Skip to content

Time zone converter/CST to EST

CST to EST Converter

Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 1 hour ahead of Central Standard Time (CST). To convert CST to EST, add 1 hour.

EST = CST + 1 hour · CST = EST − 1 hour

From

Central Standard Time (CST)

To

Eastern Standard Time (EST)

The converted time appears in the result below.

Calculating time difference

Pick a date and time above.

EST = CST + 1 hour · CST = EST − 1 hour

CST and EST stay on standard time all year — they don’t switch for daylight saving. Use CT to ET when you want Central Time to Eastern Time for a specific day, including CDT or EDT when local clocks are on daylight time.

CST to EST Conversion Table

Every hour of the day. Highlighted rows are common conversions. If you see +1 next to EST, that Eastern time falls on the next calendar day.

Twenty-four hour CST to EST conversion. EST is one hour ahead of CST.
CSTESTNote
12:00 AM CST1:00 AM EST
1:00 AM CST2:00 AM EST
2:00 AM CST3:00 AM EST
3:00 AM CST4:00 AM EST
4:00 AM CST5:00 AM EST
5:00 AM CST6:00 AM EST
6:00 AM CST7:00 AM EST
7:00 AM CST8:00 AM EST
8:00 AM CST9:00 AM EST
9:00 AM CST10:00 AM ESTPopular
10:00 AM CST11:00 AM ESTPopular
11:00 AM CST12:00 PM ESTPopular
12:00 PM CST1:00 PM ESTPopular
1:00 PM CST2:00 PM ESTPopular
2:00 PM CST3:00 PM ESTPopular
3:00 PM CST4:00 PM ESTPopular
4:00 PM CST5:00 PM EST
5:00 PM CST6:00 PM ESTPopular
6:00 PM CST7:00 PM EST
7:00 PM CST8:00 PM EST
8:00 PM CST9:00 PM EST
9:00 PM CST10:00 PM EST
10:00 PM CST11:00 PM EST
11:00 PM CST12:00 AM EST +1Next day

Central Time to Eastern Time

Central Time is normally 1 hour behind Eastern Time. For example, 10 AM Central Time is normally 11 AM Eastern Time. Day to day, CT to ET usually follows that same one-hour gap.

CT means Central Time. ET means Eastern Time. In winter those clocks often show CST and EST; in summer they show CDT and EDT. If a meeting invite only says “Central” or “Eastern,” pick the meeting date so the result matches what local clocks show that day.

What Is the Time Difference Between CST and EST?

CST is UTC−6. EST is UTC−5. Eastern Standard Time is 1 hour ahead of Central Standard Time, so add 1 hour to convert CST to EST. That gap stays the same all year whenever both names really mean standard time.

  • CST = UTC−6
  • EST = UTC−5
  • EST = CST + 1 hour
  • CST = EST − 1 hour

Example: 10 AM CST is 11 AM EST. 3 PM CST is 4 PM EST. Subtract one hour to go from EST back to CST.

CST/EST vs CT/ET: What’s the Difference?

TermMeaning
CSTCentral Standard Time, UTC−6
CDTCentral Daylight Time, UTC−5
CTCentral Time, CST or CDT
ESTEastern Standard Time, UTC−5
EDTEastern Daylight Time, UTC−4
ETEastern Time, EST or EDT

Most of the US Central and Eastern regions change clocks in the same weeks of spring and fall. So everyday Central Time to Eastern Time usually stays one hour apart in winter and in summer. What changes is the name on the clock: CST/EST in standard time, CDT/EDT in daylight time.

On a January workday, 10 AM CST is 11 AM EST. On a July workday, 10 AM CDT is 11 AM EDT — still one hour, different names. CST to EST always uses standard time, even in July. Central Time to Eastern Time follows the date you enter and shows CDT or EDT when local clocks are on daylight time.

Use CST → EST when both sides should stay on standard time. Use CT → ET when you want Central and Eastern local time for the day you pick.

Current Central and Eastern Time

Central Time and Eastern Time right now, with the name each region is using this season. The CST and EST cards below always stay on standard time, even when local clocks show CDT or EDT.

Central Time

--:--

CT

Eastern Time

--:--

ET

CST

UTC−6

Standard time all year

EST

UTC−5

Standard time all year

Central to Eastern Time Meeting Planner

Workday hours on standard time. Highlighted rows are easier on both sides — roughly 9 AM to 4 PM Central / 10 AM to 5 PM Eastern. For a summer meeting on local Central and Eastern time, switch to CT → ET and choose the meeting date.

CentralEasternFor calls
8:00 AM9:00 AMEarly start (8 AM Central / 9 AM Eastern)
9:00 AM10:00 AMWorks well for both (9 AM / 10 AM Eastern)
10:00 AM11:00 AMWorks well for both (10 AM / 11 AM Eastern)
11:00 AM12:00 PMWorks well for both (11 AM / noon Eastern)
12:00 PM1:00 PMWorks well for both (noon / 1 PM Eastern)
1:00 PM2:00 PMWorks well for both (1 PM / 2 PM Eastern)
2:00 PM3:00 PMWorks well for both (2 PM / 3 PM Eastern)
3:00 PM4:00 PMWorks well for both (3 PM / 4 PM Eastern)
4:00 PM5:00 PMLate day, still workable (4 PM / 5 PM Eastern)
5:00 PM6:00 PMLate for Central (5 PM Central / 6 PM Eastern)

EST to CST Converter

Going the other way? Subtract 1 hour from an EST time to get CST.

EST to CST Converter

About These Time Zones

Open a zone page for the fixed abbreviation, or the regional clock that follows daylight saving for the date you pick.

CST to EST FAQ

What is 10 AM CST in EST?
10 AM CST is 11 AM EST. Add one hour. On everyday clocks, 10 AM Central Time is usually 11 AM Eastern Time too.
What is 3 PM CST in EST?
3 PM CST is 4 PM EST. Going the other way, 4 PM EST is 3 PM CST.
What is 9 AM CST in EST?
9 AM CST is 10 AM EST. When both regions share the same season (both standard or both daylight), 9 AM Central Time is 10 AM Eastern Time.
What is 11 AM Central Time in Eastern Time?
11 AM Central Time is normally 12 PM Eastern Time. If you keep both sides on standard time, 11 AM CST is 12 PM EST.
How many hours is EST ahead of CST?
One hour. CST is UTC−6 and EST is UTC−5, so EST = CST + 1 hour.
How do I convert CST to EST?
Add 1 hour (EST = CST + 1; CST = EST − 1). Examples: 10 AM CST → 11 AM EST; 3 PM CST → 4 PM EST.
Is Central Time one hour behind Eastern Time?
Yes — 10 AM Central is usually 11 AM Eastern. CT and ET are the everyday labels; winter clocks often read CST/EST, summer CDT/EDT.
What is CT to ET?
Central Time to Eastern Time. The usual gap is one hour (10 AM CT → 11 AM ET). CT and ET use the date you enter; CST and EST stay on standard time year-round.
What is the difference between CST/EST and CT/ET?
CST and EST always mean standard time (UTC−6 and UTC−5). CT and ET are everyday Central and Eastern time — standard in winter, daylight in summer. Pick CT → ET when you care about a specific day.
Does the CST to EST converter account for daylight saving time?
No — CST → EST stays on standard time. Switch to CT → ET and choose the date when you need CDT or EDT for that day.