CST is used for 3 different time zones. The table below shows each one with its offset and current time.
What CST can mean
The letters CST are shared by zones on different offsets. A meeting invite that says only CST can be read several ways, so add a city name or a UTC offset.
| Name | UTC offset | Time now | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Standard Time | UTC−6 | --:-- | America/Chicago, America/Mexico_City, America/Guatemala, America/Edmonton |
| China Standard Time | UTC+8 | --:-- | Asia/Shanghai, Asia/Taipei, Asia/Macau |
| Cuba Standard Time | UTC−5 | --:-- | America/Havana |
Who uses CST
| IANA time zone | Uses CST | Main cities |
|---|---|---|
| America/Chicago | Outside daylight saving time | Chicago, Houston, San Antonio |
| America/Mexico_City | All year | Mexico City, Iztapalapa, Puebla |
| America/Guatemala | All year | Guatemala City, Villa Nueva, Mixco |
| America/Edmonton | All year | Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge |
| America/Regina | All year | Saskatoon, Regina |
| Asia/Shanghai | All year | Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu |
| Asia/Taipei | All year | Taipei, New Taipei City, Taichung |
| Asia/Macau | All year | Macao, Taipa |
| America/Havana | Outside daylight saving time | Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey |
CST and CDT
CDT is the daylight saving version of CST, 1 hour ahead of it. Writing CST in summer means a time that is 1 hour off for the places that have switched.
Plan around the time in CST
- Convert a time to or from CST: pick a date and time and see it in every city on your list.
- Add Chicago to your world clock to keep it next to your own time.
- Find a meeting time that falls inside office hours in CST and the other cities you work with.
- Open a full-screen clock for your own time zone.
Frequently asked questions
Is it CST or CDT right now?
CST is in use now in Chicago, Mexico City, Guatemala City and Calgary. CDT returns on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
Which time zone does CST mean?
It depends on who wrote it. Central Standard Time (UTC−6): Chicago, Mexico City, Guatemala City and Calgary; China Standard Time (UTC+8): Shanghai, Taipei and Macao; Cuba Standard Time (UTC−5): Havana. Ask for a city or a UTC offset if the context does not make it clear.
What time is 12:00 CST in UTC?
12:00 CST is 6:00 PM UTC.
Time zone rules: IANA tz database, version 2026e. Place names and coordinates: GeoNames. Sunrise and sunset are calculated from the coordinates and can differ by a minute or two from local almanacs.