IST to CET converter
CET is 3 hours 30 minutes behind IST 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.
IST to CET conversion table
Every hour of the day in IST and what it is in CET. The columns use a January date and a July date, so you can see how daylight saving changes the answer.
| Time in IST | CET in January IST to CET | CET in July IST to CEST |
|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 7:30 PM previous day | 8:30 PM previous day |
| 1 AM | 8:30 PM previous day | 9:30 PM previous day |
| 2 AM | 9:30 PM previous day | 10:30 PM previous day |
| 3 AM | 10:30 PM previous day | 11:30 PM previous day |
| 4 AM | 11:30 PM previous day | 12:30 AM |
| 5 AM | 12:30 AM | 1:30 AM |
| 6 AM | 1:30 AM | 2:30 AM |
| 7 AM | 2:30 AM | 3:30 AM |
| 8 AM | 3:30 AM | 4:30 AM |
| 9 AM | 4:30 AM | 5:30 AM |
| 10 AM | 5:30 AM | 6:30 AM |
| 11 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:30 AM |
| 12 PM | 7:30 AM | 8:30 AM |
| 1 PM | 8:30 AM | 9:30 AM |
| 2 PM | 9:30 AM | 10:30 AM |
| 3 PM | 10:30 AM | 11:30 AM |
| 4 PM | 11:30 AM | 12:30 PM |
| 5 PM | 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM |
| 6 PM | 1:30 PM | 2:30 PM |
| 7 PM | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
| 8 PM | 3:30 PM | 4:30 PM |
| 9 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:30 PM |
| 10 PM | 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| 11 PM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
How to convert IST to CET
To convert IST to CET by hand, subtract 3 hours 30 minutes for most of the year, then fix the date if you cross midnight.
- 8 PM IST on 15 January is 3:30 PM CET.
- 8 PM IST on 15 July is 4:30 PM CEST.
- On the other side of the year, 8 PM IST on 13 February is 3:30 PM CET, because the gap is then 4 hours 30 minutes.
- 8 PM IST on 15 October is 4:30 PM CEST.
About the two time zones
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.
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.
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 IST in CET?
8 PM IST on 15 January is 3:30 PM CET. 8 PM IST on 15 July is 4:30 PM CEST. On the other side of the year, 8 PM IST on 13 February is 3:30 PM CET, because the gap is then 4 hours 30 minutes.
Is CET ahead of or behind IST?
CET is 3 hours 30 minutes behind IST 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 IST and CET?
Yes. India Standard Time: No daylight saving: the offset is the same all year. Central European Time: Clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October.
How can I see IST times in my own time zone automatically?
Install Herewise, a free Chrome extension. When a web page says a time like 8 PM IST, it adds a small label with that time in your own time zone, using the correct date for daylight saving.