WAT to CT Time Converter

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

Lagos · West Africa Time
11:55:42
Monday, May 11, 2026
GMT+1 · UTC+01:00
Chicago · Central Time
05:55:42
Monday, May 11, 2026
CDT · UTC-05:00

Convert a specific time

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

Daylight Saving status right now

WAT (West Africa 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 WAT does not. The 6-hour difference shown above will shift by one hour when CT starts or ends DST.

When can WAT and CT meet?

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WAT
CT
Both zones in working hours (9am-5pm)
One zone working
Off-hours
Columns are hours of the day in Lagos (WAT). 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: 15:00–16:00 WAT (09:00–10:00 CT).

Hour-by-hour WAT to CT conversion table

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

West Africa Time (WAT)
IANA identifier
Africa/Lagos
Current UTC offset
UTC+01:00
Current abbreviation
GMT+1
Major cities in this zone
LagosAbuja
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 Lagos and Chicago

Lagos
Sunrise
06:32
Sunset
18:55
Solar noon
12:44
Daylight
12h 23m
Chicago
Sunrise
05:35
Sunset
20:00
Solar noon
12:48
Daylight
14h 24m

Related converters

CT to WAT (reverse)WAT to ESTWAT to PSTWAT to GMTWAT to UTCWAT to CETEST to CTPST to CTGMT to CTUTC to CTCET to CT
Looking for local time? See time in Lagos or time in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between WAT and CT right now?+
CT (Central Time) is currently 6 hours behind WAT (West Africa Time). The exact difference can change when one or both zones transition into or out of daylight saving time.
Does WAT or CT observe daylight saving time?+
WAT: does not observe daylight saving time. CT: observes daylight saving time.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between WAT and CT?+
The strongest overlap is 15:00–16:00 WAT (09:00–10:00 CT), giving 2 hours when both sides are within standard 9am-5pm working hours.
What time is it in Chicago when it is 12:00 noon in Lagos?+
When it is 12:00 Mon in Lagos (WAT), it is 06:00 Mon in Chicago (CT).
Which IANA time zone identifiers are used for WAT and CT?+
WAT maps to "Africa/Lagos" 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 Lagos ahead of or behind Chicago?+
Whether Lagos (WAT) is ahead of or behind Chicago (CT) depends on the current UTC offsets. Right now CT is 6 hours behind WAT. The live converter and side-by-side clocks above always reflect the current direction.
What are the current UTC offsets for WAT and CT?+
WAT is UTC+01:00 (GMT+1) 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 WAT and CT?+
Yes. There are 2 hours of overlap during standard 9am-5pm working hours, with the strongest window at 15:00–16:00 WAT.