Convert ET to CT
Eastern Time (ET) to Central Time (CT)
Companies with offices in both New York and Chicago or Dallas search this frequently. The 1-hour gap is simple, but people still double-check when scheduling client calls or syncing cross-office standups across the US Eastern and Central corridors.
When it's 12:00 PM in New York, it's 11:00 AM in Chicago
Interactive Converter
Pick any time and date to convert between ET and CT.
ET to CT Conversion Table
Full 24-hour comparison. Business hours (9 AM -- 6 PM) are highlighted.
| New York (ET) | Chicago (CT) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 11:00 PM -1 day |
| 1:00 AM | 12:00 AM |
| 2:00 AM | 1:00 AM |
| 3:00 AM | 2:00 AM |
| 4:00 AM | 3:00 AM |
| 5:00 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 6:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 7:00 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 8:00 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 9:00 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 10:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 11:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 2:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 11:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
Best Meeting Window
Top meeting times for teams in ET and CT (9 AM -- 6 PM work hours, 1-hour meeting).
All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range.
All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range.
All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range.
Scheduling Tips
- The 1-hour gap is small enough that most US business hours (9 AM-5 PM) overlap almost entirely -- schedule freely within that window.
- For early morning meetings, 9:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM CST works well without being too early for either coast.
- No DST complications -- both zones shift on the same dates, so your recurring meetings never need adjustment.
Time Difference & DST
CT is 1 hour behind ET all year.
| Dates | New York | Chicago | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 – Mar 7, 2026 | UTC-5 | UTC-6 | -1h |
| Mar 8 – Oct 31, 2026 | UTC-4 | UTC-5 | -1h |
| Nov 1, 2026 – Mar 13, 2027 | UTC-5 | UTC-6 | -1h |
| Mar 14 – Nov 6, 2027 | UTC-4 | UTC-5 | -1h |
| Nov 7 – Dec 31, 2027 | UTC-5 | UTC-6 | -1h |
Use the interactive converter for a specific date.
Major Cities
Eastern Time (ET)
- New York
- Miami
- Atlanta
Central Time (CT)
- Chicago
- Dallas
- Houston
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EST and CST?
Do EST and CST change clocks at the same time for daylight saving?
What is the difference between EST and EDT?
Related Guides
Understand how US spring-forward and fall-back shifts change meeting times with Europe, India, and Asia-Pacific teams.
Scheduling Across Time Zones: Best Practices for Global TeamsProven strategies for scheduling meetings across multiple time zones. Reduce late-night calls and improve team fairness.
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