CST to AST Converter

Category: Time Zone Converters

- July 04, 2025

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Central Standard Time (CST)

UTC-6/-5 • Chicago, Houston, Dallas

Conversion Settings

Configure your timezone conversion preferences

Auto Convert

Daylight Saving Aware

Show UTC Offset

Show Seconds

Atlantic Standard Time (AST)

UTC-4/-3 • Halifax, Saint John, Sydney

--:--:--

Select a time to convert

Time Difference: --

UTC Offset (CST): -6

UTC Offset (AST): -4

DST Status: --

CST Time: --

AST Time: --

Time Format:

Current CST: --:--:--

Current AST: --:--:--

🌎 Central Time switches between CST (UTC-6) and CDT (UTC-5). Atlantic Time switches between AST (UTC-4) and ADT (UTC-3). Time difference is always 2 hours.

CST to AST Conversion Guide

What is CST to AST Conversion?

CST to AST conversion helps you translate time between Central Standard Time and Atlantic Standard Time. CST switches between CST (UTC-6) in winter and CDT (UTC-5) in summer, while AST switches between AST (UTC-4) in winter and ADT (UTC-3) in summer. The time difference remains constant at 2 hours year-round, with AST always being ahead.

Time Zone Information

Central Time (CT): Used in central North America including Chicago, Houston, and Dallas. Switches between CST (UTC-6) and CDT (UTC-5) with daylight saving time.

Atlantic Time (AT): Used in eastern Canada including Halifax, Saint John, and Sydney. Switches between AST (UTC-4) and ADT (UTC-3) with daylight saving time.

Constant Difference: AST is always 2 hours ahead of Central Time, regardless of daylight saving time status.

Daylight Saving Time Impact

Synchronized Changes: Both time zones observe daylight saving time during the same period (March to November)

Constant Gap: Since both zones change together, the 2-hour difference remains constant throughout the year

Same Transitions: Both zones spring forward and fall back on the same dates, maintaining consistency

Common Conversion Examples

Business Hours

CST 9:00 AM → AST 11:00 AM

CST 5:00 PM → AST 7:00 PM

Standard business hours conversion

Regional Meetings

CST 10:00 AM → AST 12:00 PM

CST 2:00 PM → AST 4:00 PM

Cross-regional business coordination

Travel Planning

CST 6:00 AM → AST 8:00 AM

CST 11:00 PM → AST 1:00 AM (next day)

Flight scheduling and travel coordination

Media Broadcasting

CST 8:00 PM → AST 10:00 PM

CST 7:30 AM → AST 9:30 AM

TV and radio programming schedules

Conversion Tips & Best Practices

• AST is always exactly 2 hours ahead of Central Time throughout the year

• Both time zones observe daylight saving time during the same period (March to November)

• To convert CST to AST, simply add 2 hours to the Central time

• AST dates may change when converting late evening Central times

• Good business hour overlap exists between 11 AM - 3 PM CST (1 PM - 5 PM AST)

• Both regions follow the same daylight saving time schedule within North America

Convert Time Between Central and Atlantic Zones

If you’ve ever scheduled a meeting across states or planned a trip to the East Coast of Canada, you’ve probably hit that confusing bump where clocks don’t line up. This CST to AST Time Converter is a simple way to translate your time accurately between Central and Atlantic time zones. Whether you're checking meeting times, travel schedules, or broadcast slots, this tool lets you enter a date and time in one zone and instantly see what it looks like in the other.

Central Time (CST/CDT)	Atlantic Time (AST/ADT)
🇺🇸 United States 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇨🇦 Canada	🇨🇦 Canada 🇧🇲 Bermuda 🇩🇲 Dominica 🇬🇩 Grenada 🇬🇾 Guyana 🇧🇧 Barbados 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago

Why this tool saves you time (and possibly frustration)

Let’s say you’re in Houston and planning a video call with someone in Halifax. You know there’s a time gap, but is it one hour? Two? Did daylight saving kick in last week? This calculator takes that guesswork out. Just pick the time, choose the zone, and you’ll get the answer in seconds. No need to Google time zones or fiddle with your phone's clock settings.

Here’s how it works

Step 1: Set your time

Start by selecting a date and time using the input panel on the left side of the tool. You’ll see options for both CST (Central) and AST (Atlantic). The default zone is Central, but you can switch it.

Step 2: Choose your input zone

Use the dropdown menu to set whether your time is in CST or AST. The tool automatically adjusts everything based on your selection.

Step 3: Get your result

Click “Convert Time,” or let the tool do it automatically if you’ve enabled Auto Convert. The right panel updates instantly, showing you the converted time along with formatted details like UTC offset, DST status, and time difference.

Step 4: Use helpful extras

There are additional buttons for convenience:

Swap: Instantly flips the input and output zones
Now: Sets the current local time for quick comparison
Reset: Clears everything and starts fresh

Helpful features built into the calculator

Auto Convert: Automatically updates the result when you change the time or date
DST Awareness: Calculates using the correct offset based on daylight saving rules
Show Seconds: Includes seconds for precision timing
Show UTC Offset: Adds the exact UTC offset in the result view
12/24 Hour Toggle: Choose the format that works best for you

You can also check the live current time in both zones right on the screen. It updates every second, so you can monitor in real-time while making adjustments.

What if you’re scheduling from Belize to Bermuda?

This tool really shines when you’re planning something between countries. Say you’re in 🇧🇿 Belize (on Central Time) and trying to align with someone in 🇧🇲 Bermuda (on Atlantic Time). Instead of hoping you’ve calculated the right gap, you just plug the time in and see the match on the other side. Because both zones follow daylight saving changes at the same time, the 2-hour difference stays constant year-round.

Tips to make your conversion seamless

If you’re working late in Central Time, remember the date might roll over in Atlantic
Use the live clocks to confirm you’re not dealing with unexpected DST transitions
Stick with Auto Convert if you’re juggling multiple meeting times quickly
Try the Swap button if you want to reverse the conversion

Everything on screen adjusts dynamically, so you can experiment with different times and see exactly how they line up.

Keep your cross-time meetings running smooth

This converter keeps things simple. Whether you're syncing schedules across the US and Canada, or checking the right time before calling someone in Barbados, you’ll have a clean, accurate answer in seconds. With tools like Auto Convert, DST handling, and formatted outputs, this isn’t just helpful, it’s reliable. No second-guessing your calendar again.