built:date

CST to PDT Converter

This page converts Central Standard Time (CST) to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). PDT is 1 hour behind CST, so a meeting at one time slides predictably to the other. Edit the time or date to begin.

PDT is 2 hours behind CDT
From
CDT

Now in Chicago: 12:53:55 PM CDT

On this date Chicago observes CDT. CST is in effect during standard-time (non-summer) months.

To
PDT

Now in Los Angeles: 10:53:55 AM PDT

Jump to:

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 Central Standard Time (CST).

CST to PDT conversion chart

For example, a 9:00 AM CST meeting takes place at 8:00 AM PDT. Concretely, when Chicago (CST) and Los Angeles (PDT) set up a call, pDT is 1 hour behind CST.

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

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

Convert CST to PDT Time Zone

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

How does the CST to PDT converter work?

It takes three quick steps:

  1. Click the CST field on the left and pick the time you want to convert.
  2. The matching PDT 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.

What is the time difference between CST and PDT?

PDT is 1 hour behind CST. In everyday terms, once you know the time on one side you just subtract 1 hour to get the other — so a call between Chicago and Los Angeles is always 1 hour apart.

What's the current time in PDT?

Right now the time in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is Monday, June 29, 2026 · 10:53:55 AM. It ticks every second, so you’re always looking at the live PDT clock.

And what time is it in CST?

And in Central Standard Time (CST), it’s currently Monday, June 29, 2026 · 11:53:55 AM. Compare the two and the 1 hour gap is easy to see.

Planning a meeting across CST and PDT?

For example, a 9:00 AM CST meeting takes place at 8:00 AM PDT. 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 CST–PDT difference?

The labels CST and PDT 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 1 hour gap usually holds steady right through the year.

How accurate is this CST to PDT conversion?

We don’t guess. CST and PDT 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 CST to other time zones

Convert to PDT from other time zones

Frequently asked questions

How many hours behind CST is PDT?

PDT is 1 hour behind CST — a fixed 1 hour difference, since both are fixed-offset labels.

What time is it in PDT when it's 12:00 PM CST?

When it's 12:00 PM (noon) CST, it's 11:00 AM PDT.

Do CST or PDT use daylight saving time?

Central Standard Time (CST) observes daylight saving, alternating with CDT; Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) observes daylight saving, alternating with PST.

Why might the real-world CST–PDT difference change during the year?

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