CDT to ET Converter

Category: Time Zone Converters
- July 04, 2025
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Central Daylight Time (CDT)

UTC-5 • Chicago, Dallas, Houston (Summer)

Conversion Settings

Configure your timezone conversion preferences

Eastern Time (ET)

UTC-4/-5 • New York, Toronto, Miami (All Year)
--:--:--
Select a time to convert
Time Difference: --
UTC Offset (Input): -5
UTC Offset (Output): -4/-5
DST Status: --
Input Time: --
Output Time: --
Time Format:
Current CDT: --:--:--
Current ET: --:--:--
🌍 CDT is UTC-5 (summer only). ET switches between EST (UTC-5) in winter and EDT (UTC-4) in summer automatically.

CDT to ET Conversion Guide

What is CDT to ET Conversion?

CDT to ET conversion helps you translate time between Central Daylight Time and Eastern Time. CDT is specifically the summer time (UTC-5) used in central North America, while ET is a generic term that automatically switches between EST (UTC-5) in winter and EDT (UTC-4) in summer. The time difference is typically 1 hour, with ET being ahead of CDT.

Time Zone Information

Central Daylight Time (CDT): Summer time zone used in central North America. Always UTC-5, only observed during daylight saving time period (March to November).
Eastern Time (ET): Generic term for eastern North America time zone. Automatically switches between EST (UTC-5) in winter and EDT (UTC-4) in summer.
Time Difference: 1 hour during summer (CDT to EDT), 0 hours during winter overlap (CDT doesn't exist in winter).

Daylight Saving Time Impact

CDT Period: Used from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November when Central Time observes daylight saving
EDT Period: Eastern Time becomes EDT (UTC-4) during the same period as CDT is observed
Synchronized Changes: Both CDT and EDT start and end on the same dates, maintaining consistent 1-hour difference

Common Conversion Examples

Summer Period (CDT to EDT)
CDT 9:00 AM → EDT 10:00 AM
CDT 5:00 PM → EDT 6:00 PM
1-hour difference during daylight saving time
Business Hours
CDT 8:00 AM → EDT 9:00 AM
CDT 6:00 PM → EDT 7:00 PM
Standard workday coordination
Meeting Scheduling
CDT 2:00 PM → EDT 3:00 PM
CDT 4:00 PM → EDT 5:00 PM
Conference call timing
Winter Consideration
CDT → Not Used
CST 10:00 AM → EST 11:00 AM
CDT doesn't exist in winter; use CST instead

Conversion Tips & Best Practices

• CDT is only used during summer months; during winter, Central Time uses CST (UTC-6)
• CDT and EDT are synchronized, both starting/ending on the same dates
• Eastern Time is always 1 hour ahead of Central Daylight Time
• Most business coordination between these zones uses the consistent 1-hour difference
• Both time zones follow the same daylight saving schedule in the United States and Canada
• When CDT ends in November, remember to switch to CST for winter time calculations

CDT to ET Converter

If you're working between Central Daylight Time and Eastern Time, this tool is built to save you time and mistakes. Below is a quick reference table showing countries in each of these zones, helping you visualize where you're working across.

CDT Countries 🇺🇸 UTC-5 (Summer) ET Countries 🇺🇸🇨🇦 UTC-4/-5
🇺🇸 United States (parts only)
🇨🇦 Canada (parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan)
🇲🇽 Mexico (some northern states)
🇺🇸 United States (New York, Florida, etc.)
🇨🇦 Canada (Ontario, Quebec)
🇧🇸 Bahamas
🇧🇧 Barbados
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
🇭🇹 Haiti
🇯🇲 Jamaica (does not observe DST)
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico (does not observe DST)
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
🇦🇮 Anguilla
🇧🇲 Bermuda
🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis
🇬🇩 Grenada
🇲🇸 Montserrat
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
🇧🇶 Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
🇰🇾 Cayman Islands
🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands

A quick fix for one of the most common scheduling gaps

If you've ever found yourself second-guessing whether your 2 PM Central meeting is really 3 PM Eastern—or if it slips into the wrong slot altogether—this tool clears that up in seconds. Built specifically to convert between Central Daylight Time and Eastern Time, it's a no-fuss way to get the time right the first try.

Why this matters more than you think

Whether you're planning a call between Dallas and New York, working on a remote team, or just trying to catch a live event without missing a minute, even a one-hour shift can throw off your whole day. This converter helps eliminate those hiccups, especially during daylight saving months when time rules get messy.

Here’s how to use it

Pick your time

Start by choosing the date and time in the input section. The tool defaults to Central Daylight Time (CDT), but you can switch that using the dropdown just above the time inputs.

Adjust your settings

Want the conversion to update as soon as you change the time? Turn on “Auto Convert.” Need to factor in daylight saving time? Make sure “Daylight Saving Aware” is checked. You can also choose to display UTC offsets or show seconds if you're working on tight schedules.

Click to convert

Hit the "Convert Time" button. Or, click “Now” to load the current time from your input zone. The output panel will show the converted time, date, UTC offsets, time difference, and whether DST is affecting the result.

Need to reverse the zones?

Tap the “Swap” button to switch the direction. You’ll immediately see Eastern Time move to the input side and Central Daylight Time as the output. You can switch back and forth anytime.

Extra tools that make it better

  • Live clocks for both CDT and ET run at the bottom of the tool, always updated.
  • You can toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour formats using the “12 Hour” / “24 Hour” button.
  • If your browser supports keyboard shortcuts, press N for "Now," S to swap zones, or R to reset everything instantly.

Watch out for these easy-to-miss quirks

One thing to keep in mind: CDT only exists during the summer. From November through March, Central Time becomes CST (UTC-6), and the tool won’t show CDT for those months. If you try to use CDT outside of its valid range, the results might not match what you expect.

Also, if you toggle off daylight saving awareness, the tool will treat both time zones as fixed-year round. That’s helpful for some international uses, but not ideal if you’re working with US-based schedules.

An everyday example: planning from Honduras to Canada

Let’s say you’re based in Honduras, which uses Central Standard Time year-round, and you’re coordinating a video interview with someone in Toronto. If it’s July, Toronto is using EDT, which is one hour ahead. Just plug in 2 PM for CDT and the tool instantly shows 3 PM in ET—saving you from back-and-forth emails or missed calls.

Make smoother handoffs between zones all summer long

Instead of second-guessing your calendar or bouncing between time apps, this tool gives you a clean and reliable way to line up CDT and ET hours. Whether it’s for meetings, events, deadlines, or just daily check-ins, you’ll stay aligned, even when the clocks aren’t.

Time now in these cities:

New York · London · Tokyo · Paris · Hong Kong · Singapore · Dubai · Los Angeles · Shanghai · Beijing · Sydney · Mumbai

Time now in countries:

🇺🇸 USA | 🇨🇳 China | 🇮🇳 India | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇫🇷 France | 🇨🇦 Canada | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇧🇷 Brazil |

Time now in time zones:

UTC | GMT | CET | PST | MST | CST | EST | EET | IST | China (CST) | JST | AEST | SAST | MSK | NZST |

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