EST to CST Converter

Eastern Standard Time → Central Standard Time · EST is 1 hour ahead of CST

EST
—
CST
—

EST and CST are the same time

EST to CST Conversion Table

ESTCST
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 EST)

Major EST Cities
  • New York, NY
  • Miami, FL
  • Boston, MA
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Washington D.C.
  • Philadelphia, PA
Major CST Cities
  • Chicago, IL
  • Houston, TX
  • Dallas, TX
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Kansas City, MO
  • New Orleans, LA
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EST vs CST — What You Need to Know

Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC-5, covering the US East Coast: New York, Florida, Georgia, and the Atlantic seaboard. During summer it becomes EDT (UTC-4).

Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6, covering Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, and Louisiana. During summer it becomes CDT (UTC-5).

The difference is always 1 hour. A 9 AM CST start in Chicago is 10 AM EST in New York — close enough for full-day collaboration across the two most populous US time zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours is EST ahead of CST?

EST (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5) is 1 hour ahead of CST (Central Standard Time, UTC-6). This difference stays at exactly 1 hour year-round because both zones observe Daylight Saving Time on the same dates, shifting to EDT and CDT simultaneously.

When it is 9:00 AM EST, what time is it CST?

When it is 9:00 AM EST, it is 8:00 AM CST. EST is always 1 hour ahead of CST.

What is the time difference between New York and Chicago?

New York (Eastern Time) is 1 hour ahead of Chicago (Central Time) year-round. Both cities observe Daylight Saving Time on the same schedule (EDT and CDT), so the 1-hour gap never changes.

Does the EST to CST difference change during Daylight Saving Time?

No. The difference is always 1 hour. Both EST and CST observe DST on the same dates (second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November), shifting to EDT (UTC-4) and CDT (UTC-5) simultaneously.

What time is 5 PM EST in CST?

5:00 PM EST is 4:00 PM CST. EST is always 1 hour ahead of CST, so subtract 1 hour to convert from Eastern to Central Time.