built:date

CET to EST Converter

Trying to line up CET and EST? EST is 6 hours behind CET. Set any CET time below to see the matching EST time and date.

EDT is 6 hours behind CEST
From
CEST

Now in Paris: 7:53:58 PM CEST

On this date Paris observes CEST. CET is in effect during standard-time (non-summer) months.

To
EDT

Now in New York: 1:53:58 PM EDT

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

Jump to:

Daylight saving notes

In the European Union and the UK, summer time runs from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. That affects Central European Time (CET).

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).

CET to EST conversion chart

For example, a 9:00 AM CET meeting takes place at 3:00 AM EST. Concretely, when Paris (CET) and New York (EST) set up a call, eST is 6 hours behind CET.

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

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

Convert CET to EST Time Zone

A quick guide to CET → EST: the time gap, the live clocks, scheduling tips, and how we keep it accurate.

How does the CET to EST converter work?

It takes three quick steps:

  1. Click the CET 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.

How many hours apart are CET and EST?

EST is 6 hours behind CET. In everyday terms, once you know the time on one side you just subtract 6 hours to get the other — so a call between Paris and New York is always 6 hours apart.

What's the current time in EST?

Right now the time in Eastern Standard Time (EST) is Monday, June 29, 2026 · 12:53:58 PM. It ticks every second, so you’re always looking at the live EST clock.

And what time is it in CET?

And in Central European Time (CET), it’s currently Monday, June 29, 2026 · 6:53:58 PM. Compare the two and the 6 hours gap is easy to see.

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

For example, a 9:00 AM CET meeting takes place at 3:00 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 CET–EST difference?

The labels CET and EST are fixed offsets, so the result on this page is always exact. Both regions move their clocks for daylight saving on roughly the same weekends, so the 6 hours gap usually holds steady right through the year.

How accurate is this CET to EST conversion?

We don’t guess. CET 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 CET to other time zones

Convert to EST from other time zones

Frequently asked questions

How many hours behind CET is EST?

EST is 6 hours behind CET — a fixed 6 hours difference, since both are fixed-offset labels.

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

When it's 12:00 PM (noon) CET, it's 6:00 AM EST.

Do CET or EST use daylight saving time?

Central European Time (CET) observes daylight saving, alternating with CEST; Eastern Standard Time (EST) observes daylight saving, alternating with EDT.

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

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