BRT to CST Time Converter

Convert Brasília Time (BRT) to Central Standard Time (CST). Both time zones are shown live below; current offset between them is 2 hours behind.

São Paulo · Brasília Time
14:53:10
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
GMT-3 · UTC-03:00
Chicago · Central Standard Time
12:53:10
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

From: BRT (São Paulo)
To: CST (Chicago)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

BRT (Brasília Time)
Observes DST
No
CST (Central Standard Time)
Observes DST
Yes
In DST right now
Yes
Next fall back
2026-11-01
Offset shift
UTC-05:00 → UTC-06:00

Heads up: CST observes DST while BRT does not. The 2-hour difference shown above will shift by one hour when CST starts or ends DST.

When can BRT and CST meet?

00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
BRT
CST
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in São Paulo (BRT). Each row shows the local working-hours state in that zone for the same moment in time.
6 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours.
Best meeting window: 11:00–16:00 BRT (09:00–14:00 CST).

Hour-by-hour BRT to CST conversion table

BRT time (São Paulo)CST time (Chicago)Status
00:00 Wed22:00 TueOff-hours both sides
01:00 Wed23:00 TueOff-hours both sides
02:00 Wed00:00 WedOff-hours both sides
03:00 Wed01:00 WedOff-hours both sides
04:00 Wed02:00 WedOff-hours both sides
05:00 Wed03:00 WedOff-hours both sides
06:00 Wed04:00 WedOff-hours both sides
07:00 Wed05:00 WedOff-hours both sides
08:00 Wed06:00 WedOff-hours both sides
09:00 Wed07:00 WedBRT working
10:00 Wed08:00 WedBRT working
11:00 Wed09:00 WedBoth at work
12:00 Wed10:00 WedBoth at work
13:00 Wed11:00 WedBoth at work
14:00 Wed12:00 WedBoth at work
15:00 Wed13:00 WedBoth at work
16:00 Wed14:00 WedBoth at work
17:00 Wed15:00 WedCST working
18:00 Wed16:00 WedCST working
19:00 Wed17:00 WedOff-hours both sides
20:00 Wed18:00 WedOff-hours both sides
21:00 Wed19:00 WedOff-hours both sides
22:00 Wed20:00 WedOff-hours both sides
23:00 Wed21:00 WedOff-hours both sides

Times computed for today in each zone using the IANA time zone database. The conversion accounts for daylight saving time wherever applicable.

About these time zones

Brasília Time (BRT)
IANA identifier
America/Sao_Paulo
Current UTC offset
UTC-03:00
Current abbreviation
GMT-3
Major cities in this zone
São PauloRio de JaneiroBrasília
Central Standard Time (CST)
IANA identifier
America/Chicago
Current UTC offset
UTC-05:00
Current abbreviation
CDT
Major cities in this zone
ChicagoHoustonDallasAustinNew Orleans

Sun today in São Paulo and Chicago

São Paulo
Sunrise
06:33
Sunset
17:34
Solar noon
12:04
Daylight
11h 1m
Chicago
Sunrise
05:33
Sunset
20:02
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 28m

Related converters

CST to BRT (reverse)BRT to ESTBRT to PSTBRT to GMTBRT to UTCBRT to CETEST to CSTPST to CSTGMT to CSTUTC to CSTCET to CST
Looking for local time? See time in São Paulo or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between BRT and CST right now?+
CST (Central Standard Time) is currently 2 hours behind BRT (Brasília Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does BRT or CST observe daylight saving time?+
BRT: does not observe daylight saving time. CST: observes daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between BRT and CST?+
The strongest overlap is 11:00–16:00 BRT (09:00–14:00 CST), giving 6 hours when both sides are within standard 9am-5pm working hours.
What time is it in Chicago when it is 12:00 noon in São Paulo?+
When it is 12:00 Wed in São Paulo (BRT), it is 10:00 Wed in Chicago (CST).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for BRT and CST?+
BRT maps to "America/Sao_Paulo" in the IANA database. CST maps to "America/Chicago". These identifiers are what most software libraries use to convert times accurately, including DST handling.
Is São Paulo ahead of or behind Chicago?+
Whether São Paulo (BRT) is ahead of or behind Chicago (CST) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now CST is 2 hours behind BRT. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for BRT and CST?+
BRT is UTC-03:00 (GMT-3) and CST is UTC-05:00 (CDT). Both offsets shift by one hour when the corresponding region enters or exits daylight saving time, so the live values on this page are the source of truth.
Can I schedule meetings during business hours for both BRT and CST?+
Yes. There are 6 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours, with the strongest window at 11:00–16:00 BRT.