CET to COT Time Converter
COT is 7 hours behind CET. Continental western Europe is currently on CEST (UTC+2:00), and COT is UTC-5:00.
Best Time to Call Between CET and COT
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM CET — that's 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM COT. That's a 1-hour window.
both at work CET only COT only neither — hours along the strip are CET.
Common Times Converted
CET on the left, COT on the right.
CET to COT: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| CET | COT | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 5:00 PM prev day | — |
| 1:00 AM | 6:00 PM prev day | — |
| 2:00 AM | 7:00 PM prev day | — |
| 3:00 AM | 8:00 PM prev day | — |
| 4:00 AM | 9:00 PM prev day | — |
| 5:00 AM | 10:00 PM prev day | — |
| 6:00 AM | 11:00 PM prev day | — |
| 7:00 AM | 12:00 AM | — |
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 AM | — |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | CET only |
| 10:00 AM | 3:00 AM | CET only |
| 11:00 AM | 4:00 AM | CET only |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 AM | CET only |
| 1:00 PM | 6:00 AM | CET only |
| 2:00 PM | 7:00 AM | CET only |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM | CET only |
| 4:00 PM | 9:00 AM | Both zones |
| 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM | COT only |
| 6:00 PM | 11:00 AM | COT only |
| 7:00 PM | 12:00 PM | COT only |
| 8:00 PM | 1:00 PM | COT only |
| 9:00 PM | 2:00 PM | COT only |
| 10:00 PM | 3:00 PM | COT only |
| 11:00 PM | 4:00 PM | COT only |
What CET and COT Actually Are
CET — Central European Time
Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam, Vienna, Warsaw, Stockholm. 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 CET. Most of continental Europe moves to CEST (UTC+2) for the summer.
Central European Time spans a remarkable stretch of longitude — from Spain's Atlantic coast to Poland's eastern border — so solar noon in Madrid arrives nearly two hours later than in Warsaw.
COT — Colombia Time
Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla. Standing at UTC-5:00 as written, and the region does not change its clocks, so that offset holds all year.
Colombia briefly tried daylight saving during the energy crisis of 1992-93 and has not repeated it.
What This Means in Practice
This gap is not fixed
CET changes its clocks and COT 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.
Major Cities in Each Zone
Cities on CET
Cities on COT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CET and COT?
COT is 7 hours behind CET. That is the live figure. Taken strictly as written, the gap between CET and COT is 6 hours — the two differ because at least one of these regions is currently on daylight saving.
What is 9:00 AM CET in COT?
9:00 AM CET is 2:00 AM COT.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between CET and COT?
Between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM CET, which is 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM COT. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between CET and COT change during the year?
Yes. CET observes daylight saving and COT 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 CET always mean Central European Time?
Most of continental Europe moves to CEST (UTC+2) for the summer.