MeetingTimePro

UTC to CST converter

Coordinated Universal Time to Central Time. CST is 6 h behind of UTC in January and 5 h behind in July.

From

UTC · UTC UTC · UTC+0

  • CST · ChicagoCDT · UTC−5 · 5 h behind
    04:00Mon, Sep 28
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The gap between UTC and CST

2026UTC clocksCST clocksDifference
JanuaryUTC UTC+0CST UTC−66 h behind
JulyUTC UTC+0CDT UTC−55 h behind

The gap changes on: Sun, March 8, 2026 (5 h behind); Sun, November 1, 2026 (6 h behind); Sun, March 14, 2027 (5 h behind); Sun, November 7, 2027 (6 h behind).

Convert the other way: CST to UTC · Plan a meeting across more places

UTC to CST time table

Every hour of the UTC day and the matching CST time, for a mid-January and a mid-July date.

UTCCST · JanuaryCST · July
12:00 AM6:00 PM (−1 day)7:00 PM (−1 day)
1:00 AM7:00 PM (−1 day)8:00 PM (−1 day)
2:00 AM8:00 PM (−1 day)9:00 PM (−1 day)
3:00 AM9:00 PM (−1 day)10:00 PM (−1 day)
4:00 AM10:00 PM (−1 day)11:00 PM (−1 day)
5:00 AM11:00 PM (−1 day)12:00 AM
6:00 AM12:00 AM1:00 AM
7:00 AM1:00 AM2:00 AM
8:00 AM2:00 AM3:00 AM
9:00 AM3:00 AM4:00 AM
10:00 AM4:00 AM5:00 AM
11:00 AM5:00 AM6:00 AM
12:00 PM6:00 AM7:00 AM
1:00 PM7:00 AM8:00 AM
2:00 PM8:00 AM9:00 AM
3:00 PM9:00 AM10:00 AM
4:00 PM10:00 AM11:00 AM
5:00 PM11:00 AM12:00 PM
6:00 PM12:00 PM1:00 PM
7:00 PM1:00 PM2:00 PM
8:00 PM2:00 PM3:00 PM
9:00 PM3:00 PM4:00 PM
10:00 PM4:00 PM5:00 PM
11:00 PM5:00 PM6:00 PM

About these two clocks

UTC — Coordinated Universal Time. Used in the world reference clock used by servers, aviation and logs. UTC never changes for daylight saving time.

CST — Central Time. Used in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Mexico City is separate. CST is the winter name; in summer the same clocks run on CDT (UTC−5). Conversions here follow the clocks.

All figures on this page come from the IANA time zone database (the same data your phone and laptop use), evaluated for the date in question. Abbreviations are ambiguous — “IST” also means Irish or Israel Standard Time, and “CST” is China Standard Time in Asia — so this page uses UTC and America/Chicago explicitly.

Questions people ask

How many hours ahead or behind is CST compared with UTC?

CST is 6 h behind of UTC in January and 5 h behind in July. The gap moves because daylight saving time starts and ends on different dates (or not at all) in the two places.

What is 9 am UTC in CST?

On a January date, 9:00 am UTC is 3:00 AM CST. In July it is 4:00 AM. Use the converter above for any other date.

Which cities use UTC?

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is used in the world reference clock used by servers, aviation and logs. UTC never changes for daylight saving time.

Which cities use CST?

Central Time (CST) is used in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Mexico City is separate. CST is the winter name; in summer the same clocks run on CDT (UTC−5). Conversions here follow the clocks.

When is a good time for a UTC–CST call?

Look for the hours where both columns in the table fall between about 8 am and 6 pm. If none exist, the meeting planner on our home page shows the least-bad options and lets you share a link that converts for every attendee.

Related conversions

UTC to ESTUTC to ISTEST to CSTPST to CSTUTC to PSTIST to CSTUTC to GMTUTC to CET