timeinusa.net

EST to CST — Eastern to Central Time

Central Time is 1 hour behind Eastern Time, in January and July alike.

The conversion rule

Subtract 1 hour from Eastern Time to get Central Time. 12:00 PM EST is 11:00 AM CST. Eastern and Central switch to daylight saving together (EDT ↔ CDT), so the 1-hour gap holds all year.

Working hours line up almost completely: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM–4:00 PM CT keeps a call inside 9-to-5 on both sides, a seven-hour shared window. Only the first hour of the Eastern morning and the last hour of the Central afternoon fall outside it.

EST to CST conversion chart

Eastern (EST/EDT)Central (CST/CDT)
12:00 AM (midnight)11:00 PM (prev. day)
1:00 AM12:00 AM (midnight)
2:00 AM1:00 AM
3:00 AM2:00 AM
4:00 AM3:00 AM
5:00 AM4:00 AM
6:00 AM5:00 AM
7:00 AM6:00 AM
8:00 AM7:00 AM
9:00 AM8:00 AM
10:00 AM9:00 AM
11:00 AM10:00 AM
12:00 PM (noon)11:00 AM
1:00 PM12:00 PM (noon)
2:00 PM1:00 PM
3:00 PM2:00 PM
4:00 PM3:00 PM
5:00 PM4:00 PM
6:00 PM5:00 PM
7:00 PM6:00 PM
8:00 PM7:00 PM
9:00 PM8:00 PM
10:00 PM9:00 PM
11:00 PM10:00 PM

Reverse direction: CST to EST (add 1 hour). Related: EST to MST, EST to PST, EST to AKST.

Frequently asked questions

Is the EST–CST difference always 1 hour?

Yes. Both zones move their clocks on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November, so Central stays exactly 1 hour behind Eastern whether the pair is on EST/CST or EDT/CDT.

What is 8:00 PM EST in CST?

7:00 PM CST. That is the logic behind TV listings like 8/7c: one prime-time slot airs at 8:00 PM Eastern and 7:00 PM Central.

What time does the New York market open in Central Time?

The NYSE opens at 9:30 AM Eastern, which is 8:30 AM Central, and closes at 4:00 PM Eastern, 3:00 PM Central.