CDT to PST Converter

Category: Time Zone Converters

- June 30, 2025

| |

Central Time (CDT/CST)

UTC-5/6 • Chicago, Dallas, Houston

Conversion Settings

Configure your timezone conversion preferences

Auto Convert

Daylight Saving Aware

Show UTC Offset

Show Seconds

Pacific Time (PDT/PST)

UTC-7/8 • Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle

--:--:--

Select a time to convert

Time Difference: --

UTC Offset (CT): -06:00

UTC Offset (PT): -08:00

DST Status: --

CT Time: --

PT Time: --

Time Format:

Current CT: --:--:--

Current PT: --:--:--

🇺🇸 PT is always 2 hours behind CT. Both zones observe Daylight Saving Time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

CT to PT Conversion Guide

What is CT to PT Conversion?

CT to PT conversion helps you translate time between Central Time and Pacific Time zones in the United States. Central Time includes CDT (UTC-5) during daylight saving and CST (UTC-6) during standard time. Pacific Time includes PDT (UTC-7) during daylight saving and PST (UTC-8) during standard time. The time difference between these zones is consistently 2 hours, with PT being behind CT.

Time Zone Information

Central Time (CT): Used in states like Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and parts of others. Switches between CDT (UTC-5) in summer and CST (UTC-6) in winter.

Pacific Time (PT): Used in states like California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. Switches between PDT (UTC-7) in summer and PST (UTC-8) in winter.

Time Difference: PT is consistently 2 hours behind CT year-round. Both zones change together for Daylight Saving Time.

Daylight Saving Time Impact

DST Period: Runs from the second Sunday in March (2025: March 9) to the first Sunday in November (2025: November 2)

Summer Time: CDT (UTC-5) and PDT (UTC-7) - both zones are 1 hour ahead of their standard time

Winter Time: CST (UTC-6) and PST (UTC-8) - both zones use their standard time offsets

Consistent Difference: The 2-hour time difference remains constant as both zones change simultaneously

Common Conversion Examples

Business Hours

CT 9:00 AM → PT 7:00 AM

CT 5:00 PM → PT 3:00 PM

Good overlap for cross-timezone work

Meeting Planning

Best CT Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Converts to PT: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Optimal business hours overlap

TV Shows & Events

CT 8:00 PM → PT 6:00 PM

CT 11:00 PM → PT 9:00 PM

Standard broadcast times

Flight Scheduling

CT Departure: 3:00 PM

PT Arrival: 3:00 PM (local)

Subtract 2 hours plus flight time

Conversion Tips & Best Practices

• Simply subtract 2 hours from CT to get PT - this rule works year-round

• Both zones change for Daylight Saving Time on the same dates, maintaining the 2-hour difference

• Pacific Time covers the entire West Coast - California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada

• Central Time spans from Texas up through the Midwest to the Canadian border

• Stock market opens at 8:30 AM CT (6:30 AM PT) and closes at 3:00 PM CT (1:00 PM PT)

• During DST transitions at 2:00 AM, be extra careful with early morning scheduling

CT to PT Time Converter

Trying to match up schedules between Central Time and Pacific Time? Whether you're coordinating with coworkers in California, catching a live stream from Chicago, or booking a flight that hops across time zones, this tool makes it all a whole lot easier.

What this time converter actually does

This tool helps you convert time between Central Time (CT) and Pacific Time (PT) quickly and accurately. You choose a date and time in either zone, and it tells you the exact equivalent in the other—adjusted for Daylight Saving Time if you want it to be. It even shows you the UTC offset, current local times, and whether daylight time is active. And if you're in a hurry, you can just click “Now” to grab the current time.

Why this helps you stay on schedule

Even though CT and PT are always two hours apart, the details still trip people up, especially when meetings, broadcasts, or travel plans land during the Daylight Saving switch. This converter keeps that 2-hour difference straight, no matter the season. It also helps you double-check times so you’re not accidentally showing up late to a Zoom call or missing that concert stream you were counting on.

How to use it

Step 1: Pick your starting time

Use the date and time inputs to set the time you’re starting from. By default, it begins in Central Time. If you want to start from Pacific instead, just switch the zone using the dropdown or the “Swap” button.

Step 2: Choose your options

Auto Convert: When checked, the tool will automatically update the conversion every time you change the time or date.
Daylight Saving Aware: Keeps track of whether DST is in effect on the selected date. This is turned on by default and usually should stay that way unless you're working with old data.
Show UTC Offset: Adds the UTC offsets to the results, if you like seeing how far off you are from Coordinated Universal Time.
Show Seconds: Turns seconds on or off in the display. You can also switch between 12-hour and 24-hour formats using the button below the results.

Step 3: Convert it

Click “Convert Time” and you’ll get a full breakdown. You’ll see the converted time at the top and some bonus details below like time difference, UTC offsets for both zones, and whether daylight time is currently in effect.

Extra Tools built in

Live clocks: You’ll always see the current time in both zones near the bottom so you can compare them side by side.
One-click updates: Hit “Now” to use the current time in your chosen input zone, or “Reset” to go back to the default settings and start over.
Swap zones instantly: Click the “Swap” button to flip CT and PT and see the reverse conversion in a flash.
Keyboard shortcuts: Press Space or Enter to convert, S to swap zones, N for current time, R to reset, and F to toggle 12/24 hour mode. Handy if you’re doing a lot of comparisons.

What could trip you up

There are a couple things worth watching for:

No date or time selected? The tool won’t do anything until you enter both a date and a time.
Timezone dropdown changes input zone: If you switch from Central to Pacific using the dropdown, the labels and layout will flip too. That’s normal, and it helps you keep track of which way the conversion is going.
DST settings matter: If you're trying to figure out a time from the past or the future, double-check that DST is enabled so you get an accurate offset.

Real-world use: Planning a Zoom call from Austin to San Francisco

Let’s say you live in Austin, Texas (CT) and you want to schedule a Zoom meeting with a client in San Francisco (PT). You set your meeting for 2:30 PM CT. Plug that into the tool, hit “Convert Time,” and you'll instantly see that it’s 12:30 PM PT. Now you can send the invite with confidence and avoid that awkward double-checking email.

Stay on time across time zones

This CT to PT converter gives you just the facts, fast. No guesswork, no mental math, and no more showing up late because you got the time wrong. Whether it’s business, travel, or just catching up with friends a couple of states away, this tool helps you stay in sync. Quick, clear, and accurate—that’s the kind of time math you’ll actually use.