5 PM EST ⟷ Central Time Converter
Time Difference
Loading time difference...
Quick Reference
Meeting Planner
Your meeting details will appear here
World Clock
Understanding EST to Central Time Conversion
Time Zone Basics
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC-5, while Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6. This creates a 1-hour difference between the two time zones. During Daylight Saving Time, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is UTC-4, and Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5, maintaining the 1-hour difference.
EST/EDT (Eastern Standard/Daylight Time)
EST: UTC-5 (winter), EDT: UTC-4 (summer)
CST/CDT (Central Standard/Daylight Time)
CST: UTC-6 (winter), CDT: UTC-5 (summer)
5 PM EST to Central Time
When it's 5:00 PM Eastern Time, it's 4:00 PM Central Time. This is because Central Time is always 1 hour behind Eastern Time, regardless of whether Daylight Saving Time is in effect or not.
Eastern Time
New York, Washington DC, Florida, etc.
Central Time
Chicago, Dallas, Houston, etc.
Common Conversion Examples
Tips for Cross-Time Zone Scheduling
Specify the time zone
Always include the time zone abbreviation (EST, EDT, CST, CDT) when communicating times.
Consider business hours
Standard business hours (9 AM - 5 PM) in both time zones have a significant overlap, making scheduling easier.
Use 24-hour format
When scheduling across time zones, use the 24-hour format to avoid AM/PM confusion.
Check for DST changes
Be aware of Daylight Saving Time changes, which occur on different dates in some regions.