CST to PDT
-1hCST
CSTSOURCEPDT
PDTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
CST and PDT on the World Map
The map below highlights the CST (Central Standard Time) and PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) timezone regions across the globe.
CST – Central Standard Time
UTC-06:00Central Standard Time (CST) is the time zone for the central United States, Canada, and Mexico, 6 hours behind UTC.
- •CST covers 20 US states fully or partially.
- •Chicago and Houston are the two largest cities in the Central Time Zone.
- •Mexico City, one of the world's most populous cities, operates on CST.
- •CST is 1 hour behind EST and 2 hours ahead of PST.
PDT – Pacific Daylight Time
UTC-07:00Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is the daylight saving offset on the US/Canada Pacific coast, 7 hours behind UTC.
- •PDT aligns with MST at UTC-07:00.
- •Tech company earnings calls often reference PDT/PST times.
CST vs PDT: Offsets, DST and Best Call Times
CST runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. PDT runs on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) at UTC-07:00. That puts CST 1 hour behind PDT — a difference of -1h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in CST it is 8:00 AM in PDT. Midnight in CST is 11:00 PM in PDT. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
CST to PDT time conversion table
| CST (CST) | PDT (PDT) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 11:00 PM | previous day |
| 6:00 AM | 5:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 6:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert CST to PDT time
- Scheduling a call from CST to PDT: a 10:00 AM start in CST lands at 9:00 AM in PDT, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both CST and PDT are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM CST time (9:00 AM–4:00 PM PDT). That is roughly 7 hours of usable overlap.
- Coordinating a CST-based team with PDT contacts: quoting times in the other side's local clock — not your own — removes the single biggest source of missed meetings.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM CST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -1h gap is not.
- Block 10:00 AM–5:00 PM CST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from CST and need PDT colleagues present.
About CST (Central Standard Time)
Central Standard Time (CST) covers the central region of North America. It is the second most populous time zone in the US, including major cities like Chicago, Houston, and Dallas. CST is also used in Mexico City and much of Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. During summer, most of the US and Canada switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-05:00), while Mexico and Central American countries generally remain on CST.
About PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is observed from March to November on the Pacific coast. During PDT, the west coast is 7 hours behind UTC and only 2 hours behind the east coast's EDT.
Best time to call between CST and PDT
Both CST and PDT sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 10:00 AM–5:00 PM CST, which is 9:00 AM–4:00 PM PDT. That gives roughly 7 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
CST and PDT share 7 hours of working-hours overlap (10:00 AM–5:00 PM CST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
CST is 1 hour behind PDT (CST UTC-06:00 → PDT UTC-07:00). The shared working window is 10:00 AM–5:00 PM CST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
CST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-06:00 · DST: UTC-05:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
PDT
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-08:00 · DST: UTC-07:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
Learn More About Time
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CST and PDT?
CST (CST, UTC-06:00) is 1 hour behind PDT (PDT, UTC-07:00). The gap is currently -1h.
How do I convert CST time to PDT time?
Add -1h to CST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in CST is 8:00 AM in PDT.
What time is it in PDT right now?
PDT uses PDT at UTC-07:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -1h offset from CST.
What is the best time to call PDT from CST?
Call between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM CST — that maps to 9:00 AM–4:00 PM PDT and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, CST or PDT?
CST is 1 hour behind PDT. When it is 12:00 PM in CST it is 11:00 AM in PDT.
Does daylight saving time affect the CST–PDT difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -1h offset between CST and PDT is fixed all year.
Which other cities share CST's time zone?
CST also covers Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Mexico City, Austin, Winnipeg, Memphis and 6 more.
Which countries use CST, CST's zone?
CST is used in United States (Central), Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and 1 more.
Is there a day difference between CST and PDT?
Not normally. The -1h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between CST and PDT?
PDT is -1h from CST.
What timezone is CST in?
CST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is PDT in?
PDT operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use CST (Central Standard Time)?
CST is used in United States (Central), Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and 3 more countries.
Does CST observe daylight saving time?
Yes, CST switches to CDT during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about CST?
CST covers 20 US states fully or partially. Chicago and Houston are the two largest cities in the Central Time Zone.
Which cities are in the PDT timezone?
Major cities in the PDT timezone include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland.
What is the UTC offset for PDT?
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is at UTC-07:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to PST.
What should I know about the PDT timezone?
PDT aligns with MST at UTC-07:00. Tech company earnings calls often reference PDT/PST times.
When is it midnight in CST, what time is it in PDT?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in CST (CST), it is -1h later in PDT (PDT).
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See every conversion from CST →·See every conversion from PDT →