UTC: Coordinated Universal Time
Coordinated Universal Time is UTC+0.
The world's reference time. Every other zone is defined as an offset from UTC, and it never changes for daylight saving time. Servers, aviation and international deadlines use it.
UTC to CST converter
UTC never changes for daylight saving time, but Central Time does, so the gap moves by an hour twice a year. The table below always shows the right one for your date.
Convert Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to Central Standard Time (CST) for any date and time.
Central Time is 5 hours behind UTC from March to November, and 6 hours behind the rest of the year.
Right now UTC is UTC+0 and Central Time is on CST (UTC−6). Central Time switches to daylight saving time on 14 March 2027.
9:00 am to 5:00 pm UTC is 3:00 am to 11:00 am CST.
- 8:00 am UTC2:00 am CST
- 9:00 am UTC3:00 am CST
- 10:00 am UTC4:00 am CST
- 12:00 pm UTC6:00 am CST
- 3:00 pm UTC9:00 am CST
- 5:00 pm UTC11:00 am CST
Live: the current time
Coordinated Universal TimeReference
The world's reference time, UTC+0 all year
Wed, Nov 4
UTC UTC+0ReferenceOutside working hoursCentral Time
US, Canada & Mexico
Tue, Nov 3Previous day
CST UTC−6−6h from Coordinated Universal TimeOutside working hours
Best time to meet 3:00 PM–5:00 PM in Coordinated Universal Time on Wed, Nov 4, when everyone is inside working hours.
Book a meeting in this windowWorking hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday to FridayEveryone at work
UTC to CST conversion table
Every hour of the day in UTC, converted to CST. Hatched cells are working hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm); rows with the accent bar are working hours in both zones.
| UTC | CSTUntil 14 March 2027 | CDTFrom 14 March 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am UTC | 6:00 pm CST(day before) | 7:00 pm CDT(day before) |
| 1:00 am UTC | 7:00 pm CST(day before) | 8:00 pm CDT(day before) |
| 2:00 am UTC | 8:00 pm CST(day before) | 9:00 pm CDT(day before) |
| 3:00 am UTC | 9:00 pm CST(day before) | 10:00 pm CDT(day before) |
| 4:00 am UTC | 10:00 pm CST(day before) | 11:00 pm CDT(day before) |
| 5:00 am UTC | 11:00 pm CST(day before) | 12:00 am CDT |
| 6:00 am UTC | 12:00 am CST | 1:00 am CDT |
| 7:00 am UTC | 1:00 am CST | 2:00 am CDT |
| 8:00 am UTC | 2:00 am CST | 3:00 am CDT |
| 9:00 am UTC | 3:00 am CST | 4:00 am CDT |
| 10:00 am UTC | 4:00 am CST | 5:00 am CDT |
| 11:00 am UTC | 5:00 am CST | 6:00 am CDT |
| 12:00 pm UTC | 6:00 am CST | 7:00 am CDT |
| 1:00 pm UTC | 7:00 am CST | 8:00 am CDT |
| 2:00 pm UTC | 8:00 am CST | 9:00 am CDT |
| 3:00 pm UTC | 9:00 am CST | 10:00 am CDT |
| 4:00 pm UTC | 10:00 am CST | 11:00 am CDT |
| 5:00 pm UTC | 11:00 am CST | 12:00 pm CDT |
| 6:00 pm UTC | 12:00 pm CST | 1:00 pm CDT |
| 7:00 pm UTC | 1:00 pm CST | 2:00 pm CDT |
| 8:00 pm UTC | 2:00 pm CST | 3:00 pm CDT |
| 9:00 pm UTC | 3:00 pm CST | 4:00 pm CDT |
| 10:00 pm UTC | 4:00 pm CST | 5:00 pm CDT |
| 11:00 pm UTC | 5:00 pm CST | 6:00 pm CDT |
Best times to meet
Your working hours overlap for 2 hours, from 3:00 pm UTC (9:00 am CST) to 5:00 pm UTC (11:00 am CST). That's the best window for a meeting.
About these time zones
CST: Central Standard Time
Central Standard Time is UTC−6. CST is also used for China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC−5). This page converts North American Central Time.
Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana and most of the Midwest and South, plus Manitoba in Canada. Saskatchewan and most of Mexico stay on CST all year. CT is the short form for the whole zone.
How the difference changes
Right now CST is 6 hours behind UTC. From 14 March 2027, when US clocks go forward, the difference becomes 5 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Ask a questionCentral Time is 5 hours behind UTC from March to November, and 6 hours behind the rest of the year. UTC is the reference time, and CST is UTC−6.
9:00 am UTC is 3:00 am CST.
Yes, because Central Time changes its clocks and UTC doesn't. Central Time is 5 hours behind UTC from March to November, and 6 hours behind the rest of the year.
Related conversions
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Time zone abbreviations
EST, PST, CET, IST and the rest: full names, current time, offsets, where they are used.