--:--
Saturday, September 19, 2026
CESTUTC+2
Central European Time is on CEST right now, not CET
Exact CET (UTC+1) time now: --:--:--
About CET
- Full Name
- Central European Time
- Abbreviation
- CET
- UTC Offset
- UTC+1
- Central European Time is on
- Daylight Time (CEST)
- Daylight Saving Time
- Central European Time: Ends Oct 25, 2026 · switches between CET and CEST
Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, the standard time of most of the European Union from Spain to Poland. From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October those countries use Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). Algeria and Tunisia stay on UTC+1 all year.
Where CET is used
Switches between CET and CEST
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria
- Poland, Czechia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Hungary and the Balkans
CET all year (no DST)
- Algeria and Tunisia
Major Cities in Central European Time and CET
Amsterdam--:--CESTBrussels--:--CESTBudapest--:--CESTCopenhagen--:--CEST
Madrid--:--CESTOslo--:--CEST
Paris--:--CESTPrague--:--CEST
Rome--:--CESTStockholm--:--CESTAlgiers--:--CETTunis--:--CETEach city shows its own current abbreviation, so places on daylight saving time are labelled accordingly.
CET vs Other Time Zones
| Comparison | By definition | Right now (local clocks) |
|---|---|---|
| CET to CEST | +1 hour | Same region |
| CET to GMT | -1 hour | -2 hours |
| CET to EET | +1 hour | +1 hour |
| CET to WET | -1 hour | -1 hour |
| CET to EST | -6 hours | -6 hours |
| CET to UTC | -1 hour | -2 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.
CET converters
- EST to CETEastern Standard Time → Central European Time
- CET to ESTCentral European Time → Eastern Standard Time
- PST to CETPacific Standard Time → Central European Time
- CET to PSTCentral European Time → Pacific Standard Time
- GMT to CETGreenwich Mean Time → Central European Time
- CET to GMTCentral European Time → Greenwich Mean Time
- IST to CETIndia Standard Time → Central European Time
- CET to ISTCentral European Time → India Standard Time
- CST to CETCentral Standard Time → Central European Time
- CET to CSTCentral European Time → Central Standard Time
- UTC to CETCoordinated Universal Time → Central European Time
- CET to UTCCentral European Time → Coordinated Universal Time
- CET to BSTCentral European Time → British Summer Time
- BST to CETBritish Summer Time → Central European Time
- CET to EETCentral European Time → Eastern European Time
- EET to CETEastern European Time → Central European Time
- CET to AESTCentral European Time → Australian Eastern Standard Time
- AEST to CETAustralian Eastern Standard Time → Central European Time
- CET to JSTCentral European Time → Japan Standard Time
- JST to CETJapan Standard Time → Central European Time
CET FAQs
What is CET?
Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, the standard time of most of the European Union from Spain to Poland. From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October those countries use Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). Algeria and Tunisia stay on UTC+1 all year.
What is the UTC offset of CET?
CET is always UTC+1. When Central European Time observes daylight saving time, it uses CEST (UTC+2) instead.
Is it CET or CEST right now?
Central European Time is on CEST right now, not CET. CEST is UTC+2, 1 hour ahead of CET (UTC+1). Central European Time returns to CET on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 3:00 AM. Places that stay on CET all year, such as Algiers and Tunis, are on UTC+1 now.
When does Central European Time switch between CET and CEST?
In 2026, Central European Time switches to CEST on Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2:00 AM (clocks go forward 1 hour) and back on Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 3:00 AM (clocks go back 1 hour).
Where is CET used all year?
These places use UTC+1 all year without daylight saving time: Algeria and Tunisia.