Exact time now, time zone, time difference, sunrise/sunset time and key facts for Central Standard Time (CST). Central Standard Time (CST) is the second easternmost time zone in the United States and is also used in Canada. It covers all or parts of 20 states in the US and three provinces or territories in Canada.

Understanding the Context

The CST® certification is preferred/required by most employers nationwide and required by many states. The CST® certification demonstrates a higher level of training, professional competency, and commitment to the field—giving you a competitive edge over those who are non-certified. In North America, Central Standard Time (CST) refers to a time which is followed in the Central Time Zone. CST means a standard time where six hours is subtracted from GMT (UTC/GMT −6), and during daylight saving time (DST), five hours is subtracted from GMT (UTC/GMT -5).

Key Insights

CST is 6 hours behind UTC. CST (Central Standard Time) is used during standard time in the Central time zone, typically from November to March. Central Standard Time (CST) operates at UTC−6 and is commonly known as " Central Time," covering both its standard form (CST) and its daylight saving form, Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5). CST is observed during the winter months across a broad portion of the central United States, central Canada, parts of Mexico, and much of Central America, providing a uniform time standard for ... What is the Central Time Zone?

Final Thoughts

The Central Time zone is an area 6 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-6) during the winter months (referred to as Central Standard Time or CST) and 5 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-5) during the summer months (referred to as Central Daylight Time or CDT). Get accurate current time and date across all US time zones. Live clocks, calendar, DST information, and timezone tools for EST, CST, MST, PST, AKST, and HST.