Convert PST to CST
CST = PST +2 h
CST is 2 hours ahead of PST. PST is always UTC−8 and CST is always UTC−6, so this gap is the same on every date.
PST · Pacific Standard Time · UTC−8
8:02AM
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
CST · Central Standard Time · UTC−6
10:02AM
Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Los Angeles is on PST (UTC−8) right now.
Chicago is on CST (UTC−6) right now.
PST to CST for every hour
Every hour of the PST day with the matching CST time, valid on any date. From 10:00 PM PST, CST is already on the next calendar day.
| PST | CST +2 h | 24-hour |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 2:00 AM | 00:00 → 02:00 |
| 1:00 AM | 3:00 AM | 01:00 → 03:00 |
| 2:00 AM | 4:00 AM | 02:00 → 04:00 |
| 3:00 AM | 5:00 AM | 03:00 → 05:00 |
| 4:00 AM | 6:00 AM | 04:00 → 06:00 |
| 5:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 05:00 → 07:00 |
| 6:00 AM | 8:00 AM | 06:00 → 08:00 |
| 7:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 07:00 → 09:00 |
| 8:00 AM | 10:00 AM | 08:00 → 10:00 |
| 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 09:00 → 11:00 |
| 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 10:00 → 12:00 |
| 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 11:00 → 13:00 |
| 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 12:00 → 14:00 |
| 1:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 13:00 → 15:00 |
| 2:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 14:00 → 16:00 |
| 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 15:00 → 17:00 |
| 4:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 16:00 → 18:00 |
| 5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 17:00 → 19:00 |
| 6:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 18:00 → 20:00 |
| 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 19:00 → 21:00 |
| 8:00 PM | 10:00 PM | 20:00 → 22:00 |
| 9:00 PM | 11:00 PM | 21:00 → 23:00 |
| 10:00 PM | 12:00 AM +1 day | 22:00 → 00:00 |
| 11:00 PM | 1:00 AM +1 day | 23:00 → 01:00 |
Bold rows fall inside office hours (9:00 to 17:00) on both sides. The dot marks the current PST hour.
The PST times people look up most
| PST | CST +2 h |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | 1:00 PM |
| 10:00 AM | 12:00 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 9:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| 4:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| 4:30 AM | 6:30 AM |
Does the difference change during the year?
No. Los Angeles and Chicago 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 PST to CST by hand
Add 2 hours: 3:30 PM PST is 5:30 PM CST.
Going back from CST to PST, do the opposite: the CST to PST page has its own table.
Where the PST and CST working days overlap
Two 9:00–17:00 days share 6 hours: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM PST, which is 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST.
What PST and CST mean
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.
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.