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Reference CDTCSTcheat sheet
CDT vs CST in 60 Seconds — A Cheat Sheet
Confused about whether you're in CDT or CST right now? A 60-second cheat sheet for telling them apart.
By cdttimenow.com Editorial ·
The fastest possible explanation:
CDT = Central Daylight Time = UTC −5 = used in summer. CST = Central Standard Time = UTC −6 = used in winter.
Same zone (Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis…), one hour apart, only one is in effect at a time.
Which am I on right now?
| Date range | Zone in effect |
|---|---|
| 2nd Sun of March → 1st Sun of November | CDT |
| 1st Sun of November → 2nd Sun of March | CST |
For 2026:
- CDT: March 8 → November 1
- CST: January 1 → March 7, then November 2 → December 31
How to tell from a clock
If a Chicago wall-clock is set correctly and you check the UTC offset:
- Offset is
−05:00→ you’re in CDT. - Offset is
−06:00→ you’re in CST.
You can also just check our live CDT clock — it auto-detects and labels.
Common mix-ups
- “CST” in China. China uses “China Standard Time” which is also abbreviated CST but is UTC +8. Context tells you which one.
- “CT” the unified label. “Central Time” without a D or S means “whichever is currently in effect”. This is what most calendar apps use.
- CDT vs EST. Same UTC offset (−5) but never simultaneously: CDT is summer Chicago, EST is winter New York.
Just give me converters
AD