Use this Central Time to Philippine Time converter to quickly convert Central Standard Time (CST) and Central Daylight Time (CDT) to Philippine Time.
TL;DR: The Philippines is 14 hours ahead of Central Standard Time (CST) and 13 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time (CDT).
So:
- 9:00 AM CST = 11:00 PM PHT
- 9:00 AM CDT = 10:00 PM PHT
- 5:00 PM CST = 7:00 AM PHT the next day
- 5:00 PM CDT = 6:00 AM PHT the next day
The Philippines stays on UTC+8 throughout the year. Most US locations in the Central Time Zone switch between CST and CDT because of daylight saving time. This means the Central Time to Philippine Time difference changes by one hour depending on the time of year.
| Central Time | Philippine Time |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM CST | 11:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM CDT | 10:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM CST | 7:00 AM next day |
| 5:00 PM CDT | 6:00 AM next day |
If you’re scheduling meetings between the US and the Philippines, always check whether Central Time is currently observing CST or CDT. That one-hour difference can easily result in a missed meeting if you assume Central Time stays the same all year.
Table of Contents
If you’re comparing Central Time to Philippine Time because you’re planning to work with someone in the Philippines, RemoteWork.ph makes it easy to hire a virtual assistant without an agency. Employers can connect directly with Filipino professionals, interview candidates themselves, and build a direct working relationship with their hire.
Central Time to Philippine Time: Quick Explanation
The easiest way to understand the Central Time to Philippine Time difference is to compare the UTC offsets.
Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC-6.
Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC-5.
Philippine Time is UTC+8.
NIST lists Central Standard Time at UTC-6 and Central Daylight Time at UTC-5. PAGASA, the official timekeeper of the Philippines, maintains Philippine Standard Time, or PhST, at UTC+8.
That gives us two possible time differences:
During CST:
The Philippines is 14 hours ahead.
During CDT:
The Philippines is 13 hours ahead.
For example, if someone tells you a meeting is at 10:00 AM Central Time, there are two possible Philippine times:
| Central Time | Philippine Time | |
|---|---|---|
| During CST | 10:00 AM CST | 12:00 AM next day |
| During CDT | 10:00 AM CDT | 11:00 PM |
That is why simply saying “Central Time” can occasionally create confusion.
If you know the person’s city and the meeting date, calendar apps can normally determine whether standard or daylight time applies automatically.
CST to Philippine Time Conversion Table
When Central Standard Time is being observed, the Philippines is 14 hours ahead of CST.
Use this table for quick Central Time to Philippine Time conversions during CST:
| Central Standard Time (CST) | Philippine Time (PHT) |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| 7:00 AM | 9:00 PM |
| 8:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM | 11:00 PM |
| 10:00 AM | 12:00 AM, next day |
| 11:00 AM | 1:00 AM, next day |
| 12:00 PM | 2:00 AM, next day |
| 1:00 PM | 3:00 AM, next day |
| 2:00 PM | 4:00 AM, next day |
| 3:00 PM | 5:00 AM, next day |
| 4:00 PM | 6:00 AM, next day |
| 5:00 PM | 7:00 AM, next day |
| 6:00 PM | 8:00 AM, next day |
| 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM, next day |
The simple formula is:
CST + 14 hours = Philippine Time
For example:
4:00 PM CST + 14 hours = 6:00 AM PHT the next day
The date is just as important as the time. Starting at 10:00 AM CST, the equivalent Philippine time falls on the following calendar day.
If someone in Chicago schedules a meeting for Monday at 3:00 PM CST, the person in Manila will be joining at 5:00 AM Tuesday.
CDT to Philippine Time Conversion Table
Most US locations in the Central Time Zone switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT) when daylight saving time is in effect.
CDT is UTC-5, so the Philippines is 13 hours ahead of CDT.
Here is the Central Time to Philippine Time conversion table during CDT:
| Central Daylight Time (CDT) | Philippine Time (PHT) |
|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 7:00 PM |
| 7:00 AM | 8:00 PM |
| 8:00 AM | 9:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| 10:00 AM | 11:00 PM |
| 11:00 AM | 12:00 AM, next day |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 AM, next day |
| 1:00 PM | 2:00 AM, next day |
| 2:00 PM | 3:00 AM, next day |
| 3:00 PM | 4:00 AM, next day |
| 4:00 PM | 5:00 AM, next day |
| 5:00 PM | 6:00 AM, next day |
| 6:00 PM | 7:00 AM, next day |
| 7:00 PM | 8:00 AM, next day |
The shortcut during CDT is:
CDT + 13 hours = Philippine Time
For example:
6:00 PM CDT + 13 hours = 7:00 AM PHT the next day
That can be a useful time for US and Philippine remote teams. The US employee can finish their day with a handoff while the Filipino employee begins theirs the following morning.
