MST to CST Converter

Category: Time Zone Converters

- July 01, 2025

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MST Time

Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7)

Central Time

Central Standard Time (UTC-6)

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Time Format:

Current MST: --:--:--

Current CST: --:--:--

⏰ Checking daylight saving status...

MST to CST Conversion Information

Time Zone Basics

Mountain Standard Time (MST) is observed in parts of the western United States, including Arizona (year-round), Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Central Standard Time (CST) is observed in a large portion of North America, including states like Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of Canada and Mexico.

Time Differences

Standard Time: MST is 1 hour behind CST. When it's 12:00 PM (noon) CST, it's 11:00 AM MST.

Daylight Time: MDT is 1 hour behind CDT. When it's 12:00 PM (noon) CDT, it's 11:00 AM MDT.

2025 Daylight Saving Schedule

Spring Forward

Date: Sunday, March 9, 2025

Time: 2:00 AM becomes 3:00 AM

Change: MST becomes MDT, CST becomes CDT

Both zones "spring forward" one hour

Fall Back

Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025

Time: 2:00 AM becomes 1:00 AM

Change: MDT becomes MST, CDT becomes CST

Both zones "fall back" one hour

Example: Standard Time

MST: 3:00 PM (15:00)

CST: 4:00 PM (16:00)

Difference: CST is 1 hour ahead

During winter months

Example: Daylight Time

MDT: 3:00 PM (15:00)

CDT: 4:00 PM (16:00)

Difference: CDT is 1 hour ahead

During summer months

Important Notes

• The time difference remains constant at 1 hour throughout the year since both zones change simultaneously

• Arizona (except Navajo Nation) stays on MST year-round and doesn't observe daylight saving time

• Most of Saskatchewan, Canada also stays on CST year-round

• Business hours typically overlap well between these two time zones

• Both zones change at the same dates: second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November

Convert MST to CST

Mountain and Central time zones are only one hour apart, but figuring out which zone is observing daylight saving and when can still trip you up. This converter takes care of that for you. Whether you’re scheduling a meeting from Denver to Dallas, or syncing tasks between Utah and Illinois, this tool makes time zone differences seamless.

MST/MDT Zone	CST/CDT Zone
🇺🇸 Arizona (MST year-round, except Navajo Nation) 🇺🇸 Colorado 🇺🇸 Utah 🇺🇸 New Mexico 🇺🇸 Wyoming 🇺🇸 Montana (partially) 🇨🇦 Alberta	🇺🇸 Texas 🇺🇸 Illinois 🇺🇸 Minnesota 🇺🇸 Wisconsin 🇺🇸 Missouri 🇲🇽 Mexico (central states) 🇨🇦 Manitoba 🇨🇦 Saskatchewan (some regions stay on CST all year)

How the Conversion Works

This converter takes the MST date and time you enter and adjusts it for Central Time. Since both time zones switch to daylight saving on the same dates, the difference remains 1 hour year-round. But the tool still identifies whether daylight saving is active, and updates the zone names (MST/MDT and CST/CDT) accordingly.

How to Use the MST to CST Converter

1. Enter a Mountain Time

Start by entering your MST (or MDT) time and date on the left side.

2. Click Convert

Tap the 🏔️ Convert MST to CST button. Your CST result appears instantly with time, date, and day of week.

3. Switch Display Format

Click the “12 Hour” button to toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour display modes. The change updates both live and converted times.

Bonus Features That Make This Even Easier

Live Time in Both Zones

Below the converter, you'll see the current local time in Mountain and Central zones, refreshed every second. Perfect for quick checks across teams.

Live DST Status Display

The DST status lets you know whether each region is using standard or daylight time, along with the updated UTC offset. This helps eliminate second-guessing during spring and fall transitions.

Accurate Date and Day Results

The converter doesn't just show the time; it shows the converted date and day of week too, useful when events span across midnight.

Example Use Case

Let’s say you're in Denver and want to schedule a product demo for colleagues in Chicago. You plan for 2:30 PM MST on October 10. Enter that into the converter, and it tells you: 3:30 PM CDT. You know exactly what to put in your calendar invite.

No More Guessing Between MST, MDT, CST, and CDT

This tool makes time zone conversion between Mountain and Central time foolproof. Whether it's December or July, Arizona or Texas, you'll always get the right local time on the other side. Just enter, convert, and go.