Conversion Scenario
CST to EST Converter
US Central Time to US Eastern Time is usually plus 1 hour. Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC−6 and Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC−5, so 9:00 AM CST is 10:00 AM EST. During daylight saving time the labels become CDT (UTC−5) and EDT (UTC−4), and the gap stays 1 hour for places that change clocks on the same US dates.
CST to EST quick reference
US Eastern Time is 1 hour ahead of US Central Time. CST is UTC−6 and EST is UTC−5. During daylight time, CDT is UTC−5 and EDT is UTC−4, and the 1-hour gap usually stays.
- 9:00 AM CST
- 10:00 AM EST
- 12:00 PM CST
- 1:00 PM EST
- 9:00 AM CDT
- 10:00 AM EDT
- CST on this page means US Central Standard Time (UTC−6), not China Standard Time (UTC+8).
- China Standard Time is 13 hours ahead of EST and 12 hours ahead of EDT.
Quick answer
Add 1 hour to convert US Central Time to US Eastern Time. 9:00 AM CST is 10:00 AM EST, noon CST is 1:00 PM EST, and 3:00 PM CST is 4:00 PM EST. CST is UTC−6. EST is UTC−5.
Daylight saving time
In summer, most of these regions use CDT (UTC−5) and EDT (UTC−4). 9:00 AM CDT is 10:00 AM EDT. The 1-hour gap does not move when both sides change on the same US daylight saving dates. It can move if one city does not observe daylight saving time.
Do not confuse this with China Standard Time
The same abbreviation CST is used for China Standard Time (UTC+8, no daylight saving). Beijing and Shanghai are not 1 hour from New York. China is 13 hours ahead of EST and 12 hours ahead of EDT. If the message says Beijing, Shanghai, or China, use a China-US time difference page instead of this US Central converter.
When to use this page
Use it for Chicago, Dallas, Houston, or other US Central cities talking to New York, Atlanta, Miami, or other US Eastern cities. For a date that might fall in either season, write CT and ET, or name the cities, instead of hard-coding CST and EST.
FAQ
How many hours ahead is EST of CST?
US Eastern Time is usually 1 hour ahead of US Central Time. 9:00 AM CST is 10:00 AM EST, and 9:00 AM CDT is 10:00 AM EDT.
Is CST always US Central Time?
No. CST can also mean China Standard Time, which is UTC+8 and does not change for daylight saving. This page is US Central (UTC−6 in standard time) to US Eastern. China Standard Time is 13 hours ahead of EST and 12 hours ahead of EDT.
Does the CST to EST gap change in summer?
Most of the US Central and Eastern zones switch on the same dates, so the 1-hour gap stays. A few places, such as Saskatchewan, stay on standard time. Check the city if the date is near a clock change.
Should I write CST or CT?
Write CST only for Central Standard Time. Use CT or a city such as Chicago when the date may fall in either CST or CDT.
Also available in 简体中文