What is the time difference between EST and CST?

CST is 1 hour behind EST throughout the year. The live clocks and table on this page always show the current, correct conversion.

How do I convert EST to CST?

Read your EST hour in the left column of the table; the right column shows the matching CST time for today's date, including any daylight saving shift.

When is the best time to call between EST and CST?

Look for rows where both columns fall between 9:00 and 18:00. For wider planning across more cities, use our full time zone converter and meeting planner.

Does daylight saving time affect EST to CST conversion?

No. Neither zone changes its clocks relative to the other, so the difference stays the same all year.

GlobalTimeTools / Time Zone Converter / EST to CST

EST to CST Converter

US Eastern Time to US Central Time: live clocks, today's full conversion table, and the best hours to call. Daylight saving is handled automatically.

EST now (US Eastern Time)

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CST now (US Central Time)

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Convert a specific EST time

Compare EST and CST on a timeline

EST to CST conversion table (today)

12am11pm

1am12am

2am1am

3am2am

4am3am

5am4am

6am5am

7am6am

8am7am

9am8am

10am9am

11am10am

12pm11am

1pm12pm

2pm1pm

3pm2pm

4pm3pm

5pm4pm

6pm5pm

7pm6pm

8pm7pm

9pm8pm

10pm9pm

11pm10pm

Plan a meeting between EST and CST

Add a city

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Meeting planner · 24-hour timeline

Business 9–18Workable 7–9 / 18–21Night

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About EST and CST

US Eastern Time (EST/EDT) is used in New York, Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Toronto. Clocks shift to EDT (daylight time) from March to November.

US Central Time (CST/CDT) is used in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin and Minneapolis. Clocks shift to CDT (daylight time) from March to November.

Time difference between EST and CST

CST is 1 hour behind EST throughout the year. The clocks and table above are computed live from the official IANA time zone database in your browser, so daylight saving transitions are always already included.

EST to CST conversion for every hour

9:00 AM EST is 8:00 AM CST. 10:00 AM EST is 9:00 AM CST. 12:00 PM EST is 11:00 AM CST. 2:00 PM EST is 1:00 PM CST. 3:00 PM EST is 2:00 PM CST. 4:00 PM EST is 3:00 PM CST. 5:00 PM EST is 4:00 PM CST. The table at the top of this page lists all 24 hours, updated live for today's date.

Best hours for meetings

Scan the table for rows where both sides land inside working hours (9:00 to 18:00). Rows where one side is early morning or late evening are workable for a quick call; avoid rows where either side is in the middle of the night. To add a third city, type it into the planner below, or open the full time zone converter and meeting planner.

Related conversions

CST to EST IST to EST EST to IST EST to GMT GMT to EST EST to PST PST to EST EST to UTC