What Time Is CDT Now? Live Central Daylight Time Clock
Real‑time Central Time with seconds • Automatically shows CDT or CST • DST status indicator
Need to know the CDT now? Central Daylight Time is observed during summer months in the Central Time Zone, which includes major cities like Chicago, Dallas, and Mexico City. When daylight saving ends, we switch to Central Standard Time (CST). Our live clock automatically detects which is active right now.
The clock below shows the exact current Central Time, with a clear indicator whether we’re in CDT or CST.
Live Central Time (CDT/CST)
Convert Central Time to Your Local Time
📋 How to use
Watch live CDT/CST — updates every second
Pick a date & time (CT) for conversion
Select your timezone → see local time
What is CDT (Central Daylight Time)?
CDT stands for Central Daylight Time, the daylight saving time observance in the Central Time Zone. It is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5). When daylight saving time is not active, Central Standard Time (CST) is used, which is UTC-6.
Key facts about CDT:
- UTC Offset: UTC-5 (same as Eastern Standard Time)
- Active period: Second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November
- Major cities: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Mexico City
- Also known as: North American Central Daylight Time (CDT)
CDT vs CST – What’s the difference?
The Central Time Zone alternates between Central Daylight Time (CDT) and Central Standard Time (CST) depending on the season. The switch happens twice a year:
- Spring forward (March): Clocks move from CST to CDT, losing an hour (2 AM → 3 AM).
- Fall back (November): Clocks move from CDT to CST, gaining an hour (2 AM → 1 AM).
In 2025, CDT starts on March 9 and ends on November 2. Our live clock automatically updates.
How our CDT clock stays accurate
We use your browser’s JavaScript to fetch the current UTC time, then apply the correct offset for the Central Time Zone (America/Chicago). The clock updates every second directly on your device—no server calls, so it’s fast and private.
The timezone database in your browser knows exactly when DST starts and ends, so you’ll always see the right CDT now or CST now.
Frequently Asked Questions about CDT
What time is CDT right now?
Look at the live clock at the top of this page. It shows the current Central Time, and the badge indicates whether it’s CDT or CST.
Is it CDT or CST now?
The badge above the clock shows “Central Daylight Time (CDT)” during DST months, and “Central Standard Time (CST)” otherwise.
What is the UTC offset for CDT?
CDT is UTC-5. That’s the same as Eastern Standard Time (EST) during winter.
Does all of the Central Time Zone observe CDT?
Most of the Central Time Zone in North America observes CDT, but some locations like Saskatchewan in Canada do not observe DST and stay on CST year-round.
How do I convert CDT to my local time?
Use the converter tool below the live clock. Enter a Central Time date and time, select your timezone, and click “Convert”.
What’s the difference between CDT and EST?
CDT (UTC-5) is the same offset as Eastern Standard Time (EST), but CDT is used during summer. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is UTC-4, so during summer, CDT is one hour behind EDT.