Central Time Zone - CT

Central Time, or CT, is actually a blanket term used to describe the areas that observe either the Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Time.

Central Standard Time (CST)

Central Standard Time is six hours behind the Coordinated Universal Time standard, written as an offset of UTC - 6:00. That means to find the standard time in the zone you must subtract six hours from Coordinated Universal Time.

Central Daylight Time (CDT)

Central Daylight Time is five hours behind the Coordinated Universal Time standard, written as an offset of UTC - 5:00. That means to find the standard time in the zone you must subtract five hours from Coordinated Universal Time.

Territories observing these time zones are primarily in North and Central America. They run through several Mexican and U.S. states, as well as several Canadian provinces and Central American countries.

In many of the areas where this time zone is used, during fall to winter months Central Standard Time is observed, and then during Daylight Saving (spring to summer months) Central Daylight Time or CDT is used.

Locations in the Central Time Zone

The following areas are included in the time zone:

• North America

  • United States

    • Alabama

    • Arkansas

    • North-west Florida

    • Illinois

    • Parts of Indiana

    • Iowa

    • Kansas

    • Kentucky

    • Louisiana

    • Michigan

    • Minnesota

    • Mississippi

    • Missouri

    • Nebraska

    • North Dakota

    • Oklahoma

    • South Dakota

    • Tennessee

    • Texas

    • Wisconsin

  • Canada

    • Manitoba

    • Ontario

    • Saskatchewan

  • Mexico

    • Aguascalientes

    • Campeche

    • Chiapas

    • Coahuila

    • Colima

    • Distrito Federal

    • Durango

    • Guanajuato

    • Guerro

    • Hidalgo

    • Jalisco

    • Leon

    • Michoacan

    • Morelos

    • Mexico

    • Nuevo Leon

    • Oaxaca

    • Puebla

    • Queretaro

    • Quintana Roo

    • San Luis Potosi

    • Tabasco

    • Tamaulipas

    • Tlaxcala

    • Veracruz

    • Yucatan

    • Zacatecas

  • Central America

    • Belize

    • Costa Rica

    • El Salvador

    • Guatemala

    • Honduras

    • Nicaragua