Central Standard Time (CST)
CST is UTC-6. Current Central Time (US & Canada) and when CST applies.
Central Time (US & Canada) now
--:--:--
Saturday, September 19, 2026
CDTUTC-5
Central Time is on CDT right now, not CST
Exact CST (UTC-6) time now: --:--:--
About CST
- Full Name
- Central Standard Time
- Abbreviation
- CST
- UTC Offset
- UTC-6
- Central Time is on
- Daylight Time (CDT)
- Daylight Saving Time
- Central Time: Ends Nov 1, 2026 · switches between CST and CDT
Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6. Most of the central United States and Manitoba use CST only in winter and switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Most of Saskatchewan, most of Mexico and much of Central America stay on CST all year.
Where CST 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.
CST all year (no DST)
- Most of Saskatchewan, Canada (Regina, Saskatoon)Exceptions: Lloydminster follows Alberta’s Mountain Time with daylight saving time, and a few communities near the Manitoba border, such as Creighton, also change their clocks.
- Most of Mexico, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mérida and most of Chihuahua stateMexico ended daylight saving time in October 2022. Areas along the US border kept it, and Quintana Roo, Sonora, Baja California and the Pacific states use other offsets.
- Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Not to be confused with: China Standard Time (UTC+8); Cuba Standard Time (UTC-5).
Major Cities in Central Time and CST
Chicago--:--CDT
Dallas--:--CDTFort Worth--:--CDT
Houston--:--CDTSan Antonio--:--CDTArlington--:--CDTAustin--:--CDTBaton Rouge--:--CDT
Mexico City--:--CSTGuadalajara--:--CSTGuatemala City--:--CSTLeón--:--CSTEach city shows its own current abbreviation, so places on daylight saving time are labelled accordingly.
CST vs Other Time Zones
| Comparison | By definition | Right now (local clocks) |
|---|---|---|
| CST to EST | +1 hour | +1 hour |
| CST to PST | -2 hours | -2 hours |
| CST to MST | -1 hour | -1 hour |
| CST to IST | +11 hours 30 minutes | +10 hours 30 minutes |
| CST to GMT | +6 hours | +5 hours |
| CST to UTC | +6 hours | +5 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.
CST converters
- IST to CSTIndia Standard Time → Central Standard Time
- CST to ISTCentral Standard Time → India Standard Time
- EST to CSTEastern Standard Time → Central Standard Time
- CST to ESTCentral Standard Time → Eastern Standard Time
- PST to CSTPacific Standard Time → Central Standard Time
- CST to PSTCentral Standard Time → Pacific Standard Time
- CST to MSTCentral Standard Time → Mountain Standard Time
- MST to CSTMountain Standard Time → Central Standard Time
- CST to GMTCentral Standard Time → Greenwich Mean Time
- GMT to CSTGreenwich Mean Time → Central Standard Time
- CST to CETCentral Standard Time → Central European Time
- CET to CSTCentral European Time → Central Standard Time
- CST to AESTCentral Standard Time → Australian Eastern Standard Time
- AEST to CSTAustralian Eastern Standard Time → Central Standard Time
CST FAQs
What is CST?
Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6. Most of the central United States and Manitoba use CST only in winter and switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Most of Saskatchewan, most of Mexico and much of Central America stay on CST all year.
What is the UTC offset of CST?
CST is always UTC-6. When Central Time observes daylight saving time, it uses CDT (UTC-5) instead.
Is it CST or CDT right now?
Central Time is on CDT right now, not CST. CDT is UTC-5, 1 hour ahead of CST (UTC-6). Central Time returns to CST on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM. Places that stay on CST all year, such as Mexico City, Guadalajara, Guatemala City, León, Mérida, Monterrey, Puebla, Querétaro, San José, Zapopan, Regina and Saskatoon, are on UTC-6 now.
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).
Where is CST used all year?
These places use UTC-6 all year without daylight saving time: Most of Saskatchewan, Canada (Regina, Saskatoon); Most of Mexico, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mérida and most of Chihuahua state; Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Does CST have other meanings?
Yes. CST can also mean China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC-5). This page covers Central Standard Time (UTC-6). When sharing a time, adding the UTC offset avoids confusion.