GFT to CST Time Converter

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

Cayenne · French Guiana Time
04:25:04
Friday, May 15, 2026
GMT-3 · UTC-03:00
Chicago · Central Standard Time
02:25:04
Friday, May 15, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

From: GFT (Cayenne)
To: CST (Chicago)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

GFT (French Guiana 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 GFT does not. The 2-hour difference shown above will shift by one hour when CST starts or ends DST.

When can GFT 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
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23
GFT
CST
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in Cayenne (GFT). 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 GFT (09:00–14:00 CST).

Hour-by-hour GFT to CST conversion table

GFT time (Cayenne)CST time (Chicago)Status
00:00 Fri22:00 ThuOff-hours both sides
01:00 Fri23:00 ThuOff-hours both sides
02:00 Fri00:00 FriOff-hours both sides
03:00 Fri01:00 FriOff-hours both sides
04:00 Fri02:00 FriOff-hours both sides
05:00 Fri03:00 FriOff-hours both sides
06:00 Fri04:00 FriOff-hours both sides
07:00 Fri05:00 FriOff-hours both sides
08:00 Fri06:00 FriOff-hours both sides
09:00 Fri07:00 FriGFT working
10:00 Fri08:00 FriGFT working
11:00 Fri09:00 FriBoth at work
12:00 Fri10:00 FriBoth at work
13:00 Fri11:00 FriBoth at work
14:00 Fri12:00 FriBoth at work
15:00 Fri13:00 FriBoth at work
16:00 Fri14:00 FriBoth at work
17:00 Fri15:00 FriCST working
18:00 Fri16:00 FriCST working
19:00 Fri17:00 FriOff-hours both sides
20:00 Fri18:00 FriOff-hours both sides
21:00 Fri19:00 FriOff-hours both sides
22:00 Fri20:00 FriOff-hours both sides
23:00 Fri21:00 FriOff-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

French Guiana Time (GFT)
IANA identifier
America/Cayenne
Current UTC offset
UTC-03:00
Current abbreviation
GMT-3
Major cities in this zone
Cayenne
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 Cayenne and Chicago

Chicago
Sunrise
05:31
Sunset
20:04
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 32m

Related converters

CST to GFT (reverse)GFT to ESTGFT to PSTGFT to GMTGFT to UTCGFT to CETEST to CSTPST to CSTGMT to CSTUTC to CSTCET to CST
Looking for local time? See time in Cayenne or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between GFT and CST right now?+
CST (Central Standard Time) is currently 2 hours behind GFT (French Guiana Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does GFT or CST observe daylight saving time?+
GFT: does not observe daylight saving time. CST: observes daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between GFT and CST?+
The strongest overlap is 11:00–16:00 GFT (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 Cayenne?+
When it is 12:00 Fri in Cayenne (GFT), it is 10:00 Fri in Chicago (CST).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for GFT and CST?+
GFT maps to "America/Cayenne" 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 Cayenne ahead of or behind Chicago?+
Whether Cayenne (GFT) is ahead of or behind Chicago (CST) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now CST is 2 hours behind GFT. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for GFT and CST?+
GFT 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 GFT and CST?+
Yes. There are 6 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours, with the strongest window at 11:00–16:00 GFT.