MST to CST
+1hMST
MSTSOURCECST
CSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
MST and CST on the World Map
The map below highlights the MST (Mountain Standard Time) and CST (Central Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
MST – Mountain Standard Time
UTC-07:00Mountain Standard Time (MST) is the time zone for the Mountain region of North America, 7 hours behind UTC.
- •Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, staying on MST year-round.
- •The Navajo Nation in Arizona does observe DST, unlike the rest of the state.
- •Denver, the 'Mile High City', is the largest city fully in MST.
- •MST covers 6 US states entirely and parts of several others.
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.
MST vs CST: Offsets, DST and Best Call Times
MST runs on Mountain Standard Time (MST) at UTC-07:00. CST runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. That puts MST 1 hour ahead of CST — a difference of +1h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in MST it is 10:00 AM in CST. Midnight in MST is 1:00 AM in CST. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
MST to CST time conversion table
| MST (MST) | CST (CST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 1:00 AM | same day |
| 6:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 4:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert MST to CST time
- Scheduling a call from MST to CST: a 10:00 AM start in MST lands at 11:00 AM in CST, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both MST and CST are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM MST time (10:00 AM–5:00 PM CST). That is roughly 7 hours of usable overlap.
- Booking travel or deliveries: tracking CST local time against MST keeps pickup windows and arrival estimates honest across the +1h offset.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM MST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a +1h gap is not.
- Block 9:00 AM–4:00 PM MST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from MST and need CST colleagues present.
About MST (Mountain Standard Time)
Mountain Standard Time (MST) covers the Rocky Mountain region of the United States and Canada. Arizona is notable for not observing daylight saving time, staying on MST year-round (except the Navajo Nation). The time zone includes major cities like Denver, Phoenix, Calgary, and Salt Lake City. During summer, most areas switch to Mountain Daylight Time (MDT, UTC-06:00).
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.
Best time to call between MST and CST
Both MST and CST sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 9:00 AM–4:00 PM MST, which is 10:00 AM–5:00 PM CST. That gives roughly 7 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
MST and CST share 7 hours of working-hours overlap (9:00 AM–4:00 PM MST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
MST is 1 hour ahead of CST (MST UTC-07:00 → CST UTC-06:00). The shared working window is 9:00 AM–4:00 PM MST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
MST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-07:00 · DST: UTC-06:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
CST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-06:00 · DST: UTC-05:00
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 MST and CST?
MST (MST, UTC-07:00) is 1 hour ahead of CST (CST, UTC-06:00). The gap is currently +1h.
How do I convert MST time to CST time?
Add +1h to MST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in MST is 10:00 AM in CST.
What time is it in CST right now?
CST uses CST at UTC-06:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the +1h offset from MST.
What is the best time to call CST from MST?
Call between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM MST — that maps to 10:00 AM–5:00 PM CST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is ahead, MST or CST?
MST is 1 hour ahead of CST. When it is 12:00 PM in MST it is 1:00 PM in CST.
Does daylight saving time affect the MST–CST difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the +1h offset between MST and CST is fixed all year.
Which other cities share MST's time zone?
MST also covers Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Calgary, Edmonton, Albuquerque, El Paso, Tucson and 2 more.
Which countries use MST, MST's zone?
MST is used in United States (Mountain), Canada (Alberta), Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora).
Is there a day difference between MST and CST?
Not normally. The +1h gap only pushes the date over for late-evening times.
What is the time difference between MST and CST?
CST is +1h from MST.
What timezone is MST in?
MST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is CST in?
CST operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use MST (Mountain Standard Time)?
MST is used in United States (Mountain), Canada (Alberta), Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora).
Does MST observe daylight saving time?
Yes, MST switches to MDT during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about MST?
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, staying on MST year-round. The Navajo Nation in Arizona does observe DST, unlike the rest of the state.
Which cities are in the CST timezone?
Major cities in the CST timezone include Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Mexico City, Austin, Winnipeg, Memphis.
What is the UTC offset for CST?
Central Standard Time (CST) is at UTC-06:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to CDT.
What should I know about the CST timezone?
CST covers 20 US states fully or partially. Chicago and Houston are the two largest cities in the Central Time Zone.
When is it midnight in MST, what time is it in CST?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in MST (MST), it is +1h later in CST (CST).
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