CST to CET Converter

Category: Time Zone Converters

- July 01, 2025

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Central Standard Time (CST)

UTC-6/-5 • Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Mexico City

Conversion Settings

Configure your timezone conversion preferences

Auto Convert

Daylight Saving Aware

Show UTC Offset

Central European Time (CET)

UTC+1/+2 • Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid

--:--:--

Select a time to convert

Time Difference: --

UTC Offset (CST): -6:00

UTC Offset (CET): +1:00

DST Status: --

CST/CDT Time: --

CET/CEST Time: --

Time Format:

Current CST/CDT: --:--:--

Current CET/CEST: --:--:--

🌎 CST is UTC-6 (winter) and CDT is UTC-5 (summer). CET is UTC+1 (winter) and CEST is UTC+2 (summer).

CST to CET Conversion Guide

What is CST to CET Conversion?

CST to CET conversion helps you translate time between Central Standard Time and Central European Time zones. CST is UTC-6 in winter and becomes CDT (UTC-5) during daylight saving time from March to November. CET is UTC+1 in winter and becomes CEST (UTC+2) during daylight saving time from March to October.

Time Zone Information

Central Standard Time (CST): Used in central US, Canada, and Mexico including Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Mexico City. UTC-6 in winter, becomes CDT (UTC-5) during daylight saving.

Central European Time (CET): Used in most of Europe including Berlin, Paris, Rome, and Madrid. UTC+1 in winter, becomes CEST (UTC+2) during daylight saving.

Time Difference: CET is typically 7 hours ahead of CST, but varies between 6-8 hours depending on daylight saving time periods.

Daylight Saving Time Impact

Winter Period (CST/CET): November to March - CET is 7 hours ahead of CST

Summer Period (CDT/CEST): Both observe DST - CET is 7 hours ahead of CST

Transition Periods: Brief periods where difference is 6 or 8 hours due to different DST start/end dates

Common Conversion Examples

Business Hours (Winter)

CST 9:00 AM → CET 4:00 PM

CST 6:00 PM → CET 1:00 AM (next day)

7 hour time difference during winter

Business Hours (Summer)

CDT 9:00 AM → CEST 4:00 PM

CDT 6:00 PM → CEST 1:00 AM (next day)

7 hour time difference during summer

Meeting Planning

Best CST Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Converts to CET: 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Afternoon CST for evening CET

Event Scheduling

CST Midnight: 7:00 AM CET

CST Noon: 7:00 PM CET

Perfect for global event timing

Conversion Tips & Best Practices

• Both time zones observe daylight saving time with similar 7-hour difference most of the year

• Watch for transition periods when DST start/end dates differ between regions

• Business meetings work best when CST is in afternoon (2-4 PM) for CET evening hours

• CET is typically ahead by 7 hours, making same-day meetings challenging

• Use 24-hour format to avoid AM/PM confusion when scheduling internationally

• CST transitions to CDT on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM

Convert Time Between CST and CET

Whether you’re planning a video call between Texas and Germany or working across Mexico City and Paris, this CST to CET converter makes it simple to stay synced. Below is a table showing which countries use each timezone, with flags to help you visually identify regions at a glance.

CST/CDT (UTC-6 / UTC-5)	CET/CEST (UTC+1 / UTC+2)
🇺🇸 United States 🇨🇦 Canada 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇸🇻 El Salvador 🇬🇹 Guatemala 🇭🇳 Honduras 🇳🇮 Nicaragua 🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🇧🇿 Belize	🇩🇪 Germany 🇫🇷 France 🇪🇸 Spain 🇮🇹 Italy 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇦🇹 Austria 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇱 Poland 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇲🇪 Montenegro 🇲🇰 North Macedonia 🇽🇰 Kosovo 🇦🇱 Albania 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇲🇨 Monaco 🇦🇩 Andorra 🇸🇲 San Marino 🇻🇦 Vatican City

CST/CDT (UTC-6 / UTC-5)

CET/CEST (UTC+1 / UTC+2)

🇺🇸 United States

🇨🇦 Canada

🇲🇽 Mexico

🇸🇻 El Salvador

🇬🇹 Guatemala

🇭🇳 Honduras

🇳🇮 Nicaragua

🇨🇷 Costa Rica

🇧🇿 Belize

🇩🇪 Germany

🇫🇷 France

🇪🇸 Spain

🇮🇹 Italy

🇳🇱 Netherlands

🇧🇪 Belgium

🇦🇹 Austria

🇨🇭 Switzerland

🇩🇰 Denmark

🇸🇪 Sweden

🇳🇴 Norway

🇵🇱 Poland

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

🇸🇰 Slovakia

🇭🇺 Hungary

🇸🇮 Slovenia

🇭🇷 Croatia

🇷🇸 Serbia

🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina

🇲🇪 Montenegro

🇲🇰 North Macedonia

🇽🇰 Kosovo

🇦🇱 Albania

🇱🇮 Liechtenstein

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

🇲🇨 Monaco

🇦🇩 Andorra

🇸🇲 San Marino

🇻🇦 Vatican City

Planning around timezones shouldn't feel like a puzzle

Time difference between Central US and Central Europe isn’t always the same. Thanks to daylight saving time, it can swing between 6, 7, or even 8 hours depending on the time of year. This tool handles all that behind the scenes so you don’t have to think about it. Whether you're syncing a daily scrum or prepping for an international webinar, it's designed to give you a clear picture fast.

How to use this converter without missing a beat

Step 1: Choose your date and time

Enter the date and time you'd like to convert. The tool defaults to CST, but you can flip that if your starting time is based in Europe.

Step 2: Select your starting timezone

Use the dropdown to pick either CST/CDT or CET/CEST as your base. Once that’s set, the output timezone flips to the other side automatically.

Step 3: Decide if you want auto updates

By default, “Auto Convert” is checked. That means the tool updates your conversion live as you type. Prefer manual control? Uncheck it and press the “Convert Time” button whenever you're ready.

Step 4: Get clear results

The converted time appears with details like:

Daylight saving status (CST or CDT, CET or CEST)
Time difference in hours
Optional UTC offset
Full formatted date and time for both zones

Make the most of what this tool offers

Live clocks for both zones

You’ll always see the current time in CST/CDT and CET/CEST right on the screen, refreshing every second. It’s a helpful anchor for anything you’re planning in real-time.

Flip the direction anytime

Need to convert from Europe back to the US? The “Swap” button instantly reverses the input and output timezones. Everything adjusts with a single click.

Set it to the current moment

Click the “Now” button and the input fills with the current time in your selected starting timezone. Super handy for checking where things stand this very second.

Switch between 12 and 24-hour views

Use the toggle to flip between formats based on your preference or regional habits. No need to guess what “16:00” means if you prefer to see 4:00 PM.

Need a real-world example?

If you're in Houston and need to coordinate a presentation with someone in Rome, this tool makes it simple. Just plug in 10:00 AM CST and get 5:00 PM CET. No timezone lookup, no counting fingers, and no calendar mistakes.

Keep your calls and calendars aligned

Timezones don’t have to be a stumbling block. This converter stays on top of daylight saving changes in both North America and Europe, shows you current differences, and helps you plan smarter. Whether you're arranging a deadline, a daily check-in, or a launch event, you'll always be working from the right time.