CET to CST Converter

Central European Time → Central Standard Time · CET is 7 hours ahead of CST

CET
—
CST
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CET and CST are the same time

CET to CST Conversion Table

CETCST
12:00 AM12:00 AM
1:00 AM1:00 AM
2:00 AM2:00 AM
3:00 AM3:00 AM
4:00 AM4:00 AM
5:00 AM5:00 AM
6:00 AM6:00 AM
7:00 AM7:00 AM
8:00 AM8:00 AM
9:00 AM9:00 AM
10:00 AM10:00 AM
11:00 AM11:00 AM
12:00 PM12:00 PM
1:00 PM1:00 PM
2:00 PM2:00 PM
3:00 PM3:00 PM
4:00 PM4:00 PM
5:00 PM5:00 PM
6:00 PM6:00 PM
7:00 PM7:00 PM
8:00 PM8:00 PM
9:00 PM9:00 PM
10:00 PM10:00 PM
11:00 PM11:00 PM

Green rows = business hours overlap (9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CET)

Major CET Cities
  • Frankfurt
  • Berlin
  • Paris
  • Amsterdam
  • Madrid
  • Rome
  • Vienna
  • Zurich
Major CST Cities
  • Chicago, IL
  • Houston, TX
  • Dallas, TX
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Kansas City, MO
  • New Orleans, LA
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CET vs CST — Europe to Central US

CET (UTC+1) — Central European Time, used by Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and ~20 more countries. Shifts to CEST (UTC+2) in summer (last Sunday in March → last Sunday in October).

CST (UTC-6) — US Central Standard Time. Chicago, Houston, Dallas shift to CDT (UTC-5) in summer (second Sunday in March → first Sunday in November).

Best overlap: 4:00–6:00 PM CET = 9:00–11:00 AM CST. DST transitions in March and October can temporarily shift the gap to 6 or 8 hours for 1–2 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours is CET ahead of CST?

CET (Central European Time, UTC+1) is 7 hours ahead of CST (Central Standard Time, UTC-6). During summer, both Europe (CEST, UTC+2) and the US (CDT, UTC-5) observe daylight saving time, keeping the gap at 7 hours. Brief 6-hour or 8-hour gaps occur during transition weeks in March and October.

What is 9 AM CET in CST?

9:00 AM CET (Frankfurt/Berlin) is 2:00 AM CST (Chicago). For a 9:00 AM Chicago start, it is already 4:00 PM CET in Europe. The best overlap window is 9:00 AM–12:00 PM CST = 4:00–7:00 PM CET — catching US morning while Europe wraps up the workday.

What is the best time to call Chicago from Frankfurt?

The best overlap for Frankfurt (CET) and Chicago (CST) is 4:00–6:00 PM CET = 9:00–11:00 AM CST. This gives Frankfurt a late-afternoon slot while Chicago has a productive morning window. In summer (CEST/CDT), the same hours apply: 4:00–6:00 PM CEST = 9:00–11:00 AM CDT.

Which countries use CET?

CET covers most of continental Europe: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Monaco, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino, and Vatican City. In summer all shift to CEST (UTC+2).