Current Time in Texas

Central Time (CT) · CST (UTC−6) in winter · CDT (UTC−5) during Daylight Saving Time · El Paso uses Mountain Time

Live Texas Time (CST/CDT · UTC−6)
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Houston · Dallas · Austin · San Antonio · Central Time

Texas Time vs World Cities

CityZoneCurrent Time
Texas (CST/CDT)UTC−6--:--
New YorkEST/EDT--:--
Los AngelesPST/PDT--:--
LondonGMT/BST--:--
Berlin / ParisCET/CEST--:--
DubaiGST--:--
Mumbai (IST)IST--:--
TokyoJST--:--

Best Time to Call Texas

Texas business hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CST/CDT. Most of Texas uses Central Time — El Paso and Hudspeth County use Mountain Time (MST/MDT).

Calling FromYour TimeTexas Time
EST (New York)10:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CST
PST (Los Angeles)7:00 AM – 4:00 PM PST9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CST
GMT (London)3:00 PM – Midnight GMT9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CST
CET (Berlin/Paris)4:00 PM – 1:00 AM CET9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CST
IST (India)8:30 PM – 5:30 AM IST9:00 AM – 6:00 PM CST

Texas Time Zones Explained

Texas is the second-largest US state by area, but it uses primarily Central Time (CST/CDT). The exception is El Paso and Hudspeth County in the far west, which use Mountain Time — the same as New Mexico — because El Paso sits geographically closer to Albuquerque than to Dallas.

Texas follows the federal Daylight Saving Time schedule: clocks spring forward on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November. State legislators have introduced bills to end this practice, citing disruptions to agriculture and public health, but federal law requires Congressional approval for any permanent change.

ZoneStandardDSTCities
CentralCST (UTC−6)CDT (UTC−5)Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth
MountainMST (UTC−7)MDT (UTC−6)El Paso, Hudspeth County only

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in Texas right now?
Most of Texas uses Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) during Daylight Saving Time. This includes Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth. El Paso and Hudspeth County use Mountain Time (MST/MDT, UTC−7/−6). The live clock at the top shows the current Central Time in Texas.
What time zone is Texas in?
The vast majority of Texas uses the Central Time Zone (CT): CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) during Daylight Saving Time. The IANA identifier is America/Chicago. Exception: El Paso and Hudspeth County in far west Texas use Mountain Time (America/Denver), aligning with New Mexico rather than the rest of Texas.
Does Texas observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. Texas observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks spring forward 1 hour on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November. The Texas legislature has considered proposals to stop observing DST, but as of 2026, Texas continues to change clocks twice a year.
What is the time difference between Texas and New York?
New York (Eastern Time) is always 1 hour ahead of Texas (Central Time). When it is 9:00 AM in Houston, it is 10:00 AM in New York. This 1-hour gap is constant year-round because both states switch to Daylight Saving Time simultaneously.
What is the time difference between Texas and California?
Texas (Central Time) is always 2 hours ahead of California (Pacific Time). When it is 9:00 AM in Los Angeles, it is 11:00 AM in Houston or Dallas. This gap is constant year-round.
What time zone is El Paso, Texas in?
El Paso and the surrounding Hudspeth County use Mountain Time (MST/MDT, UTC−7/−6), not Central Time like the rest of Texas. This is because El Paso is geographically in the western tip of Texas, closer to Albuquerque and Phoenix than to Dallas. The IANA identifier for El Paso is America/Denver.
What is the time difference between Texas and the UK?
Texas (CST, UTC−6) is 6 hours behind London (GMT, UTC+0) in UK winter. During British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1), London is 7 hours ahead of Texas. During US Daylight Saving Time (CDT, UTC−5), Texas is 5 hours behind GMT.
Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. Texas (most): America/Chicago (CST UTC−6 / CDT UTC−5). El Paso: America/Denver.