CT to WAT Time Converter

Convert Central Time (CT) to West Africa Time (WAT). Both time zones are shown live below; current offset between them is 6 hours ahead.

Chicago · Central Time
03:44:04
Monday, May 18, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00
Lagos · West Africa Time
09:44:04
Monday, May 18, 2026
GMT+1 · UTC+01:00

Convert a specific time

From: CT (Chicago)
To: WAT (Lagos)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

CT (Central Time)
Observes DST
Yes
In DST right now
Yes
Next fall back
2026-11-01
Offset shift
UTC-05:00 → UTC-06:00
WAT (West Africa Time)
Observes DST
No

Heads up: CT observes DST while WAT does not. The 6-hour difference shown above will shift by one hour when CT starts or ends DST.

When can CT and WAT meet?

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CT
WAT
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in Chicago (CT). Each row shows the local working-hours state in that zone for the same moment in time.
2 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours.
Best meeting window: 09:00–10:00 CT (15:00–16:00 WAT).

Hour-by-hour CT to WAT conversion table

CT time (Chicago)WAT time (Lagos)Status
00:00 Mon06:00 MonOff-hours both sides
01:00 Mon07:00 MonOff-hours both sides
02:00 Mon08:00 MonOff-hours both sides
03:00 Mon09:00 MonWAT working
04:00 Mon10:00 MonWAT working
05:00 Mon11:00 MonWAT working
06:00 Mon12:00 MonWAT working
07:00 Mon13:00 MonWAT working
08:00 Mon14:00 MonWAT working
09:00 Mon15:00 MonBoth at work
10:00 Mon16:00 MonBoth at work
11:00 Mon17:00 MonCT working
12:00 Mon18:00 MonCT working
13:00 Mon19:00 MonCT working
14:00 Mon20:00 MonCT working
15:00 Mon21:00 MonCT working
16:00 Mon22:00 MonCT working
17:00 Mon23:00 MonOff-hours both sides
18:00 Mon00:00 TueOff-hours both sides
19:00 Mon01:00 TueOff-hours both sides
20:00 Mon02:00 TueOff-hours both sides
21:00 Mon03:00 TueOff-hours both sides
22:00 Mon04:00 TueOff-hours both sides
23:00 Mon05:00 TueOff-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

Central Time (CT)
IANA identifier
America/Chicago
Current UTC offset
UTC-05:00
Current abbreviation
CDT
Major cities in this zone
ChicagoHoustonDallasAustinNew Orleans
West Africa Time (WAT)
IANA identifier
Africa/Lagos
Current UTC offset
UTC+01:00
Current abbreviation
GMT+1
Major cities in this zone
LagosAbuja

Sun today in Chicago and Lagos

Chicago
Sunrise
05:28
Sunset
20:07
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 38m
Lagos
Sunrise
06:31
Sunset
18:56
Solar noon
12:44
Daylight
12h 25m

Related converters

WAT to CT (reverse)CT to ESTCT to PSTCT to GMTCT to UTCCT to CETEST to WATPST to WATGMT to WATUTC to WATCET to WAT
Looking for local time? See time in Chicago or time in Lagos.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between CT and WAT right now?+
WAT (West Africa Time) is currently 6 hours ahead CT (Central Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does CT or WAT observe daylight saving time?+
CT: observes daylight saving time. WAT: does not observe daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between CT and WAT?+
The strongest overlap is 09:00–10:00 CT (15:00–16:00 WAT), giving 2 hours when both sides are within standard 9am-5pm working hours.
What time is it in Lagos when it is 12:00 noon in Chicago?+
When it is 12:00 Mon in Chicago (CT), it is 18:00 Mon in Lagos (WAT).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for CT and WAT?+
CT maps to "America/Chicago" in the IANA database. WAT maps to "Africa/Lagos". These identifiers are what most software libraries use to convert times accurately, including DST handling.
Is Chicago ahead of or behind Lagos?+
Whether Chicago (CT) is ahead of or behind Lagos (WAT) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now WAT is 6 hours ahead CT. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for CT and WAT?+
CT is UTC-05:00 (CDT) and WAT is UTC+01:00 (GMT+1). 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 CT and WAT?+
Yes. There are 2 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours, with the strongest window at 09:00–10:00 CT.