PST to CST
+2hPST
PSTSOURCECST
CSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
PST and CST on the World Map
The map below highlights the PST (Pacific Standard Time) and CST (Central Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
PST – Pacific Standard Time
UTC-08:00Pacific Standard Time (PST) is the time zone for the US and Canadian Pacific coast, 8 hours behind UTC.
- •Silicon Valley and the world's biggest tech companies operate on Pacific Time.
- •The Hollywood film industry runs on PST/PDT.
- •PST is 3 hours behind EST, creating a significant business hours gap.
- •Vancouver, Canada's third-largest city, uses PST.
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.
PST to CST Time Difference – Complete Guide
PST runs on Pacific Standard Time (PST) at UTC-08:00. CST runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. That puts PST 2 hours ahead of CST — a difference of +2h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in PST it is 11:00 AM in CST. Midnight in PST is 2:00 AM in CST. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
PST to CST time conversion table
| PST (PST) | CST (CST) | 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 PST to CST time
- Scheduling a call from PST to CST: a 10:00 AM start in PST lands at 12:00 PM in CST, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both PST and CST are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM PST time (11:00 AM–5:00 PM CST). That is roughly 6 hours of usable overlap.
- Keeping family and friends in sync: knowing that 8:00 PM in PST is 10:00 PM in CST makes it easy to avoid calling at 3 AM.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM PST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a +2h gap is not.
- Block 9:00 AM–3:00 PM PST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from PST and need CST colleagues present.
About PST (Pacific Standard Time)
Pacific Standard Time (PST) covers the west coast of North America, including tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle, and entertainment capital Los Angeles. The Pacific Time Zone is home to Silicon Valley and the world's largest technology companies. During summer, clocks advance to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-07:00). PST is also observed in Baja California, Mexico.
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 PST and CST
Both PST and CST sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 9:00 AM–3:00 PM PST, which is 11:00 AM–5:00 PM CST. That gives roughly 6 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
PST and CST share 6 hours of working-hours overlap (9:00 AM–3:00 PM PST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
PST is 2 hours ahead of CST (PST UTC-08:00 → CST UTC-06:00). The shared working window is 9:00 AM–3:00 PM PST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
PST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-08:00 · DST: UTC-07:00
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 PST and CST?
PST (PST, UTC-08:00) is 2 hours ahead of CST (CST, UTC-06:00). The gap is currently +2h.
How do I convert PST time to CST time?
Add +2h to PST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in PST is 11:00 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 PST.
What is the best time to call CST from PST?
Call between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM PST — that maps to 11:00 AM–5:00 PM CST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is ahead, PST or CST?
PST is 2 hours ahead of CST. When it is 12:00 PM in PST it is 2:00 PM in CST.
Does daylight saving time affect the PST–CST difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the +2h offset between PST and CST is fixed all year.
Which other cities share PST's time zone?
PST also covers Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego, Portland, Las Vegas, Sacramento and 2 more.
Which countries use PST, PST's zone?
PST is used in United States (Pacific), Canada (British Columbia), Mexico (Baja California).
Is there a day difference between PST and CST?
Not normally. The +2h gap only pushes the date over for late-evening times.
What is the time difference between PST and CST?
CST is +2h from PST.
What timezone is PST in?
PST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is CST in?
CST operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use PST (Pacific Standard Time)?
PST is used in United States (Pacific), Canada (British Columbia), Mexico (Baja California).
Does PST observe daylight saving time?
Yes, PST switches to PDT during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about PST?
Silicon Valley and the world's biggest tech companies operate on Pacific Time. The Hollywood film industry runs on PST/PDT.
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 PST, what time is it in CST?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in PST (PST), it is +2h later in CST (CST).
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See every conversion from PST →·See every conversion from CST →