TimeInUSA.org
CT Time Zone • Central Time

Current Time in Central Time (CDT)

01:53:59
Wed, Aug 26, 2026 • UTC-5 / America/Chicago • Daylight Saving Active (CDT)
Eastern Time (ET) • Central Time (CT) • Mountain Time (MT) • Pacific Time (PT) • Alaska Time (AKT) • Hawaii Time (HST)

Central Time Now

Check the current Central Time in the United States with our live clock. Central Time is used across much of the central United States, including cities such as Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin.

Central Time alternates between Central Standard Time (CST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT) depending on the time of year.

Central Time UTC Offset

  • CST: UTC−6
  • CDT: UTC−5

During daylight saving time, clocks move forward one hour and Central Time changes from CST to CDT.

Major Cities in Central Time

Some of the largest US cities using Central Time include:

  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Houston, Texas
  • Dallas, Texas
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • Austin, Texas
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Kansas City, Missouri

States in the Central Time Zone

The Central Time Zone covers a large band of the central United States. Some states are entirely within Central Time, while others are divided.

States Entirely in Central Time

The following states observe Central Time throughout the state:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Oklahoma
• Wisconsin

States Partially in Central Time

Several states are divided between Central and other time zones:

  • Texas: Most of the state observes Central Time. The westernmost counties, including El Paso, use Mountain Time.
  • Tennessee: Middle and Western Tennessee, including Nashville and Memphis, observe Central Time. Eastern Tennessee uses Eastern Time.
  • Florida: Most of Florida uses Eastern Time. The western Florida Panhandle uses Central Time.
  • Indiana: A few counties in the northwestern and southwestern parts of the state use Central Time, while the rest of Indiana uses Eastern Time.
  • Kentucky: The western half of Kentucky uses Central Time, while the eastern part observes Eastern Time.
  • Michigan: A tiny portion of the western Upper Peninsula uses Central Time, while the rest of the state uses Eastern Time.
  • Kansas: Most of Kansas uses Central Time, except for four counties on the western border which use Mountain Time.
  • Nebraska: The eastern part of the state, including Omaha and Lincoln, uses Central Time. The western portion uses Mountain Time.
  • North Dakota: The eastern and northern parts of North Dakota use Central Time. The southwestern part uses Mountain Time.
  • South Dakota: The eastern half of the state uses Central Time. The western half uses Mountain Time.

Because some states cross time-zone boundaries, the local time can vary depending on the city or county.

Central Time Compared to Other US Time Zones

Central Time is:

  • 1 hour behind Eastern Time
  • 1 hour ahead of Mountain Time
  • 2 hours ahead of Pacific Time
  • 3 hours ahead of Alaska Time
  • 4 or 5 hours ahead of Hawaii, depending on daylight saving time

Does Central Time Use Daylight Saving Time?

Most locations in the Central Time Zone observe daylight saving time.

During the winter, these locations use Central Standard Time (CST). During daylight saving time, they use Central Daylight Time (CDT).

Some exceptions may apply in specific territories or jurisdictions.

Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is it in Central Time right now?

The live clock at the top of this page shows the current Central Time in the United States.

Is Central Time CST or CDT right now?

Central Time uses CST during standard time and CDT during daylight saving time. The current abbreviation is displayed automatically alongside the live clock.

Which US states are in the Central Time Zone?

Ten states are entirely within the Central Time Zone, while Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas are partially within Central Time.

Is Texas in Central Time?

Most of Texas observes Central Time, including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. The El Paso area observes Mountain Time.

Is Illinois in Central Time?

Yes, the entire state of Illinois, including Chicago, is in the Central Time Zone.

How many hours behind is Central Time from Eastern Time?

Central Time is one hour behind Eastern Time.

What is Central Time in UTC?

Central Standard Time is UTC−6. Central Daylight Time is UTC−5.