EDT to CST
-2hEDT
EDTSOURCECST
CSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
EDT and CST on the World Map
The map below highlights the EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) and CST (Central Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
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 – 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 EDT and CST Time
EDT runs on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) at UTC-04:00. CST runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. That puts EDT 2 hours behind CST — a difference of -2h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in EDT it is 7:00 AM in CST. Midnight in EDT is 10:00 PM in CST. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
EDT to CST time conversion table
| EDT (EDT) | CST (CST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 10:00 PM | previous day |
| 6:00 AM | 4:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 5:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 6:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 10:00 AM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 1:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 3:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 4:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 7:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert EDT to CST time
- Scheduling a call from EDT to CST: a 10:00 AM start in EDT lands at 8:00 AM in CST, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both EDT and CST are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM EDT time (9:00 AM–3:00 PM CST). That is roughly 6 hours of usable overlap.
- Watching a live event or market open: EDT viewers need 7:00 AM in CST to catch a 9:00 AM start there, and 2:00 AM if the event is anchored to EDT.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM EDT" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -2h gap is not.
- Block 11:00 AM–5:00 PM EDT as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from EDT and need CST colleagues present.
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.
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 EDT and CST
Both EDT and CST sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 11:00 AM–5:00 PM EDT, which is 9:00 AM–3:00 PM CST. That gives roughly 6 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
EDT and CST share 6 hours of working-hours overlap (11:00 AM–5:00 PM EDT), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
EDT is 2 hours behind CST (EDT UTC-04:00 → CST UTC-06:00). The shared working window is 11:00 AM–5:00 PM EDT. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
EDT
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-05:00 · DST: UTC-04:00
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 EDT and CST?
EDT (EDT, UTC-04:00) is 2 hours behind CST (CST, UTC-06:00). The gap is currently -2h.
How do I convert EDT time to CST time?
Add -2h to EDT local time. For example, 9:00 AM in EDT is 7:00 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 -2h offset from EDT.
What is the best time to call CST from EDT?
Call between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM EDT — that maps to 9:00 AM–3:00 PM CST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, EDT or CST?
EDT is 2 hours behind CST. When it is 12:00 PM in EDT it is 10:00 AM in CST.
Does daylight saving time affect the EDT–CST difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -2h offset between EDT and CST is fixed all year.
Which other cities share EDT's time zone?
EDT also covers New York City, Washington D.C., Toronto, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal.
Which countries use EDT, EDT's zone?
EDT is used in United States (Eastern), Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Bahamas, Haiti, Turks and Caicos.
Is there a day difference between EDT and CST?
Not normally. The -2h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between EDT and CST?
CST is -2h from EDT.
What timezone is EDT in?
EDT operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is CST in?
CST operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)?
EDT is used in United States (Eastern), Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Bahamas, Haiti, Turks and Caicos.
Does EDT observe daylight saving time?
Yes, EDT switches to EST during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about EDT?
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).
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 EDT, what time is it in CST?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in EDT (EDT), it is -2h later in CST (CST).
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