CST to HST Time Converter
HST is 5 hours behind CST. The US Central states are currently on CDT (UTC-5:00), and HST is UTC-10:00.
Best Time to Call Between CST and HST
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM CST — that's 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM HST. That's a 3-hour window.
both at work CST only HST only neither — hours along the strip are CST.
Common Times Converted
CST on the left, HST on the right.
CST to HST: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| CST | HST | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 7:00 PM prev day | — |
| 1:00 AM | 8:00 PM prev day | — |
| 2:00 AM | 9:00 PM prev day | — |
| 3:00 AM | 10:00 PM prev day | — |
| 4:00 AM | 11:00 PM prev day | — |
| 5:00 AM | 12:00 AM | — |
| 6:00 AM | 1:00 AM | — |
| 7:00 AM | 2:00 AM | — |
| 8:00 AM | 3:00 AM | — |
| 9:00 AM | 4:00 AM | CST only |
| 10:00 AM | 5:00 AM | CST only |
| 11:00 AM | 6:00 AM | CST only |
| 12:00 PM | 7:00 AM | CST only |
| 1:00 PM | 8:00 AM | CST only |
| 2:00 PM | 9:00 AM | Both zones |
| 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Both zones |
| 4:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Both zones |
| 5:00 PM | 12:00 PM | HST only |
| 6:00 PM | 1:00 PM | HST only |
| 7:00 PM | 2:00 PM | HST only |
| 8:00 PM | 3:00 PM | HST only |
| 9:00 PM | 4:00 PM | HST only |
| 10:00 PM | 5:00 PM | — |
| 11:00 PM | 6:00 PM | — |
What CST and HST Actually Are
CST — Central Standard Time
Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Mexico City, Winnipeg. Standing at UTC-6:00 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, November 1, 2026, to CST. CST also stands for China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC-5). This page covers the North American one.
Saskatchewan sits inside the Central zone but never changes its clocks, so it matches CST in winter and its neighbors' MDT in summer.
HST — Hawaii Standard Time
Honolulu and the rest of Hawaii. Standing at UTC-10:00 as written, and the region does not change its clocks, so that offset holds all year. Hawaii does not observe daylight saving, so this offset holds all year.
Hawaii dropped daylight saving in 1967 and never resumed it. Being close to the equator, its daylight barely varies across the year, so there is little to gain.
What This Means in Practice
This gap is not fixed
CST changes its clocks and HST 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, November 1, 2026 unless someone resets it.
Major Cities in Each Zone
Cities on CST
Cities on HST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CST and HST?
HST is 5 hours behind CST. That is the live figure. Taken strictly as written, the gap between CST and HST is 4 hours — the two differ because at least one of these regions is currently on daylight saving.
What is 9:00 AM CST in HST?
9:00 AM CST is 4:00 AM HST.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between CST and HST?
Between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM CST, which is 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM HST. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between CST and HST change during the year?
Yes. CST observes daylight saving and HST does not, so the gap shifts by an hour at least twice a year. The next clock change is on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Does CST always mean Central Standard Time?
CST also stands for China Standard Time (UTC+8) and Cuba Standard Time (UTC-5). This page covers the North American one.
Does HST always mean Hawaii Standard Time?
Hawaii does not observe daylight saving, so this offset holds all year.