CST to GMT Converter – Convert Central Time to GMT

To convert CST to GMT, use our free time zone converter above. Simply select your time and date to see the instant conversion. Our tool automatically accounts for Daylight Saving Time changes in both time zones - critical because the US and UK change clocks on different dates in March and October/November, causing the time difference to shift between 5, 6, and 7 hours during transition periods. For example, entering "09:00 CST" will show "15:00 GMT" in winter when both are on standard time.

GMT is typically 6 hours ahead of CST in most scenarios: during winter (both on standard time CST/GMT) and during summer (both on daylight time CDT/BST). However, during 2-3 week transition periods the difference changes: 5 hours ahead in early March when only the US observes daylight time (CDT/GMT), and 7 hours ahead in late October to early November when only the UK observes daylight time (CST/BST). This means 12:00 noon CST = 18:00 (6 PM) GMT in winter, but could be 17:00 or 19:00 during transitions. Always use our converter for accuracy during March and October/November.

The best meeting time between US Central and UK/GMT is 09:00-11:00 CST, which equals 15:00-17:00 GMT (3-5 PM UK time). This 2-hour window works because it's mid-morning for Chicago/Dallas teams (comfortable after 8 AM start) and late afternoon for London colleagues (before their typical 17:30 end time). For emergency early calls, 08:00 CST = 14:00 GMT works. Avoid scheduling after 11:00 CST (17:00 GMT) as UK offices will be closing. Remember that US Central business hours (8:00-17:00 CST) translate to 14:00-23:00 GMT in winter - very little overlap with standard UK hours (9:00-17:30 GMT = 03:00-11:30 CST).

Yes, most of US Central observes Daylight Saving Time, switching to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM, and reverting to Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM. Clocks "spring forward" one hour in March and "fall back" one hour in November. This affects CST to GMT conversion significantly because the UK also observes DST but on different dates - UK changes on the last Sunday in March (to BST, UTC+1) and last Sunday in October (back to GMT, UTC+0). These mismatched transition dates create 2-3 week periods where the time difference is 5 or 7 hours instead of the normal 6 hours.

Major US cities in the Central Time Zone (CST/CDT) include Chicago (Illinois - 2.7M metro population), Houston (Texas - 2.3M), Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas - 1.3M combined), San Antonio (Texas - 1.5M), Austin (Texas - 961K), Minneapolis (Minnesota - 425K), New Orleans (Louisiana - 383K), Milwaukee (Wisconsin - 577K), and Kansas City (Missouri - 508K). In Mexico, major CST cities include Mexico City (9M+), Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Parts of Canada also use CST including Winnipeg, Manitoba. Chicago is the economic hub of the Central Time Zone. All these cities observe Daylight Saving Time except parts of Mexico.

Major cities using GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) or BST (British Summer Time) include London (England - 9M metro), Edinburgh (Scotland - 524K), Manchester (England - 547K), Liverpool (England - 494K), Glasgow (Scotland - 633K), Cardiff (Wales - 362K), and Dublin (Ireland - 554K, though Ireland officially calls it "Irish Standard Time" in summer). During winter (late October to late March), these cities use GMT (UTC+0). During summer (late March to late October), they switch to BST (UTC+1) or IST (Irish Summer Time, also UTC+1). London is the financial and cultural center. West African cities like Accra (Ghana) and Dakar (Senegal) also use GMT year-round without DST changes.

For calls between US Central and UK, follow these best practices: (1) Use our converter to find the current time difference (5-7 hours depending on DST), (2) Target the optimal 09:00-11:00 CST window which equals 15:00-17:00 GMT, (3) Always specify BOTH local times in calendar invites: "Meeting at 10:00 AM CST / 4:00 PM GMT", (4) Be extra careful during March and October/November transition weeks when the difference shifts, (5) Use UTC in calendar software to avoid confusion, (6) For recurring meetings, review times after DST changes as the relative times may shift, (7) Consider that UK colleagues may leave by 17:30 GMT (11:30 CST in winter), so don't schedule US Central afternoon meetings expecting UK participation.