CAT to BST Time Converter
BST is 1 hour behind CAT. CAT is UTC+2:00, and BST is UTC+1:00.
Best Time to Call Between CAT and BST
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM CAT — that's 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM BST. That's a 7-hour window.
both at work CAT only BST only neither — hours along the strip are CAT.
Common Times Converted
CAT on the left, BST on the right.
CAT to BST: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| CAT | BST | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 11:00 PM prev 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 | CAT only |
| 10:00 AM | 9:00 AM | Both zones |
| 11:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Both zones |
| 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Both zones |
| 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM | Both zones |
| 2:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Both zones |
| 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Both zones |
| 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Both zones |
| 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM | BST only |
| 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 | — |
What CAT and BST Actually Are
CAT — Central Africa Time
Harare, Lusaka, Maputo, Khartoum. Standing at UTC+2:00 as written, and the region does not change its clocks, so that offset holds all year.
Central Africa Time has never used daylight saving. Near the equator the length of the day changes so little that there would be nothing to shift.
BST — British Summer Time
London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and the rest of the UK from late March to late October. Standing at UTC+1:00 as written, and the region does change its clocks, so its live offset moves by an hour twice a year. The next change is on Sunday, October 25, 2026, to GMT. BST also stands for Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6). BDT is the clearer label for that one.
British Summer Time began in 1916 as a wartime fuel-saving measure and has run every year since, making it one of the oldest continuous daylight saving schemes in the world.
What This Means in Practice
This gap is not fixed
BST changes its clocks and CAT does not, so the difference between them moves by an hour twice a year. A recurring meeting set now will drift for one side from Sunday, October 25, 2026 unless someone resets it.
Close enough to share a working day
At only 1 hour apart, the two working days overlap almost completely. Scheduling is barely constrained by the difference.
Major Cities in Each Zone
Cities on CAT
Cities on BST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CAT and BST?
BST is 1 hour behind CAT.
What is 9:00 AM CAT in BST?
9:00 AM CAT is 8:00 AM BST.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between CAT and BST?
Between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM CAT, which is 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM BST. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between CAT and BST change during the year?
Yes. BST observes daylight saving and CAT does not, so the gap shifts by an hour at least twice a year. The next clock change is on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Does BST always mean British Summer Time?
BST also stands for Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6). BDT is the clearer label for that one.