Central Time Now
Central Time now: the live time in the US Central zone, CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) in summer. See the 2026 daylight saving dates with the law that sets them, the states in the zone, and how Central Time compares with Mexico City and other places.
Other places, compared with Central Time
- Eastern Time2:52 PMWed, Oct 28+1 h
- Mountain Time12:52 PMWed, Oct 28−1 h
- Pacific Time11:52 AMWed, Oct 28−2 h
- Mexico City12:52 PMWed, Oct 28−1 h
- United Kingdom6:52 PMWed, Oct 28+5 h
- India (IST)12:22 AMThu, Oct 29+10.5 h
- Philippines2:52 AMThu, Oct 29+13 h
Read the Central Time clock in three steps
- Look at the large clock. CDT means summer time and CST means winter time.
- Read the next clock change, which the page works out for this year.
- Use the slider to turn a Central hour into the time in the other places in the list.
CST and CDT: the law and the 2026 dates
Daylight saving time in the US is set by federal law, 15 U.S.C. § 260a, which starts it at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends it at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November. For Central Time that means Sunday, March 8, 2026 and Sunday, November 1, 2026 in 2026. A state may keep standard time all year, as Arizona does outside the Central zone, but may not stay on summer time all year without a change of federal law.
| Season | Name | Offset from UTC | Dates in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | CST | UTC−6 | Until Sunday, March 8, 2026, and from Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
| Summer | CDT | UTC−5 | Sunday, March 8, 2026 to Sunday, November 1, 2026 |
States in Central Time
| In Central Time | Split between zones |
|---|---|
| Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin | Texas (El Paso area is Mountain), Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota (western parts are Mountain) |
| Major cities: Chicago, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Memphis | Kentucky and Tennessee, Florida panhandle, northwest and southwest Indiana, part of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula |
Check the exact place before you plan an event near a zone border.
Central Time compared with other places
| Place | Add in winter (CST) | Add in summer (CDT) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time | +1 h | +1 h |
| Mountain Time | −1 h | −1 h |
| Pacific Time | −2 h | −2 h |
| Mexico City | +0 h | −1 h |
| United Kingdom | +6 h | +6 h |
Clock symbols to copy
Copy a clock face for each hour and half hour, plus watch, timer and hourglass symbols, and framed lines about time.
Clock face emoji and symbols
Framed time lines
Accuracy and limits
The clock follows your device clock and the rules in your browser. We have not yet tested every phone and browser. Report a problem to [email protected]. Back to OxoApp.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CST and CT?
CT means Central Time and covers both seasons. CST is Central Standard Time in winter and CDT is Central Daylight Time in summer. Writing CST all year is common but wrong in summer.
Does Mexico City use daylight saving?
No. Mexico ended daylight saving time in 2022, so Mexico City stays on UTC−6 all year. It matches US Central Time in winter and is one hour behind in summer.
When do the clocks change in Central Time?
In 2026 they go forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM and back on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM. The law sets the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November.
Which states are only partly in Central Time?
Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Indiana and Michigan are split. Most of each is Central or Eastern, with small areas in the neighbouring zone.
Updated