EST to CST Time Converter

Convert Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central Standard Time (CST). Both time zones are shown live below; current offset between them is 1 hour behind.

New York · Eastern Standard Time
16:55:23
Sunday, May 10, 2026
EDT · UTC-04:00
Chicago · Central Standard Time
15:55:23
Sunday, May 10, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

From: EST (New York)
To: CST (Chicago)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Observes DST
Yes
In DST right now
Yes
Next fall back
2026-11-01
Offset shift
UTC-04:00 → UTC-05:00
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

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

Hour-by-hour EST to CST conversion table

EST time (New York)CST time (Chicago)Status
00:00 Sun23:00 SatOff-hours both sides
01:00 Sun00:00 SunOff-hours both sides
02:00 Sun01:00 SunOff-hours both sides
03:00 Sun02:00 SunOff-hours both sides
04:00 Sun03:00 SunOff-hours both sides
05:00 Sun04:00 SunOff-hours both sides
06:00 Sun05:00 SunOff-hours both sides
07:00 Sun06:00 SunOff-hours both sides
08:00 Sun07:00 SunOff-hours both sides
09:00 Sun08:00 SunEST working
10:00 Sun09:00 SunBoth at work
11:00 Sun10:00 SunBoth at work
12:00 Sun11:00 SunBoth at work
13:00 Sun12:00 SunBoth at work
14:00 Sun13:00 SunBoth at work
15:00 Sun14:00 SunBoth at work
16:00 Sun15:00 SunBoth at work
17:00 Sun16:00 SunCST working
18:00 Sun17:00 SunOff-hours both sides
19:00 Sun18:00 SunOff-hours both sides
20:00 Sun19:00 SunOff-hours both sides
21:00 Sun20:00 SunOff-hours both sides
22:00 Sun21:00 SunOff-hours both sides
23:00 Sun22:00 SunOff-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

Eastern Standard Time (EST)
IANA identifier
America/New_York
Current UTC offset
UTC-04:00
Current abbreviation
EDT
Major cities in this zone
New YorkMiamiAtlantaBostonPhiladelphia
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 New York and Chicago

New York
Sunrise
05:45
Sunset
20:02
Solar noon
12:53
Daylight
14h 16m
Chicago
Sunrise
05:37
Sunset
19:59
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 22m

Related converters

CST to EST (reverse)EST to PSTEST to GMTEST to UTCEST to CETEST to ISTPST to CSTGMT to CSTUTC to CSTCET to CSTIST to CST
Looking for local time? See time in New York or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between EST and CST right now?+
CST (Central Standard Time) is currently 1 hour behind EST (Eastern Standard Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does EST or CST observe daylight saving time?+
EST: observes daylight saving time. CST: observes daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between EST and CST?+
The strongest overlap is 10:00–16:00 EST (09:00–15:00 CST), giving 7 hours when both sides are within standard 9am-5pm working hours.
What time is it in Chicago when it is 12:00 noon in New York?+
When it is 12:00 Sun in New York (EST), it is 11:00 Sun in Chicago (CST).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for EST and CST?+
EST maps to "America/New_York" 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 New York ahead of or behind Chicago?+
Whether New York (EST) is ahead of or behind Chicago (CST) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now CST is 1 hour behind EST. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for EST and CST?+
EST is UTC-04:00 (EDT) 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 EST and CST?+
Yes. There are 7 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours, with the strongest window at 10:00–16:00 EST.