CST to EST converter
EST is 1 hour ahead of CST all year. Both zones keep the same relationship through the daylight saving changes, so the gap in 2026 never moves.
CST to EST conversion table
Every hour of the day in CST and what it is in EST. The columns use a January date and a July date, so you can see how daylight saving changes the answer.
| Time in CST | Time in EST |
|---|---|
| 12 AM | 1:00 AM |
| 1 AM | 2:00 AM |
| 2 AM | 3:00 AM |
| 3 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 4 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 5 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 6 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 7 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 8 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 9 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 10 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 11 AM | 12:00 PM |
| 12 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 1 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 2 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 3 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 4 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 5 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 6 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 7 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 8 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 9 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 10 PM | 11:00 PM |
| 11 PM | 12:00 AM next day |
How to convert CST to EST
To convert CST to EST by hand, add 1 hour for most of the year, then fix the date if you cross midnight.
- 8 PM CST on 15 January is 9:00 PM EST.
- 8 PM CDT on 15 October is 9:00 PM EDT.
About the two time zones
Central Time (US & Canada) (CST/CDT). Used in: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, New Orleans. Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.
CST can also mean China Standard Time or Cuba Standard Time. Here it means US Central Time, which is how it is used on most English-language websites.
Eastern Time (EST/EDT). Used in: New York, Toronto, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC. Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.
People write EST all year round, even in summer when the clocks actually say EDT. This tool treats EST, EDT and ET as the same thing: the current time in New York.
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 CST in EST?
8 PM CST on 15 January is 9:00 PM EST.
Is EST ahead of or behind CST?
EST is 1 hour ahead of CST all year. Both zones keep the same relationship through the daylight saving changes, so the gap in 2026 never moves.
Does daylight saving change the difference between CST and EST?
No. Central Time (US & Canada): Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November. Eastern Time: Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.
How can I see CST times in my own time zone automatically?
Install Herewise, a free Chrome extension. When a web page says a time like 8 PM CST, it adds a small label with that time in your own time zone, using the correct date for daylight saving.