Philippine Time to Central Time Conversion Table
Sometimes you need to convert the other way around.
This is particularly useful for Filipino professionals who work with employers or clients in cities such as Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, or other places using Central Time.
| Philippine Time (PHT) | Central Standard Time (CST) | Central Daylight Time (CDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 4:00 PM previous day | 5:00 PM previous day |
| 7:00 AM | 5:00 PM previous day | 6:00 PM previous day |
| 8:00 AM | 6:00 PM previous day | 7:00 PM previous day |
| 9:00 AM | 7:00 PM previous day | 8:00 PM previous day |
| 10:00 AM | 8:00 PM previous day | 9:00 PM previous day |
| 11:00 AM | 9:00 PM previous day | 10:00 PM previous day |
| 12:00 PM | 10:00 PM previous day | 11:00 PM previous day |
| 1:00 PM | 11:00 PM previous day | 12:00 AM |
The date difference is easy to overlook.
If it is Tuesday morning in Manila, it will generally still be Monday afternoon or evening in the US Central Time Zone.
For Filipino professionals new to working with international clients, understanding these scheduling differences is one of the practical basics of remote work. You can also read our guide on how to become a virtual assistant in the Philippines.
CST vs CDT Explained
Understanding the difference between CST and CDT is essential when converting Central Time to Philippine Time.
CST stands for Central Standard Time and is UTC-6.
CDT stands for Central Daylight Time and is UTC-5.
Most US areas that observe Central Time use CST during standard time and switch to CDT during daylight saving time.
Under current US rules, daylight saving time begins at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday in March and ends at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday in November.
Here is the difference at a glance:
| CST | CDT | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Central Standard Time | Central Daylight Time |
| UTC offset | UTC-6 | UTC-5 |
| Philippines ahead by | 14 hours | 13 hours |
| 9:00 AM Central becomes | 11:00 PM PHT | 10:00 PM PHT |
| 5:00 PM Central becomes | 7:00 AM next day | 6:00 AM next day |
The Philippines does not make the same seasonal clock change. Philippine Standard Time remains at UTC+8, which is why the difference changes when US clocks move forward or backward.
Is Central Time the same as CST?
Not exactly.
Central Time (CT) is the general name for the time zone. Depending on the date, the local time may be either CST or CDT.
NIST explains that time zones can be referred to without the “standard” or “daylight” designation when referring generally to local time.
So if someone says:
“Let’s meet at 9:00 AM Central Time.”
you should not automatically assume they mean 9:00 AM CST.
If daylight saving time is in effect, they probably mean 9:00 AM CDT.
If your team works across other US regions, you can also use our Eastern Time to Philippine Time Converter, Mountain Time to Philippine Time Converter, and Pacific Time to Philippine Time Converter for the corresponding time differences.
Central Time to Philippine Time Work-Hour Overlap
Knowing that the Philippines is 13 or 14 hours ahead tells you the math.
But if you’re working with a remote team, there is another question that matters more:
When are people on both sides realistically available?
The large Central Time to Philippine Time difference means standard 9-to-5 work schedules have limited overlap. However, Central Time offers some useful meeting windows.
| Central Time | During CST | During CDT | Practical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 8:00 PM PHT | 7:00 PM PHT | Early US meeting, PH evening |
| 7:00 AM | 9:00 PM PHT | 8:00 PM PHT | Good live meeting window |
| 8:00 AM | 10:00 PM PHT | 9:00 PM PHT | Possible, but getting late in PH |
| 5:00 PM | 7:00 AM next day | 6:00 AM next day | Early PH handoff |
| 6:00 PM | 8:00 AM next day | 7:00 AM next day | Strong morning overlap |
| 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM next day | 8:00 AM next day | Strong PH work-hour overlap |
There are essentially two approaches.
Central morning and Philippine evening
An early meeting in Central Time can line up with a reasonable evening hour in the Philippines.
For example:
7:00 AM CST = 9:00 PM PHT
7:00 AM CDT = 8:00 PM PHT
That can work well for occasional meetings, especially when the US employer prefers to meet before beginning their workday.
