COT to BST Time Converter
BST is 6 hours ahead of COT. COT is UTC-5:00, and BST is UTC+1:00.
Best Time to Call Between COT and BST
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM COT — that's 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM BST. That's a 2-hour window.
both at work COT only BST only neither — hours along the strip are COT.
Common Times Converted
COT on the left, BST on the right.
COT to BST: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| COT | BST | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 6:00 AM | — |
| 1:00 AM | 7:00 AM | — |
| 2:00 AM | 8:00 AM | — |
| 3:00 AM | 9:00 AM | BST only |
| 4:00 AM | 10:00 AM | BST only |
| 5:00 AM | 11:00 AM | BST only |
| 6:00 AM | 12:00 PM | BST only |
| 7:00 AM | 1:00 PM | BST only |
| 8:00 AM | 2:00 PM | BST only |
| 9:00 AM | 3:00 PM | Both zones |
| 10:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Both zones |
| 11:00 AM | 5:00 PM | COT only |
| 12:00 PM | 6:00 PM | COT only |
| 1:00 PM | 7:00 PM | COT only |
| 2:00 PM | 8:00 PM | COT only |
| 3:00 PM | 9:00 PM | COT only |
| 4:00 PM | 10:00 PM | COT only |
| 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM | — |
| 6:00 PM | 12:00 AM next day | — |
| 7:00 PM | 1:00 AM next day | — |
| 8:00 PM | 2:00 AM next day | — |
| 9:00 PM | 3:00 AM next day | — |
| 10:00 PM | 4:00 AM next day | — |
| 11:00 PM | 5:00 AM next day | — |
What COT and BST Actually Are
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.
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 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 COT
Cities on BST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between COT and BST?
BST is 6 hours ahead of COT.
What is 9:00 AM COT in BST?
9:00 AM COT is 3:00 PM BST.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between COT and BST?
Between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM COT, which is 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM BST. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between COT and BST change during the year?
Yes. BST 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 BST always mean British Summer Time?
BST also stands for Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6). BDT is the clearer label for that one.