EST to Mexico
-1hEST
ESTSOURCEMexico
CSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
EST and CST on the World Map
The map below highlights the EST (Eastern Standard Time) and CST (Central Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
EST – Eastern Standard Time
UTC-05:00Eastern Standard Time (EST) is the time zone for the eastern United States and Canada, 5 hours behind UTC.
- •EST is the most widely used time zone in the United States by population.
- •The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ operate on Eastern Time, opening at 9:30 AM EST.
- •23 US states are fully or partially in the Eastern Time Zone.
- •EST was established by the Standard Time Act of 1918.
- •Over 47% of the US population lives in the Eastern Time Zone.
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.
Everything You Need to Know About EST and Mexico Time
EST runs on Eastern Standard Time (EST) at UTC-05:00. Mexico runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. That puts EST 1 hour behind Mexico — a difference of -1h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in EST it is 8:00 AM in Mexico. Midnight in EST is 11:00 PM in Mexico. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
EST to Mexico time conversion table
| EST (EST) | Mexico (CST) | 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 EST to Mexico time
- Scheduling a call from EST to Mexico: a 10:00 AM start in EST lands at 9:00 AM in Mexico, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both EST and Mexico are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM EST time (9:00 AM–4:00 PM CST). That is roughly 7 hours of usable overlap.
- Booking travel or deliveries: tracking Mexico local time against EST keeps pickup windows and arrival estimates honest across the -1h offset.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM EST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -1h gap is not.
- Block 10:00 AM–5:00 PM EST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from EST and need Mexico colleagues present.
About EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is observed during the winter months in the eastern part of North America. It covers 23 US states and parts of Canada including Ontario and Quebec. EST is the most populous time zone in the United States, home to major financial centers like New York City and global organizations headquartered in Washington D.C. During daylight saving time (March–November), clocks shift to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-04:00). The time zone also covers parts of the Caribbean and Central America including Panama, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands.
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 EST and Mexico
Both EST and Mexico sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 10:00 AM–5:00 PM EST, which is 9:00 AM–4:00 PM CST. That gives roughly 7 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
EST and Mexico share 7 hours of working-hours overlap (10:00 AM–5:00 PM EST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
EST is 1 hour behind Mexico (EST UTC-05:00 → CST UTC-06:00). The shared working window is 10:00 AM–5:00 PM EST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
EST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-05:00 · DST: UTC-04:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
Mexico
Does not observe DST
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 EST and Mexico?
EST (EST, UTC-05:00) is 1 hour behind Mexico (CST, UTC-06:00). The gap is currently -1h.
How do I convert EST time to Mexico time?
Add -1h to EST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in EST is 8:00 AM in Mexico.
What time is it in Mexico right now?
Mexico 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 EST.
What is the best time to call Mexico from EST?
Call between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM EST — that maps to 9:00 AM–4:00 PM CST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, EST or Mexico?
EST is 1 hour behind Mexico. When it is 12:00 PM in EST it is 11:00 AM in Mexico.
Do EST and Mexico use different time zones?
EST uses EST at UTC-05:00, while Mexico (Mexico) uses CST at UTC-06:00. The IANA identifiers are America/New_York and America/Mexico_City.
Does daylight saving time affect the EST–Mexico difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -1h offset between EST and Mexico is fixed all year.
Which other cities share EST's time zone?
EST also covers New York City, Washington D.C., Miami, Toronto, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal and 8 more.
Which countries use EST, EST's zone?
EST is used in United States (Eastern), Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Mexico (Quintana Roo), Panama, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Haiti, Bahamas and 4 more.
Is there a day difference between EST and Mexico?
Not normally. The -1h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between EST and Mexico?
Mexico is -1h from EST.
What timezone is EST in?
EST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is Mexico in?
Mexico operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use EST (Eastern Standard Time)?
EST is used in United States (Eastern), Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Mexico (Quintana Roo), Panama, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and 6 more countries.
Does EST observe daylight saving time?
Yes, EST switches to EDT during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about EST?
EST is the most widely used time zone in the United States by population. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ operate on Eastern Time, opening at 9:30 AM EST.
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 EST, what time is it in Mexico?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in EST (EST), it is -1h later in Mexico (CST).
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