UTC to CT Time Converter

Convert Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to Central Time (CT). Both time zones are shown live below; current offset between them is 5 hours behind.

UTC · Coordinated Universal Time
06:11:04
Monday, May 11, 2026
UTC · UTC+00:00
Chicago · Central Time
01:11:04
Monday, May 11, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

From: UTC (UTC)
To: CT (Chicago)
--:--

Daylight Saving status right now

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)
Observes DST
No
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

Heads up: CT observes DST while UTC does not. The 5-hour difference shown above will shift by one hour when CT starts or ends DST.

When can UTC 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
UTC
CT
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in UTC (UTC). Each row shows the local working-hours state in that zone for the same moment in time.
3 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours.
Best meeting window: 14:00–16:00 UTC (09:00–11:00 CT).

Hour-by-hour UTC to CT conversion table

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

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
IANA identifier
UTC
Current UTC offset
UTC+00:00
Current abbreviation
UTC
Major cities in this zone
UTC
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 UTC and Chicago

Chicago
Sunrise
05:35
Sunset
20:00
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 24m

Related converters

CT to UTC (reverse)UTC to ESTUTC to PSTUTC to GMTUTC to CETUTC to ISTEST to CTPST to CTGMT to CTCET to CTIST to CT
Looking for local time? See time in UTC or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between UTC and CT right now?+
CT (Central Time) is currently 5 hours behind UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does UTC or CT observe daylight saving time?+
UTC: does not observe daylight saving time. CT: observes daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between UTC and CT?+
The strongest overlap is 14:00–16:00 UTC (09:00–11:00 CT), giving 3 hours when both sides are within standard 9am-5pm working hours.
What time is it in Chicago when it is 12:00 noon in UTC?+
When it is 12:00 Mon in UTC (UTC), it is 07:00 Mon in Chicago (CT).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for UTC and CT?+
UTC maps to "UTC" 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 UTC ahead of or behind Chicago?+
Whether UTC (UTC) is ahead of or behind Chicago (CT) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now CT is 5 hours behind UTC. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for UTC and CT?+
UTC is UTC+00:00 (UTC) 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 UTC and CT?+
Yes. There are 3 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours, with the strongest window at 14:00–16:00 UTC.