ET to CT Time Converter

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

New York · Eastern Time
18:23:54
Saturday, May 16, 2026
EDT · UTC-04:00
Chicago · Central Time
17:23:54
Saturday, May 16, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

From: ET (New York)
To: CT (Chicago)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

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

When can ET and CT 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
ET
CT
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in New York (ET). 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 ET (09:00–15:00 CT).

Hour-by-hour ET to CT conversion table

ET time (New York)CT time (Chicago)Status
00:00 Sat23:00 FriOff-hours both sides
01:00 Sat00:00 SatOff-hours both sides
02:00 Sat01:00 SatOff-hours both sides
03:00 Sat02:00 SatOff-hours both sides
04:00 Sat03:00 SatOff-hours both sides
05:00 Sat04:00 SatOff-hours both sides
06:00 Sat05:00 SatOff-hours both sides
07:00 Sat06:00 SatOff-hours both sides
08:00 Sat07:00 SatOff-hours both sides
09:00 Sat08:00 SatET working
10:00 Sat09:00 SatBoth at work
11:00 Sat10:00 SatBoth at work
12:00 Sat11:00 SatBoth at work
13:00 Sat12:00 SatBoth at work
14:00 Sat13:00 SatBoth at work
15:00 Sat14:00 SatBoth at work
16:00 Sat15:00 SatBoth at work
17:00 Sat16:00 SatCT working
18:00 Sat17:00 SatOff-hours both sides
19:00 Sat18:00 SatOff-hours both sides
20:00 Sat19:00 SatOff-hours both sides
21:00 Sat20:00 SatOff-hours both sides
22:00 Sat21:00 SatOff-hours both sides
23:00 Sat22:00 SatOff-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 Time (ET)
IANA identifier
America/New_York
Current UTC offset
UTC-04:00
Current abbreviation
EDT
Major cities in this zone
New YorkMiamiAtlantaBostonPhiladelphia
Central Time (CT)
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
05:39
Sunset
20:08
Solar noon
12:53
Daylight
14h 28m
Chicago
Sunrise
05:30
Sunset
20:05
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 34m

Related converters

CT to ET (reverse)ET to ESTET to PSTET to GMTET to UTCET to CETEST to CTPST to CTGMT to CTUTC to CTCET to CT
Looking for local time? See time in New York or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

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