centralstandardtime Central Time now

Current Central Time (CST / CDT)

The exact current Central Time right now — automatically showing CST in winter and CDT in summer, live and accurate.

This is the exact current Central Time, live. In winter it shows CST (Central Standard Time, UTC−6); from spring to fall it automatically switches to CDT (Central Daylight Time, UTC−5). It follows the America/Chicago zone, so daylight saving changes are handled for you — no need to add or subtract an hour yourself.

CST vs CDT — what you're seeing

"Central Time" is the umbrella term; CST is the standard-time half of the year and CDT is the daylight-saving half. The clock above shows whichever is currently in effect. To turn a Central time into another zone, use the time zone converter; to compare it with other US zones at a glance, see US time zones.

Where Central Time is used

Central Time covers a broad swath of North America — much of the central United States (including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Kansas City, New Orleans and Memphis), a large part of Mexico, and central Canadian provinces such as Manitoba. Most of these observe daylight saving, though some regions do not.

Guides about Central Time Now

Daylight saving in Central Time CST vs CDT: What's the Difference and When Each Applies CST vs CDT explained in plain terms: which is the winter clock, which is summer, the exact dates they switch, and how to know which one applies right now. 6 min read Daylight saving in Central Time Daylight Saving and Central Time: When Clocks Change How daylight saving works in Central Time: the spring-forward and fall-back dates, why CST becomes CDT, who is exempt, and how to avoid the changeover mix-ups. 6 min read Central Time (CST/CDT) What Is Central Standard Time? A Plain-English Guide A plain-English guide to Central Standard Time: what CST means, its UTC-6 offset, the cities and states that use it, and how it becomes CDT in summer. 7 min read Central Time (CST/CDT) What UTC Offset Is CST? Central Time and UTC Explained What UTC offset is CST? A clear explanation of the UTC-6 standard offset, the UTC-5 daylight offset, and how to use them to convert Central Time to any zone. 6 min read

More CST pages

CST Converter Convert a Central Time to any other time zone — or another zone into CST/CDT — in seconds. US Time Zones See Central Time next to Eastern, Mountain and Pacific — the current time in every mainland US zone at a glance.

Frequently asked questions

Is it CST or CDT right now?
The clock shows whichever is currently in effect: CST (UTC−6) during standard time in winter, and CDT (UTC−5) during daylight saving from mid-March to early November.
Is this the exact current Central Time?
Yes — it follows the America/Chicago zone using your browser's up-to-date time-zone data, so it's accurate and handles daylight saving automatically.
What's the difference between CST and Central Time?
Central Time is the general name; CST is its standard-time form (winter) and CDT its daylight-saving form (summer).
What UTC offset is CST?
Central Standard Time is UTC−6. Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC−5.