CST to PT Time Converter
PT is 2 hours behind CST. The US Central states are currently on CDT (UTC-5:00), and The US West Coast is currently on PDT (UTC-7:00).
Best Time to Call Between CST and PT
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM CST — that's 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM PT. That's a 6-hour window.
both at work CST only PT only neither — hours along the strip are CST.
Common Times Converted
CST on the left, PT on the right.
CST to PT: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| CST | PT | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 10:00 PM prev day | — |
| 1:00 AM | 11:00 PM prev day | — |
| 2:00 AM | 12:00 AM | — |
| 3:00 AM | 1:00 AM | — |
| 4:00 AM | 2:00 AM | — |
| 5:00 AM | 3:00 AM | — |
| 6:00 AM | 4:00 AM | — |
| 7:00 AM | 5:00 AM | — |
| 8:00 AM | 6:00 AM | — |
| 9:00 AM | 7:00 AM | CST only |
| 10:00 AM | 8:00 AM | CST only |
| 11:00 AM | 9:00 AM | Both zones |
| 12:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Both zones |
| 1:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Both zones |
| 2:00 PM | 12:00 PM | Both zones |
| 3:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Both zones |
| 4:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Both zones |
| 5:00 PM | 3:00 PM | PT only |
| 6:00 PM | 4:00 PM | PT only |
| 7:00 PM | 5:00 PM | — |
| 8:00 PM | 6:00 PM | — |
| 9:00 PM | 7:00 PM | — |
| 10:00 PM | 8:00 PM | — |
| 11:00 PM | 9:00 PM | — |
What CST and PT 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.
PT — Pacific Time
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Vancouver. Standing at UTC-8:00 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 PST.
Pacific Time anchors the US technology industry, so a great deal of software and scheduling convention is written implicitly around it.
What This Means in Practice
Both sides change clocks, on different dates
Both regions observe daylight saving but do not switch on the same day, so for a week or two each spring and fall the gap between them is an hour different from the rest of the year. Those short windows are where recurring invitations quietly break.
Close enough to share a working day
At only 2 hours apart, the two working days overlap almost completely. Scheduling is barely constrained by the difference.
Major Cities in Each Zone
Cities on CST
Cities on PT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CST and PT?
PT is 2 hours behind CST.
What is 9:00 AM CST in PT?
9:00 AM CST is 7:00 AM PT.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between CST and PT?
Between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM CST, which is 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM PT. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between CST and PT change during the year?
Yes. Both regions observe daylight saving, and they do not switch on the same dates, 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.