Also known as: CT – Central Time, NACST – North American Central Standard Time
Central Standard Time (CST) is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is in use during standard time in: North America, Central America.
This time zone is often called Central Time.
Summer Time & DST
Some places observe daylight saving time/summer time during the summer, and therefore use CDT (Central Daylight Time) in the summer.
Where and When is CST Observed?
North America
U.S. states using CST in the winter and CDT in the summer:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida - North-West parts
- Illinois
- Indiana - these few north-western counties near Chicago (Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper, Starke) and these south-western counties in Indiana near Evansville
- Iowa
- Kansas - except these western counties
- Kentucky - Western part
- Louisiana
- Michigan - A few western counties
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska - Eastern parts
- North Dakota - North and Eastern parts
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota - Eastern parts
- Tennessee - Western part
- Texas - All, but a few counties in west
- Wisconsin
Canadian provinces using CST in the winter and CDT in the summer:
- Manitoba
- Ontario - most parts west of 90 West. (Parts east of 90 West is on EST/EDT)
- Saskatchewan - only Creighton and Denare Beach
Canadian provinces using CST all year:
Mexican states using CST in the winter and CDT in the summer:
Central America
Central American countries using CST all year:
Other Time Zones in UTC -6
Some time zones exist that have the same offset as CST, but can be found under a different name: