UTC to CST time difference
Right now US Central Time is 5 hours behind UTC: when it is 9:00 AM in UTC (UTC), it is 4:00 AM in US Central Time (CDT). 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.
UTC to CST conversion table
Every hour of the day in UTC and the matching time in US Central Time, for today, October 13, 2026.
| UTC (UTC) | CST (US Central Time) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 7:00 PM (previous day) |
| 1:00 AM | 8:00 PM (previous day) |
| 2:00 AM | 9:00 PM (previous day) |
| 3:00 AM | 10:00 PM (previous day) |
| 4:00 AM | 11:00 PM (previous day) |
| 5:00 AM | 12:00 AM |
| 6:00 AM | 1:00 AM |
| 7:00 AM | 2:00 AM |
| 8:00 AM | 3:00 AM |
| 9:00 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 10:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 11:00 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 12:00 PM | 7:00 AM |
| 1:00 PM | 8:00 AM |
| 2:00 PM | 9:00 AM |
| 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM |
| 4:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 5:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 7:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 8:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 9:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 10:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 11:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
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 UTC", and remember that a time near midnight can fall on a different date on the other side.
Reverse: CST to UTC. Other converters: PKT to CST · UTC to PKT · EST to CST · MST to CST · PST to CST · GMT to CST · any time zone to your time
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between UTC and CST?
Right now US Central Time is 5 hours behind UTC. The gap changes to 6 hours on November 2, 2026 when daylight saving time starts or ends.
What time is it in US Central Time when it is 9 AM in UTC?
4:00 AM.
What is 8 PM UTC in CST?
3:00 PM CDT.
Does the UTC to CST 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 UTC to CST?
Enter the UTC time and date at the top. The converter applies the difference for that date, including daylight saving time.
What is 12 PM UTC in CST?
7:00 AM today.
What is 6 PM UTC in CST?
1:00 PM today.
What is the best time for a call between UTC and US Central Time?
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.