Current Time in Wisconsin

Central Time (CST/CDT) · Milwaukee · UTC−6 / UTC−5

Current Time in Wisconsin
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CT · UTC-6 / UTC-5Observes DSTPop. ~5.9 Million

Wisconsin Time Facts

Time Zone
Central Time (CT)
UTC Offset
UTC-6 (standard) / UTC-5 (DST)
Daylight Saving
Yes — clocks spring forward in March
IANA Identifier
America/Chicago
Single Time Zone
Entire state on Central Time
Population
~5.9 million (2024 est.)

America's Dairyland & Brewing Capital

Wisconsin produces over 3 billion pounds of cheese annually — more than any other US state and enough to rival entire countries. The state's “cheeseheads” proudly wear foam cheese wedge hats, especially at Green Bay Packers games. Wisconsin is also the #1 cranberry producer in the nation.

The Green Bay Packers are the only publicly-owned, community-owned franchise in the NFL, with over 360,000 shareholders. Milwaukee's brewing heritage earned it the nickname “Brew City” — once home to Pabst, Schlitz, Miller, and Blatz. Harley-Davidson, founded in Milwaukee in 1903, remains headquartered there today.

Madison, the state capital, is built on an isthmus between two lakes and consistently ranks among America's best cities for quality of life. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a top research institution, and the city's Dane County Farmers' Market is the largest producer-only farmers' market in the US.

Major Wisconsin Cities — All on Central Time

Milwaukee
Pop. 577K
Largest city, Brew City, Bucks
Madison
Pop. 269K
State capital, UW-Madison
Green Bay
Pop. 107K
Packers, Titletown District
Kenosha
Pop. 100K
Lake Michigan, Chicago commuters
Racine
Pop. 77K
SC Johnson HQ, lakefront
Eau Claire
Pop. 70K
Chippewa Valley, music scene

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in Wisconsin right now?
Wisconsin uses Central Time. Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, and all Wisconsin cities are on CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) during Daylight Saving Time. The live clock above shows the current time in Wisconsin.
What time zone is Milwaukee in?
Milwaukee is in the Central Time zone (America/Chicago). Milwaukee uses CST (UTC−6) during standard time (November to March) and CDT (UTC−5) during Daylight Saving Time (March to November). Milwaukee is on the same time as Chicago, Dallas, and Kansas City, and is 1 hour behind New York.
Does Wisconsin observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes. Wisconsin observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks spring forward 1 hour on the second Sunday in March (from CST UTC−6 to CDT UTC−5) and fall back 1 hour on the first Sunday in November.
What is the time difference between Wisconsin and New York?
Wisconsin (Central Time) is always 1 hour behind New York (Eastern Time). When it is noon in New York, it is 11:00 AM in Milwaukee. Both states observe DST on the same schedule, so the 1-hour difference is constant year-round.
What is the time difference between Wisconsin and the UK?
Milwaukee (CST, UTC−6) is 6 hours behind London (GMT, UTC+0) in winter. During US Daylight Saving Time, Milwaukee moves to CDT (UTC−5), making it 5 hours behind London (GMT). When both the US and UK are on summer time, Milwaukee (CDT) is 6 hours behind London (BST, UTC+1).
What is the time difference between Wisconsin and California?
Wisconsin (Central Time) is always 2 hours ahead of California (Pacific Time). When it is 10:00 AM in Los Angeles, it is noon in Milwaukee. Both states observe DST on the same schedule, so the 2-hour difference is constant year-round.

Wisconsin City Times & Converters

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Time zone data powered by the IANA Time Zone Database. Wisconsin: America/Chicago (CST/CDT, Central Time).