UTC to CST/CDT Converter
Convert UTC to Central Time (CST/CDT) instantly. CST is UTC-6, CDT is UTC-5. Automatic DST handling. Free timezone converter for developers.
Built by Michael Lip
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UTC to CST offset?
CST (Central Standard Time) is UTC-6. During Daylight Saving Time, Central Time switches to CDT (UTC-5). To convert UTC to CST, subtract 6 hours. To convert UTC to CDT, subtract 5 hours.
When does CST switch to CDT?
Central Time springs forward to CDT on the second Sunday of March at 2:00 AM and falls back to CST on the first Sunday of November at 2:00 AM. This follows the same schedule as Eastern and Pacific time.
Which US cities use Central Time?
Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Memphis, Nashville, Milwaukee, and New Orleans all use Central Time. Mexico City also uses CST (UTC-6) year-round as of 2022 when Mexico abolished DST.
Is CST the same as China Standard Time?
No. The abbreviation CST is ambiguous. US Central Standard Time is UTC-6. China Standard Time is UTC+8. Cuba Standard Time is UTC-5. Always use IANA identifiers like America/Chicago or Asia/Shanghai to avoid confusion.
Is this tool free?
Yes. All EpochPilot tools are free, run in your browser, and require no signup or account.
How It Works
This converter uses the Intl.DateTimeFormat API with the IANA timezone America/Chicago. The browser automatically determines whether CST or CDT applies for any given date, so conversions are always accurate across DST boundaries.
Central Time is the second most populated US timezone after Eastern. It is used by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), which means futures and commodities trading schedules are referenced in CT. Many SaaS companies headquartered in Texas and the Midwest publish API rate-limit windows in Central Time.
Common UTC to Central Time Conversions
UTC 00:00 = CT 18:00 (prev day CST) / 19:00 (prev day CDT) | UTC 12:00 = CT 06:00 CST / 07:00 CDT | UTC 18:00 = CT 12:00 CST / 13:00 CDT.
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Privacy
Everything runs locally in your browser. No timestamps, dates, or personal data are transmitted to any server. The source code is open on GitHub.
Contact
EpochPilot is built and maintained by Michael Lip. For questions or feedback, email [email protected].