Understanding Eastern to Central Time Conversion
Time Difference
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 1 hour ahead of Central Standard Time (CST). This means that when it's 5:00 PM in the Eastern time zone, it's 4:00 PM in the Central time zone.
Daylight Saving Time
Both Eastern and Central time zones observe Daylight Saving Time. During DST, they become Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Central Daylight Time (CDT), but the 1-hour difference remains constant.
Regions Covered
Eastern Time covers the eastern part of the USA and Canada, including cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Miami. Central Time covers the central region, including Chicago, Dallas, and Mexico City.
Business Hours
When scheduling meetings or calls between Eastern and Central time zones, remember that a 5:00 PM EST meeting would be at 4:00 PM for attendees in the Central time zone, making it convenient for end-of-day business communications.