Central Time now
CT UTC−6 · IANA zone America/Chicago
What is Central Time?
Central Time (CT) is the second most populous US time zone, covering the Midwest, the Great Plains, and the Gulf Coast — from Chicago down to Houston and New Orleans. It runs on Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) from November to March and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) the rest of the year.
Central Time sits one hour behind the East Coast, which is why US networks advertise prime-time shows as "8/7c" — 8:00 PM Eastern, 7:00 PM Central. Chicago, the zone's largest city, is also home to the futures and options exchanges whose trading hours are quoted in CT.
| Zone | Difference | Time there now |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 1 h ahead | +1 h |
| Mountain | 1 h behind | −1 h |
| Pacific | 2 h behind | −2 h |
| Alaska | 3 h behind | −3 h |
| Hawaii | 4–5 h behind | −4 / −5 h |
States on Central Time
Fully in CT: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.
Split states with a Central portion: Florida (the western Panhandle, including Pensacola), Indiana (12 counties near Chicago and Evansville), Kansas (all but four western counties), Kentucky (west), Michigan (four western Upper Peninsula counties), Nebraska (east, including Omaha and Lincoln), North Dakota (all but the southwest), South Dakota (east, including Sioux Falls), Tennessee (middle and west, including Nashville and Memphis), and Texas (all but the El Paso area).
Major CT cities
Frequently asked questions
Is it CST or CDT right now?
The live status is shown under the clock above. CST (UTC−6) applies from the first Sunday of November to the second Sunday of March; CDT (UTC−5) the rest of the year. "CT" covers both.
What is the difference between Central and Eastern Time?
Central is 1 hour behind Eastern all year — both zones change to daylight saving time on the same dates. Noon Central is 1:00 PM Eastern. See the CST to EST chart.
What does the "7c" in "8/7c" mean?
7:00 PM Central. US networks list one broadcast time for the two most populous zones: 8:00 PM Eastern, 7:00 PM Central.