EST to CST
The difference month by month — the same all year, even though both zones move their clocks — and what that means for a call between New York and Chicago.
How far apart are EST and CST?
CST is 1 hour behind EST on every date the pinned table covers.
When it is 9:00 AM in New York, it is 8:00 AM in Chicago.
Right now
The current reading appears once this page finishes loading.
How does the difference change month by month?
The difference is the same in every month of 2026, which is unusual for a zone pair and worth checking rather than assuming. Here it is, month by month.
Show the month-by-month table
| Month | Difference | Changes on | New difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | −1:00 | No change | |
| February | −1:00 | No change | |
| March | −1:00 | No change | |
| April | −1:00 | No change | |
| May | −1:00 | No change | |
| June | −1:00 | No change | |
| July | −1:00 | No change | |
| August | −1:00 | No change | |
| September | −1:00 | No change | |
| October | −1:00 | No change | |
| November | −1:00 | No change | |
| December | −1:00 | No change |
When does the usual difference not hold?
It always holds. Both zones move their clocks on the same dates, so the difference between them never breaks.