CST to EDT
+2hCST
CSTSOURCEEDT
EDTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
CST and EDT on the World Map
The map below highlights the CST (Central Standard Time) and EDT (Eastern 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.
EDT – Eastern Daylight Time
UTC-04:00Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is the daylight saving time observed in the Eastern Time Zone, 4 hours behind UTC.
- •EDT is observed from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November.
- •During EDT, the US East Coast is only 4 hours behind London (instead of 5).
- •Not all EST locations switch to EDT – Panama and Jamaica stay on EST year-round.
CST to EDT Time Difference – Complete Guide
CST runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. EDT runs on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) at UTC-04:00. That puts CST 2 hours ahead of EDT — a difference of +2h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in CST it is 11:00 AM in EDT. Midnight in CST is 2:00 AM in EDT. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
CST to EDT time conversion table
| CST (CST) | EDT (EDT) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 2:00 AM | same day |
| 6:00 AM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 9:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 10:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 8:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 11:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert CST to EDT time
- Scheduling a call from CST to EDT: a 10:00 AM start in CST lands at 12:00 PM in EDT, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both CST and EDT are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM CST time (11:00 AM–5:00 PM EDT). That is roughly 6 hours of usable overlap.
- Booking travel or deliveries: tracking EDT local time against CST keeps pickup windows and arrival estimates honest across the +2h offset.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM CST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a +2h gap is not.
- Block 9:00 AM–3:00 PM CST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from CST and need EDT 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 EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is used during the summer months (second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November) in the Eastern Time Zone. During EDT, clocks are advanced by one hour to take advantage of longer daylight hours. Not all locations in the Eastern Time Zone observe DST – Panama, Jamaica, and most of the Caribbean remain on EST year-round.
Best time to call between CST and EDT
Both CST and EDT sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 9:00 AM–3:00 PM CST, which is 11:00 AM–5:00 PM EDT. That gives roughly 6 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
CST and EDT share 6 hours of working-hours overlap (9:00 AM–3:00 PM CST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
CST is 2 hours ahead of EDT (CST UTC-06:00 → EDT UTC-04:00). The shared working window is 9:00 AM–3:00 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
EDT
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-05:00 · DST: UTC-04:00
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 EDT?
CST (CST, UTC-06:00) is 2 hours ahead of EDT (EDT, UTC-04:00). The gap is currently +2h.
How do I convert CST time to EDT time?
Add +2h to CST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in CST is 11:00 AM in EDT.
What time is it in EDT right now?
EDT uses EDT at UTC-04:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the +2h offset from CST.
What is the best time to call EDT from CST?
Call between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM CST — that maps to 11:00 AM–5:00 PM EDT and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is ahead, CST or EDT?
CST is 2 hours ahead of EDT. When it is 12:00 PM in CST it is 2:00 PM in EDT.
Does daylight saving time affect the CST–EDT difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the +2h offset between CST and EDT 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 EDT?
Not normally. The +2h gap only pushes the date over for late-evening times.
What is the time difference between CST and EDT?
EDT is +2h from CST.
What timezone is CST in?
CST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is EDT in?
EDT 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 EDT timezone?
Major cities in the EDT timezone include New York City, Washington D.C., Toronto, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal.
What is the UTC offset for EDT?
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is at UTC-04:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to EST.
What should I know about the EDT timezone?
EDT is observed from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. During EDT, the US East Coast is only 4 hours behind London (instead of 5).
When is it midnight in CST, what time is it in EDT?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in CST (CST), it is +2h later in EDT (EDT).
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See every conversion from CST →·See every conversion from EDT →