Central Standard Time
UTC offset: UTC-06:00
Region: US and Canada
Example IANA zones: America/Bahia_Banderas, America/Belize, America/Chicago
CST Time Zone
CST can refer to multiple time zones. The most common are: Central Standard Time (UTC-06:00), China Standard Time (UTC+08:00), Cuba Standard Time (UTC-05:00).
Definition
CST is a time-zone abbreviation used in date/time schedules, travel, and software timestamps. Abbreviations can map to different regions and offsets, so they are less precise than IANA time zones.
For accurate conversion, use a specific zone like America/New_York or Europe/London instead of abbreviation-only input.
Offset and DST note
CST is ambiguous across multiple regions and can include DST variants such as CDT in North America.
Common offsets for CST: UTC-06:00, UTC-05:00, UTC+08:00.
Meanings
China Standard Time
UTC offset: UTC+08:00
Region: China
Example IANA zones: America/Bahia_Banderas, America/Belize, America/Chicago
Cuba Standard Time
UTC offset: UTC-05:00
Region: Cuba
Example IANA zones: America/Bahia_Banderas, America/Belize, America/Chicago
Convert CST
Related offset pages
Related IANA zones
America/Bahia_BanderasAmerica/BelizeAmerica/ChicagoAmerica/ChihuahuaAmerica/Costa_RicaAmerica/El_SalvadorAmerica/GuatemalaAmerica/HavanaAmerica/Indiana/KnoxAmerica/Indiana/Tell_CityAmerica/Knox_INAmerica/ManaguaAmerica/MatamorosAmerica/MenomineeAmerica/MeridaAmerica/Mexico_CityAmerica/MonterreyAmerica/North_Dakota/BeulahAmerica/North_Dakota/CenterAmerica/North_Dakota/New_SalemAmerica/OjinagaAmerica/Rainy_RiverAmerica/Rankin_InletAmerica/Regina
Related abbreviations
Frequently asked questions
What does CST mean?
CST can refer to multiple time zones. The most common are: Central Standard Time (UTC-06:00), China Standard Time (UTC+08:00), Cuba Standard Time (UTC-05:00).
Is CST ambiguous?
CST can refer to multiple meanings depending on region. Use exact IANA zones for reliable conversion.
How do I convert CST to my local time?
Use the Time Zone Converter and select a specific city or IANA zone to avoid abbreviation ambiguity.