EST to CST Converter
Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time. Enter a time to convert, or see the current time in both zones.
Enter a valid date and time.
What is the time difference between EST and CST?
What is the time difference between EST and CST? Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time. The one-hour difference stays the same through daylight saving.
Standard and daylight time in Eastern Time and Central Time
Strictly, EST and CST are the winter (standard) names. In summer the zones use daylight time names such as EDT and CDT. People often say "EST" all year, so this page converts using the real rules for each date: America/New_York and America/Chicago in the IANA time zone database.
Frequently asked questions
Does daylight saving change the EST to CST difference?
The one-hour difference stays the same through daylight saving.
Which time zone database is used?
Your browser's built-in copy of the IANA time zone database, which is updated with browser releases.
More time zones
See all- Time Zone ConverterConvert any time between any two zones.
- CST to ESTCentral Time to Eastern Time, with DST handled.
- EST to PSTEastern Time to Pacific Time, with DST handled.
- PST to CSTPacific Time to Central Time, with DST handled.
- UTC to ESTCoordinated Universal Time to Eastern Time, with DST handled.
- MST to ESTMountain Time to Eastern Time, with DST handled.
- CST to PSTCentral Time to Pacific Time, with DST handled.
- EST to GMTEastern Time to Greenwich Mean Time, with DST handled.