Convert CST to PST
PST = CST −2 h
PST is 2 hours behind CST. CST is always UTC−6 and PST is always UTC−8, so this gap is the same on every date.
CST · Central Standard Time · UTC−6
6:14AM
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
PST · Pacific Standard Time · UTC−8
4:14AM
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Chicago is on CST (UTC−6) right now.
Los Angeles is on PST (UTC−8) right now.
CST to PST for every hour
Every hour of the CST day with the matching PST time, valid on any date. Until 2:00 AM CST, PST is still on the previous calendar day.
| CST | PST −2 h | 24-hour |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 10:00 PM −1 day | 00:00 → 22:00 |
| 1:00 AM | 11:00 PM −1 day | 01:00 → 23:00 |
| 2:00 AM | 12:00 AM | 02:00 → 00:00 |
| 3:00 AM | 1:00 AM | 03:00 → 01:00 |
| 4:00 AM | 2:00 AM | 04:00 → 02:00 |
| 5:00 AM | 3:00 AM | 05:00 → 03:00 |
| 6:00 AM | 4:00 AM | 06:00 → 04:00 |
| 7:00 AM | 5:00 AM | 07:00 → 05:00 |
| 8:00 AM | 6:00 AM | 08:00 → 06:00 |
| 9:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 09:00 → 07:00 |
| 10:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 10:00 → 08:00 |
| 11:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 11:00 → 09:00 |
| 12:00 PM | 10:00 AM | 12:00 → 10:00 |
| 1:00 PM | 11:00 AM | 13:00 → 11:00 |
| 2:00 PM | 12:00 PM | 14:00 → 12:00 |
| 3:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 15:00 → 13:00 |
| 4:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 16:00 → 14:00 |
| 5:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 17:00 → 15:00 |
| 6:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 18:00 → 16:00 |
| 7:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 19:00 → 17:00 |
| 8:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 20:00 → 18:00 |
| 9:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 21:00 → 19:00 |
| 10:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 22:00 → 20:00 |
| 11:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 23:00 → 21:00 |
Bold rows fall inside office hours (9:00 to 17:00) on both sides. The dot marks the current CST hour.
The CST times people look up most
| CST | PST −2 h |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | 5:30 AM |
| 7:30 PM | 5:30 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 10:00 AM |
| 11:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 2:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
Does the difference change during the year?
No. Chicago and Los Angeles both change their clocks, on the same dates and in the same direction, so the gap of 2 hours holds all year.
On the change nights themselves the two sides do not switch at the same instant. Each changes at its own local time, so for 2 hours in the early hours the gap between the local clocks is different: 3 h on Mar 14 and 1 h on Nov 7, 2027. That matters only for events scheduled in the middle of the night.
Converting CST to PST by hand
Take away 2 hours: 3:30 PM CST is 1:30 PM PST.
Going back from PST to CST, do the opposite: the PST to CST page has its own table.
Where the CST and PST working days overlap
Two 9:00–17:00 days share 6 hours: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST, which is 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST.
What CST and PST mean
Central Standard Time
CST here is North American Central Standard Time, UTC−6: winter time in Chicago, Houston and Dallas, and all-year time in Mexico City, most of Central America and Saskatchewan. Since 2026 Alberta and the Northwest Territories also stay on UTC−6 all year.
CST can also mean China Standard Time (UTC+8, China) or Cuba Standard Time (UTC−5, Cuba). This page uses Central Standard Time, the meaning people searching for this conversion have in mind. For another one, type the city into the time zone converter.
Pacific Standard Time
PST is UTC−8: winter time in California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada (and Baja California). British Columbia no longer uses it: since 2026 Vancouver stays on UTC−7 all year.
PST can also mean Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8, the Philippines). This page uses Pacific Standard Time, the meaning people searching for this conversion have in mind. For another one, type the city into the time zone converter.