EST to CST converter
CST is 1 hour behind EST all year. Both zones keep the same relationship through the daylight saving changes, so the gap in 2026 never moves.
EST to CST conversion table
Every hour of the day in EST and what it is in CST. The columns use a January date and a July date, so you can see how daylight saving changes the answer.
| Time in EST | Time in CST |
|---|---|
| 12 AM | 11:00 PM previous day |
| 1 AM | 12:00 AM |
| 2 AM | 1:00 AM |
| 3 AM | 2:00 AM |
| 4 AM | 3:00 AM |
| 5 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 6 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 7 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 8 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 9 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 10 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 11 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 12 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 1 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 2 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 3 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 4 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 5 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 6 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 7 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 8 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 9 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 10 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 11 PM | 10:00 PM |
How to convert EST to CST
To convert EST to CST by hand, subtract 1 hour for most of the year, then fix the date if you cross midnight.
- 8 PM EST on 15 January is 7:00 PM CST.
- 8 PM EDT on 15 October is 7:00 PM CDT.
About the two time zones
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.
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.
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 EST in CST?
8 PM EST on 15 January is 7:00 PM CST.
Is CST ahead of or behind EST?
CST is 1 hour behind EST 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 EST and CST?
No. Eastern Time: Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November. Central Time (US & Canada): Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.
How can I see EST times in my own time zone automatically?
Install Herewise, a free Chrome extension. When a web page says a time like 8 PM EST, it adds a small label with that time in your own time zone, using the correct date for daylight saving.