Central evening and Philippine morning
Another option is an end-of-day handoff from the US team to the Filipino team.
For example:
6:00 PM CST = 8:00 AM PHT the next day
6:00 PM CDT = 7:00 AM PHT the next day
This arrangement can work particularly well if your Filipino employee maintains a normal daytime schedule instead of working an overnight US shift.
Best Meeting Times for Central Time and Philippines Teams
There is no single perfect meeting time between Central Time and the Philippines because it depends on the employee’s agreed working hours.
If the Filipino team member works mostly normal Philippine daytime hours, one of the better windows is generally:
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Central Time
During CST, that becomes:
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PHT the following day
During CDT, that becomes:
7:00 AM to 9:00 AM PHT the following day
That means a US employer can finish the day with a quick meeting while the Filipino employee begins theirs.
An alternative is:
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM Central Time
During CST:
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM PHT
During CDT:
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM PHT
This can work well if the US side prefers morning meetings and the Philippine team member is comfortable with occasional evening calls.
The right schedule also depends on the role.
A virtual assistant who needs to answer calls during US business hours may intentionally work a Central Time-aligned night schedule. A developer, video editor, designer, or other employee doing mostly asynchronous work may not need to match the employer’s entire workday.
Agreeing on working hours before hiring is better than assuming every Filipino remote worker wants or expects to work US hours.
For more context around communication, work expectations, and professional relationships, employers can also read our guide to Filipino work culture.
How to Convert Central Time to Philippine Time
You can calculate Central Time to Philippine Time manually using two simple rules.
If the time is CST
Add 14 hours.
For example:
2:00 PM CST + 14 hours = 4:00 AM PHT the next day
If the time is CDT
Add 13 hours.
For example:
2:00 PM CDT + 13 hours = 3:00 AM PHT the next day
The calculation itself is easy once you know whether CST or CDT applies.
The most common problems are forgetting daylight saving time and forgetting that the Philippines may already be on the next calendar day.
For example:
9:00 AM CST = 11:00 PM PHT on the same day
but:
10:00 AM CST = 12:00 AM PHT the next day
That one-hour difference crosses midnight.
During CDT, the date changes one hour later:
10:00 AM CDT = 11:00 PM PHT
11:00 AM CDT = 12:00 AM PHT the next day
When you’re booking an important call, always check both the converted time and the date.
Schedule Meetings Using Google Calendar
Even if you understand Central Time to Philippine Time conversions, you probably don’t want to manually calculate every meeting.
Google Calendar and other calendar tools can automatically display an event according to each person’s local time zone.
For example, an employer in Chicago can create an event using their local Central Time. A Filipino team member whose calendar is configured for Philippine Time should see the corresponding local time automatically.
This is especially useful for recurring meetings.
When Central Time changes between CST and CDT, the Philippine participant’s meeting time may shift by an hour because Philippine clocks do not make the same seasonal adjustment.
For example, a recurring 7:00 AM Central Time meeting could appear as:
9:00 PM PHT during CST
and:
8:00 PM PHT during CDT
That is why it is still useful to understand the time difference even when your calendar does the conversion for you.
For important meetings, double-check your Central Time to Philippine Time conversion and then send a calendar invitation so everyone has the correct date and time.
Once schedules are sorted out, payments are another common question when working internationally. We have a separate guide explaining how to pay a virtual assistant from the Philippines.
Common Central Time to Philippine Time Conversion Mistakes
Assuming Central Time always means CST
This is probably the most common mistake.
People often casually say “CST” when they really mean Central Time generally.
But most US Central Time locations switch to CDT during daylight saving time.
Using CST when the location is actually observing CDT makes your conversion one hour late.
Forgetting the Philippines may be on the next day
The Philippines is far enough ahead that much of the US Central workday falls on the following day in the Philippines.
For example:
5:00 PM Monday CST = 7:00 AM Tuesday PHT
If you only communicate “7:00 AM” without mentioning Tuesday, it’s easy for someone to put the meeting on the wrong date.
Adding 14 hours during CDT
The Philippines is 14 hours ahead of CST, but only 13 hours ahead of CDT.
If you simply memorize “add 14 hours” and use it year-round, you’ll be wrong for much of the year in locations that observe daylight saving time.
Assuming the Philippines also changes clocks
It doesn’t make the same seasonal adjustment.
Philippine Standard Time remains UTC+8, while the US Central Time offset changes between UTC-6 and UTC-5.
