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CAT to EST Converter

Need to convert Central Africa Time to Eastern Standard Time? EST is 7 hours behind CAT. Edit the time or date below and the EST result updates live.

EDT is 6 hours behind CAT
From
CAT

Now in Harare: 7:54:00 PM CAT

To
EDT

Now in New York: 1:54:00 PM EDT

On this date New York observes EDT. EST is in effect during standard-time (non-summer) months.

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Daylight saving notes

In the United States and Canada, daylight saving time runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. That affects Eastern Standard Time (EST).

CAT to EST conversion chart

For example, a 9:00 AM CAT meeting takes place at 2:00 AM EST. Concretely, when Harare (CAT) and New York (EST) set up a call, eST is 7 hours behind CAT.

Central Africa Time to Eastern Standard Time conversion chart
CAT timeEST time
12:00 AM5:00 PM−1 day
1:00 AM6:00 PM−1 day
2:00 AM7:00 PM−1 day
3:00 AM8:00 PM−1 day
4:00 AM9:00 PM−1 day
5:00 AM10:00 PM−1 day
6:00 AM11:00 PM−1 day
7:00 AM12:00 AM
8:00 AM1:00 AM
9:00 AM2:00 AM
10:00 AM3:00 AM
11:00 AM4:00 AM
12:00 PM5:00 AM
1:00 PM6:00 AM
2:00 PM7:00 AM
3:00 PM8:00 AM
4:00 PM9:00 AM
5:00 PM10:00 AM
6:00 PM11:00 AM
7:00 PM12:00 PM
8:00 PM1:00 PM
9:00 PM2:00 PM
10:00 PM3:00 PM
11:00 PM4:00 PM

This chart uses the fixed CAT and EST offsets; the live converter above follows current daylight saving.

Convert CAT to EST Time Zone

Below are the answers people search for most when converting Central Africa Time (CAT) to Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Converting CAT to EST, step by step

It takes three quick steps:

  1. Click the CAT field on the left and pick the time you want to convert.
  2. The matching EST time updates on the right automatically — there’s no button to press.
  3. Need a different day? Click the date field and the result follows, rolling over if it crosses midnight.

CAT vs EST: what's the time gap?

EST is 7 hours behind CAT. In everyday terms, once you know the time on one side you just subtract 7 hours to get the other — so a call between Harare and New York is always 7 hours apart.

What's the current time in EST?

Right now the time in Eastern Standard Time (EST) is Monday, June 29, 2026 · 12:54:00 PM. It ticks every second, so you’re always looking at the live EST clock.

And what time is it in CAT?

And in Central Africa Time (CAT), it’s currently Monday, June 29, 2026 · 7:54:00 PM. Compare the two and the 7 hours gap is easy to see.

When is a good time to schedule a CAT to EST meeting?

For example, a 9:00 AM CAT meeting takes place at 2:00 AM EST. The trick is to aim for a slot that lands inside normal working hours on both sides. Once you’ve found a time, hit Share on the converter to copy a link with the time built in — easy to send to a colleague. Juggling three or more zones? The meeting planner highlights the hours that overlap for everyone.

Does daylight saving time change the CAT–EST difference?

The labels CAT and EST are fixed offsets, so the result on this page is always exact. One side switches between standard and summer time while the other stays put, so the real-world gap can shift by an hour for part of the year. It's worth checking which label a region is actually using before you lock in a time.

How accurate is this CAT to EST conversion?

We don’t guess. CAT and EST times are worked out from the official IANA time zone database, the trusted standard that operating systems use worldwide. Because daylight-saving rules and regional offsets do change over time, we track those updates rather than relying on a fixed number — which is exactly where many converters slip up.

Convert CAT to other time zones

Convert to EST from other time zones

Frequently asked questions

How many hours behind CAT is EST?

EST is 7 hours behind CAT — a fixed 7 hours difference, since both are fixed-offset labels.

What time is it in EST when it's 12:00 PM CAT?

When it's 12:00 PM (noon) CAT, it's 5:00 AM EST.

Do CAT or EST use daylight saving time?

Central Africa Time (CAT) is a fixed offset with no daylight saving; Eastern Standard Time (EST) observes daylight saving, alternating with EDT.

Why might the real-world CAT–EST difference change during the year?

The labels CAT and EST are fixed offsets, so this converter is always exact. But Eastern Standard Time's region switches between standard and summer time, so for part of the year you may actually want CAT to EDT. Always check which label a region is currently using before you schedule.