CST: Central Standard Time
Local time in CST: 5:06 AM
Saturday, October 31, 2026
CST (UTC-6) is the standard time in the United States, Mexico, Canada and 6 other countries and territories. It is not in use now: until November 1, 2026 clocks are on CDT (UTC-5).
In the other half of the year: CDT, Central Daylight Time
CST can also mean China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC−5).
Where CST is used
Largest cities on CST
- Mexico City Mexico
- Chicago USA
- Houston USA
- Iztapalapa Mexico
- Puebla Mexico
- Ecatepec de Morelos Mexico
- Santiago de Querétaro Mexico
- León de los Aldama Mexico
- San Antonio USA
- Zapopan Mexico
- Guadalajara Mexico
- Dallas USA
CST and other time zones
| Time zone | UTC offset | Time now | Difference from CST |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC Coordinated Universal Time · UTC | UTC | +6 hours | |
| GMT Greenwich Mean Time · UTC | UTC | +6 hours | |
| CET Central European Time · UTC+1 | UTC+1 | +7 hours | |
| EET Eastern European Time · UTC+2 | UTC+2 | +8 hours | |
| MSK Moscow Time · UTC+3 | UTC+3 | +9 hours | |
| GST Gulf Standard Time · UTC+4 | UTC+4 | +10 hours | |
| IST India Standard Time · UTC+5:30 | UTC+5:30 | +11.5 hours | |
| ICT Indochina Time · UTC+7 | UTC+7 | +13 hours | |
| JST Japan Standard Time · UTC+9 | UTC+9 | +15 hours | |
| AEST Australian Eastern Standard Time · UTC+10 | UTC+10 | +16 hours | |
| NZST New Zealand Standard Time · UTC+12 | UTC+12 | +18 hours | |
| EST Eastern Standard Time · UTC-5 | UTC-5 | +1 hour | |
| MST Mountain Standard Time · UTC-7 | UTC-7 | −1 hour | |
| PST Pacific Standard Time · UTC-8 | UTC-8 | −2 hours | |
| HST Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time · UTC-10 | UTC-10 | −4 hours |
Frequently asked questions
What is CST?
CST stands for Central Standard Time, UTC-6. CST can also mean China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC−5).
Which countries use CST?
USA, Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Belize.
What is the difference between CST and CDT?
CST (UTC-6) is the standard time, used in winter. CDT (UTC-5) is the daylight saving time, one hour ahead, used in summer.