CET to IST converter
IST is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of CET for most of the year. The gap is different for part of the year, because only one side changes its clocks: in 2026 that is 1 January to 28 March (4 hours 30 minutes) and 25 October to 31 December (4 hours 30 minutes). If you schedule something in that period, check the date.
CET to IST conversion table
Every hour of the day in CET and what it is in IST. The columns use a January date and a July date, so you can see how daylight saving changes the answer.
| Time in CET | IST in January CET to IST | IST in July CEST to IST |
|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 4:30 AM | 3:30 AM |
| 1 AM | 5:30 AM | 4:30 AM |
| 2 AM | 6:30 AM | 5:30 AM |
| 3 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:30 AM |
| 4 AM | 8:30 AM | 7:30 AM |
| 5 AM | 9:30 AM | 8:30 AM |
| 6 AM | 10:30 AM | 9:30 AM |
| 7 AM | 11:30 AM | 10:30 AM |
| 8 AM | 12:30 PM | 11:30 AM |
| 9 AM | 1:30 PM | 12:30 PM |
| 10 AM | 2:30 PM | 1:30 PM |
| 11 AM | 3:30 PM | 2:30 PM |
| 12 PM | 4:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 1 PM | 5:30 PM | 4:30 PM |
| 2 PM | 6:30 PM | 5:30 PM |
| 3 PM | 7:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| 4 PM | 8:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| 5 PM | 9:30 PM | 8:30 PM |
| 6 PM | 10:30 PM | 9:30 PM |
| 7 PM | 11:30 PM | 10:30 PM |
| 8 PM | 12:30 AM next day | 11:30 PM |
| 9 PM | 1:30 AM next day | 12:30 AM next day |
| 10 PM | 2:30 AM next day | 1:30 AM next day |
| 11 PM | 3:30 AM next day | 2:30 AM next day |
How to convert CET to IST
To convert CET to IST by hand, add 3 hours 30 minutes for most of the year, then fix the date if you cross midnight.
- 8 PM CET on 15 January is 12:30 AM IST the next day.
- 8 PM CEST on 15 July is 11:30 PM IST.
- On the other side of the year, 8 PM CET on 13 February is 12:30 AM IST the next day, because the gap is then 4 hours 30 minutes.
- 8 PM CEST on 15 October is 11:30 PM IST.
About the two time zones
Central European Time (CET/CEST). Used in: Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Stockholm, Oslo, Warsaw. Clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October.
CET is the winter name and CEST (Central European Summer Time) is the summer name. People often write CET all year; the clock in Europe is on CEST from March to October.
India Standard Time (IST). Used in: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai. No daylight saving: the offset is the same all year.
India is UTC+5:30, so conversions often end in :30. IST can also mean Irish Standard Time or Israel Standard Time; here it means India.
Skip the converter: let Herewise do it on every page
Herewise is a free Chrome extension. When a page says "8 PM EST", "75°F" or "$49", it adds a small label with the time, temperature or price in your own time zone, units and currency. Free, no account, nothing you read leaves your browser.
Questions
What is 8 PM CET in IST?
8 PM CET on 15 January is 12:30 AM IST the next day. 8 PM CEST on 15 July is 11:30 PM IST. On the other side of the year, 8 PM CET on 13 February is 12:30 AM IST the next day, because the gap is then 4 hours 30 minutes.
Is IST ahead of or behind CET?
IST is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of CET for most of the year. The gap is different for part of the year, because only one side changes its clocks: in 2026 that is 1 January to 28 March (4 hours 30 minutes) and 25 October to 31 December (4 hours 30 minutes). If you schedule something in that period, check the date.
Does daylight saving change the difference between CET and IST?
Yes. Central European Time: Clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October. India Standard Time: No daylight saving: the offset is the same all year.
How can I see CET times in my own time zone automatically?
Install Herewise, a free Chrome extension. When a web page says a time like 8 PM CET, it adds a small label with that time in your own time zone, using the correct date for daylight saving.