UTC to COT Time Converter
COT is 5 hours behind UTC. UTC is the zero point, UTC±00:00, and COT is UTC-5:00.
Best Time to Call Between UTC and COT
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM UTC — that's 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM COT. That's a 3-hour window.
both at work UTC only COT only neither — hours along the strip are UTC.
Common Times Converted
UTC on the left, COT on the right.
UTC to COT: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| UTC | COT | 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 | UTC only |
| 10:00 AM | 5:00 AM | UTC only |
| 11:00 AM | 6:00 AM | UTC only |
| 12:00 PM | 7:00 AM | UTC only |
| 1:00 PM | 8:00 AM | UTC 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 | COT only |
| 6:00 PM | 1:00 PM | COT only |
| 7:00 PM | 2:00 PM | COT only |
| 8:00 PM | 3:00 PM | COT only |
| 9:00 PM | 4:00 PM | COT only |
| 10:00 PM | 5:00 PM | — |
| 11:00 PM | 6:00 PM | — |
What UTC and COT Actually Are
UTC — Coordinated Universal Time
The global reference standard. Aviation, computing and science run on it. Standing at UTC as written, and the region does not change its clocks, so that offset holds all year.
UTC is not a place. It is a computed standard, kept within a second of mean solar time at Greenwich by atomic clocks, and it is the reference every other zone is defined against.
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
A gap you can rely on
Neither region changes its clocks, so this difference holds every day of the year. A recurring meeting booked once stays correct — worth knowing, because most cross-border pairs cannot say that.
Major Cities in Each Zone
Cities on COT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between UTC and COT?
COT is 5 hours behind UTC.
What is 9:00 AM UTC in COT?
9:00 AM UTC is 4:00 AM COT.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between UTC and COT?
Between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM UTC, which is 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM COT. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between UTC and COT change during the year?
No. Neither region changes its clocks, so this gap is fixed all year round.