EDT to CST Time Converter
CST is 1 hour behind EDT. EDT is UTC-4:00, and The US Central states are currently on CDT (UTC-5:00).
Best Time to Call Between EDT and CST
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM EDT — that's 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST. That's a 7-hour window.
both at work EDT only CST only neither — hours along the strip are EDT.
Common Times Converted
EDT on the left, CST on the right.
EDT to CST: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| EDT | CST | 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 | EDT 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 | CST 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 EDT and CST Actually Are
EDT — Eastern Daylight Time
New York, Toronto, Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, Boston. Standing at UTC-4:00 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 EST.
EDT runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November — about eight months, making the "daylight" version the majority of the year rather than the exception.
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.
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 1 hour apart, the two working days overlap almost completely. Scheduling is barely constrained by the difference.
Major Cities in Each Zone
Cities on EDT
Cities on CST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EDT and CST?
CST is 1 hour behind EDT. That is the live figure. Taken strictly as written, the gap between EDT and CST is 2 hours — the two differ because at least one of these regions is currently on daylight saving.
What is 9:00 AM EDT in CST?
9:00 AM EDT is 8:00 AM CST.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between EDT and CST?
Between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM EDT, which is 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between EDT and CST 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.