CST to UTC time difference
Right now UTC is 5 hours ahead of US Central Time: when it is 9:00 AM in US Central Time (CDT), it is 2:00 PM in UTC (UTC). The difference is not fixed. US Central Time changes the clocks twice a year, so from November 2, 2026 the gap becomes 6 hours, and from March 15, 2027 it goes back to 5 hours.
CT, CST and CDT
CT means Central Time, whatever the season. It is CST (Central Standard Time, UTC-6) from early November to mid-March and CDT (Central Daylight Time, UTC-5) the rest of the year. Today it is CDT. People often write "EST" all year when they mean Eastern Time; the times on this page are correct either way.
CST to UTC conversion table
Every hour of the day in US Central Time and the matching time in UTC, for today, October 13, 2026.
| CST (US Central Time) | UTC (UTC) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 1:00 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 2:00 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 3:00 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 4:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 5:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 6:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 7:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
| 10:00 AM | 3:00 PM |
| 11:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 1:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| 7:00 PM | 12:00 AM (next day) |
| 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM (next day) |
| 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM (next day) |
| 10:00 PM | 3:00 AM (next day) |
| 11:00 PM | 4:00 AM (next day) |
Scheduling tips
With a gap of 5 hours there are a few shared working hours each day. Plan meetings for the morning of the place that is behind. When you share a time, write the zone with it, such as "9:00 AM CST", and remember that a time near midnight can fall on a different date on the other side.
Reverse: UTC to CST. Other converters: CST to PKT · PKT to UTC · CST to EST · CST to MST · CST to PST · CST to GMT · any time zone to your time
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between CST and UTC?
Right now UTC is 5 hours ahead of US Central Time. The gap changes to 6 hours on November 2, 2026 when daylight saving time starts or ends.
What time is it in UTC when it is 9 AM in US Central Time?
2:00 PM.
What is 8 PM CST in UTC?
1:00 AM (next day) UTC.
Does the CST to UTC difference change during the year?
Yes. One or both places use daylight saving time, so the gap changes on November 2, 2026 and March 15, 2027.
How do I convert CST to UTC?
Enter the CST time and date at the top. The converter applies the difference for that date, including daylight saving time.
What is 12 PM CST in UTC?
5:00 PM today.
What is 6 PM CST in UTC?
11:00 PM today.
What is the best time for a call between US Central Time and UTC?
Pick a time that is in working hours in both places; the hour-by-hour table on this page shows both clocks side by side.