UTC to CET converter
CET is 2 hours ahead of UTC 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 (1 hour) and 25 October to 31 December (1 hour). If you schedule something in that period, check the date.
UTC to CET conversion table
Every hour of the day in UTC 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 UTC | CET in January UTC to CET | CET in July UTC to CEST |
|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 1:00 AM | 2:00 AM |
| 1 AM | 2:00 AM | 3:00 AM |
| 2 AM | 3:00 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 3 AM | 4:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 4 AM | 5:00 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 5 AM | 6:00 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 6 AM | 7:00 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 7 AM | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 8 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 9 AM | 10:00 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 10 AM | 11:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| 11 AM | 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 12 PM | 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 1 PM | 2:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 2 PM | 3:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 3 PM | 4:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 4 PM | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 5 PM | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 6 PM | 7:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 7 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 8 PM | 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 9 PM | 10:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| 10 PM | 11:00 PM | 12:00 AM next day |
| 11 PM | 12:00 AM next day | 1:00 AM next day |
How to convert UTC to CET
To convert UTC to CET by hand, add 2 hours for most of the year, then fix the date if you cross midnight.
- 8 PM UTC on 15 January is 9:00 PM CET.
- 8 PM UTC on 15 July is 10:00 PM CEST.
- On the other side of the year, 8 PM UTC on 13 February is 9:00 PM CET, because the gap is then 1 hour.
- 8 PM UTC on 15 October is 10:00 PM CEST.
UTC is the easy anchor: convert to UTC first, then to the other zone, and you never have to think about which side changed its clocks.
About the two time zones
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC/GMT). Used in: servers, aviation, space agencies and software release schedules, as the reference every other zone is measured from. No daylight saving: the offset is the same all year.
UTC never changes. GMT is the same time on the clock, but GMT is also the name of the UK's winter time.
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 UTC in CET?
8 PM UTC on 15 January is 9:00 PM CET. 8 PM UTC on 15 July is 10:00 PM CEST. On the other side of the year, 8 PM UTC on 13 February is 9:00 PM CET, because the gap is then 1 hour.
Is CET ahead of or behind UTC?
CET is 2 hours ahead of UTC 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 (1 hour) and 25 October to 31 December (1 hour). If you schedule something in that period, check the date.
Does daylight saving change the difference between UTC and CET?
Yes. Coordinated Universal 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 UTC times in my own time zone automatically?
Install Herewise, a free Chrome extension. When a web page says a time like 8 PM UTC, it adds a small label with that time in your own time zone, using the correct date for daylight saving.