Forgetting recurring meetings can shift
A meeting that worked perfectly at 8:00 PM Philippine Time during one part of the year may move to 9:00 PM after a US daylight saving transition.
If you have recurring meetings with a Filipino team member, check the schedule around March and November.
Using a time-zone abbreviation without a city or date
If someone simply writes “10 AM CST,” they may actually mean current local Central Time rather than literal Central Standard Time.
For important meetings, using the person’s city, date, and calendar time zone is safer.
Time-zone problems are only one of the small issues that can cause unnecessary friction when working remotely. Employers can also read our guide to common mistakes when hiring a Filipino virtual assistant.
Chicago to Manila Time Difference
Chicago is one of the clearest examples of the Central Time to Philippine Time difference.
Chicago follows Central Time and observes daylight saving time.
When Chicago is on CST, Manila is 14 hours ahead.
When Chicago is on CDT, Manila is 13 hours ahead.
| Chicago Time | Manila Time |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM CST | 9:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM CST | 11:00 PM |
| 10:00 AM CST | 12:00 AM next day |
| 5:00 PM CST | 7:00 AM next day |
| 7:00 AM CDT | 8:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM CDT | 10:00 PM |
| 11:00 AM CDT | 12:00 AM next day |
| 5:00 PM CDT | 6:00 AM next day |
So if a Chicago employer schedules a 6:00 PM meeting, the Filipino employee would join at:
8:00 AM the next day during CST
or:
7:00 AM the next day during CDT
For remote teams, this can create a convenient end-of-day to beginning-of-day handoff.
Texas to Philippine Time
A large portion of Texas, including major cities such as Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, follows Central Time.
For these locations, the same Central Time to Philippine Time conversions apply.
During CST:
Philippines = Texas time + 14 hours
During CDT:
Philippines = Texas time + 13 hours
For example:
| Texas Central Time | Philippine Time |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM CST | 10:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM CST | 11:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM CST | 7:00 AM next day |
| 8:00 AM CDT | 9:00 PM |
| 9:00 AM CDT | 10:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM CDT | 6:00 AM next day |
Texas is large, however, and far western portions of the state use Mountain Time rather than Central Time. If you’re scheduling with someone near the time-zone boundary, using the person’s actual city in your calendar is safer than simply assuming all of Texas follows Central Time.
For locations that use Mountain Time, use our Mountain Time to Philippine Time Converter instead.
Dallas to Manila Time
Dallas follows Central Time, so Manila is either 13 or 14 hours ahead, depending on daylight saving time.
For example:
9:00 AM Dallas CST = 11:00 PM Manila
9:00 AM Dallas CDT = 10:00 PM Manila
6:00 PM Dallas CST = 8:00 AM Manila the next day
6:00 PM Dallas CDT = 7:00 AM Manila the next day
If a Dallas-based company hires remote employees in the Philippines, late afternoon or early evening Dallas time can provide a useful overlap with the following morning in Manila.
Central Time Compared With Other US Time Zones
If you work with people across different parts of the United States, it helps to understand where Central Time sits compared with the other major US time zones.
Central Time is generally:
1 hour behind Eastern Time
1 hour ahead of Mountain Time
2 hours ahead of Pacific Time
That means the Philippines has a different time difference with each US region.
During US standard time:
| US Time Zone | Philippines Ahead By |
|---|---|
| Eastern Standard Time | 13 hours |
| Central Standard Time | 14 hours |
| Mountain Standard Time | 15 hours |
| Pacific Standard Time | 16 hours |
During US daylight time:
| US Time Zone | Philippines Ahead By |
|---|---|
| Eastern Daylight Time | 12 hours |
| Central Daylight Time | 13 hours |
| Mountain Daylight Time | 14 hours |
| Pacific Daylight Time | 15 hours |
NIST lists these corresponding standard and daylight UTC offsets for the four main continental US time zones.
If your company operates across several US regions, you can also use our Eastern Time to Philippine Time Converter, Mountain Time to Philippine Time Converter, and Pacific Time to Philippine Time Converter rather than calculating each difference manually.
Hiring Remote Workers in the Philippines
If you’re searching for Central Time to Philippine Time because you’re thinking about hiring someone in the Philippines, RemoteWork.ph connects employers directly with Filipino remote professionals.
Employers can search for talent, review profiles, and connect with candidates directly instead of hiring through a staffing agency or paying ongoing agency markups.
