Skip to main content

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 ET, it's 11:00 AM CT

UTC-4 UTC-5 -1 hour

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.

ET 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).

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
ET EDT
CT CDT
Overlap
Everyone available
Most available
Some overlap
Outside work hours
1 2:00 PM -- 3:00 PM ET
ET: 2:00 PM CT: 1:00 PM

All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range.

9.7 / 10
2 1:00 PM -- 2:00 PM ET
ET: 1:00 PM CT: 12:00 PM

All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range.

9.3 / 10
3 3:00 PM -- 4:00 PM ET
ET: 3:00 PM CT: 2:00 PM

All members within working hours. Everyone in mid-day range.

9.3 / 10

Try the Meeting Planner with custom work hours →

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. ET is at UTC-4 and CT is at UTC-5.

Upcoming DST Transitions:

ET Clocks fall back on November 2, 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

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?
EST (Eastern Standard Time) is exactly 1 hour ahead of CST (Central Standard Time). When it is 3:00 PM in New York, it is 2:00 PM in Chicago. This 1-hour difference is constant year-round.
Do EST and CST change clocks at the same time for daylight saving?
Yes. Both US Eastern and Central time zones spring forward and fall back on the same dates -- the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November. The 1-hour difference between them never changes.
What is the difference between EST and EDT?
EST (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5) is used from November to March. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4) is used from March to November. The same applies to CST/CDT. The gap between Eastern and Central time stays 1 hour regardless of DST status.

Related Guides

Related Conversions

Popular Conversions

Related Meeting Pages

Find the best meeting times for multi-zone teams.