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Convert CET to CT

Central European Time (CET) to Central Time (CT)

European teams in Germany, France, and the Netherlands coordinating with US Central offices in Chicago, Houston, and Minneapolis search this pair frequently. The 7-hour gap is wider than CET-EST but still workable. The complication comes from mismatched DST switch dates in March and October/November.

When it's 12:00 PM CET, it's 6:00 AM CT

UTC+1 UTC-5 -6 hours

Interactive Converter

Pick any time and date to convert between CET and CT.

CET to CT Conversion Table

Full 24-hour comparison. Business hours (9 AM -- 6 PM) are highlighted.

CET CT
12:00 AM 6:00 PM -1 day
1:00 AM 7:00 PM -1 day
2:00 AM 8:00 PM -1 day
3:00 AM 9:00 PM -1 day
4:00 AM 10:00 PM -1 day
5:00 AM 11:00 PM -1 day
6:00 AM 12:00 AM
7:00 AM 1:00 AM
8:00 AM 2:00 AM
9:00 AM 3:00 AM
10:00 AM 4:00 AM
11:00 AM 5:00 AM
12:00 PM 6:00 AM
1:00 PM 7:00 AM
2:00 PM 8:00 AM
3:00 PM 9:00 AM
4:00 PM 10:00 AM
5:00 PM 11:00 AM
6:00 PM 12:00 PM
7:00 PM 1:00 PM
8:00 PM 2:00 PM
9:00 PM 3:00 PM
10:00 PM 4:00 PM
11:00 PM 5:00 PM

Best Meeting Window

Top meeting times for teams in CET and CT (9 AM -- 6 PM work hours, 1-hour meeting).

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
CET GMT+1
CT CDT
Overlap
Everyone available
Most available
Some overlap
Outside work hours
1 3:00 PM -- 4:00 PM CET
CET: 3:00 PM CT: 9:00 AM

All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range. Note: 1 timezone(s) have a DST transition within 14 days.

7.6 / 10
2 4:00 PM -- 5:00 PM CET
CET: 4:00 PM CT: 10:00 AM

All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range. Note: 1 timezone(s) have a DST transition within 14 days.

7.5 / 10
3 5:00 PM -- 6:00 PM CET
CET: 5:00 PM CT: 11:00 AM

All members within working hours. 1 in mid-day range (9 AM–5 PM). Note: 1 timezone(s) have a DST transition within 14 days.

7.5 / 10

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Scheduling Tips

  • Schedule meetings between 3:00-5:00 PM CET / 8:00-10:00 AM CST for the widest comfortable overlap.
  • Avoid scheduling after 6:00 PM CET -- that is only 11:00 AM CST, fine for Chicago but already evening in Europe.
  • Rotate all-hands meetings between 9:00 AM CST (4:00 PM CET) and 8:00 AM CST (3:00 PM CET) to share convenience.
  • Mark the March and late October DST transition weeks -- recurring meetings will silently shift by an hour if your calendar does not auto-adjust.

Time Difference & DST

CT is 6 hours behind CET. CET is at UTC+1 and CT is at UTC-5.

Upcoming DST Transitions:

CET Clocks spring forward on March 30, 2026
CT Clocks fall back on November 2, 2026

The conversion table above reflects the current DST state at build time. Use the interactive converter for live, date-specific conversions.

Major Cities

Central European Time (CET)

  • Berlin
  • Munich
  • Frankfurt

Central Time (CT)

  • Chicago
  • Dallas
  • Houston

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time difference between CET and CST?
CET (Central European Time, UTC+1) is 7 hours ahead of CST (Central Standard Time, UTC-6). When it is 4:00 PM in Berlin, it is 9:00 AM in Chicago. During summer, both regions shift to daylight time (CEST and CDT), keeping the 7-hour gap for most of the year.
When does the CET-CST time difference change?
The US springs forward in mid-March, while Europe follows in late March. During those 2-3 weeks in spring the gap drops to 6 hours. In the fall, Europe falls back in late October while the US waits until early November, temporarily shrinking the gap to 6 hours for about 1 week.
What time is 9 AM CST in Berlin?
9:00 AM CST is 4:00 PM CET. During summer daylight time, 9:00 AM CDT is 4:00 PM CEST. This makes mid-morning in Chicago a natural window for late-afternoon European syncs.

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