Before hiring, discuss the schedule you actually need. Some roles require substantial overlap with Central Time business hours, while others can be completed mostly asynchronously.
Being clear about working hours from the beginning helps both the employer and employee know exactly what is expected.
FAQs: Central Time to Philippine Time
How many hours ahead is the Philippines from Central Time?
The Philippines is 14 hours ahead of Central Standard Time (CST) and 13 hours ahead of Central Daylight Time (CDT).
What is 6:00 AM CST in Philippine Time?
6:00 AM CST is 8:00 PM Philippine Time.
What is 7:00 AM CST in Philippine Time?
7:00 AM CST is 9:00 PM Philippine Time.
What is 8:00 AM CST in Philippine Time?
8:00 AM CST is 10:00 PM Philippine Time.
What is 9:00 AM CST in Philippine Time?
9:00 AM CST is 11:00 PM Philippine Time.
What is 10:00 AM CST in Philippine Time?
10:00 AM CST is 12:00 AM, or midnight, the following day in the Philippines.
What is 12:00 PM CST in Philippine Time?
12:00 PM CST is 2:00 AM the following day in the Philippines.
What is 3:00 PM CST in Philippine Time?
3:00 PM CST is 5:00 AM the following day in the Philippines.
What is 5:00 PM CST in Philippine Time?
5:00 PM CST is 7:00 AM the following day in the Philippines.
This can be a useful conversion for remote teams because the US workday is ending as morning approaches in the Philippines.
What is 6:00 PM CST in Philippine Time?
6:00 PM CST is 8:00 AM the following day in the Philippines.
What is 9:00 AM CDT in Philippine Time?
9:00 AM CDT is 10:00 PM Philippine Time.
What is 5:00 PM CDT in Philippine Time?
5:00 PM CDT is 6:00 AM the following day in the Philippines.
Is the Philippines 13 or 14 hours ahead of Central Time?
Both can be correct.
The Philippines is 14 hours ahead when Central Standard Time is being observed and 13 hours ahead when Central Daylight Time is being observed.
Is Central Time the same as CST?
Not exactly.
Central Time, or CT, is the general time-zone designation. Depending on the time of year, a US Central Time location may be observing either CST or CDT.
When does Central Time switch between CST and CDT?
For US locations that observe daylight saving time, DST currently begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.
During daylight saving time, Central locations use CDT rather than CST.
Does the Philippines observe daylight saving time?
The Philippines remains on UTC+8 and does not make the seasonal clock change used by most US Central Time locations.
PAGASA maintains and disseminates the country’s official Philippine Standard Time, abbreviated PhST.
Is PHT the official abbreviation for Philippine Time?
PHT is commonly used by international time-zone tools to refer to Philippine Time.
The Philippine government’s official designation is Philippine Standard Time (PhST). PAGASA notes that PhST is specifically used to distinguish Philippine Standard Time from Pacific Standard Time, which uses the abbreviation PST.
What is the best meeting time between Central Time and the Philippines?
If the Filipino employee works normal daytime hours, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Central Time can be a practical meeting window.
Depending on whether CST or CDT is being observed, that corresponds approximately to 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM the following day in the Philippines.
Another option is 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM Central Time, which falls during the evening in the Philippines.
Key Takeaways: Central Time to Philippine Time
The simplest rule to remember is:
The Philippines is 14 hours ahead of CST and 13 hours ahead of CDT.
Central Standard Time is UTC-6, while Central Daylight Time is UTC-5. Philippine Standard Time remains UTC+8.
Because the Central Time to Philippine Time difference is so large, many Central Time daytime and evening hours fall on the following calendar day in the Philippines.
Always check both the time and the date before scheduling.
If your Filipino team member follows normal Philippine working hours, late afternoon or early evening Central Time can provide a useful overlap with the following morning in the Philippines. Early Central Time mornings can also work with Philippine evenings.
Most importantly, don’t assume Central Time always means CST. During daylight saving time, most US Central Time locations use CDT, which changes the Philippine time difference by one hour.
Using an accurate Central Time to Philippine Time converter, checking whether CST or CDT applies, and sending calendar invitations can prevent most scheduling mistakes.
And if you’re coordinating these time zones because you’re building a remote team, RemoteWork.ph lets employers connect directly with Filipino professionals without going through an agency. Setting expectations around working hours, meeting overlap, and response times before hiring can make working across Central Time and Philippine Time much easier.