Time Difference Between Arizona Time and Central Time
As of 31 August 2026, Central Time is 2 hours ahead of Arizona Time. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, Central Time, United States ranges from 1 hour ahead to 2 hours ahead relative to Arizona Time, United States. The calculator below is always up to date.
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Arizona Time, United States
15:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC-7 · MST · America/Phoenix
Central Time, United States
+2h17:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC-5 · CDT · America/Chicago
Central Time is 2 hours ahead of Arizona Time.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Time | Monday, August 31, 2026 | MSTAmerica/Phoenix | UTC-7 | Not observed |
| Central Time | Monday, August 31, 2026 | CDTAmerica/Chicago | UTC-5 | Active now |
Arizona Time: Most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, so it stays at UTC-7 all year — the same clock as Mountain Standard Time in winter, but 1 hour behind Mountain Time in summer. The Navajo Nation in Arizona is the exception and does observe it.
Central Time: Covers Chicago, Dallas, Houston and most of the middle of the country. Switches between CST (UTC-6) and CDT (UTC-5) with daylight saving.
Hour by hour: Arizona Time to Central Time
Every hour of today in Arizona Time and what it is in Central Time. Highlighted rows fall inside Central Time working hours (09:00–18:00).
| Arizona Time | Central Time |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 02:00 |
| 01:00 | 03:00 |
| 02:00 | 04:00 |
| 03:00 | 05:00 |
| 04:00 | 06:00 |
| 05:00 | 07:00 |
| 06:00 | 08:00 |
| 07:00 | 09:00 |
| 08:00 | 10:00 |
| 09:00 | 11:00 |
| 10:00 | 12:00 |
| 11:00 | 13:00 |
| Arizona Time | Central Time |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 14:00 |
| 13:00 | 15:00 |
| 14:00 | 16:00 |
| 15:00 | 17:00 |
| 16:00 | 18:00 |
| 17:00 | 19:00 |
| 18:00 | 20:00 |
| 19:00 | 21:00 |
| 20:00 | 22:00 |
| 21:00 | 23:00 |
| 22:00 | 00:00next day |
| 23:00 | 01:00next day |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
09:00–16:00 in Arizona Time (11:00–18:00 in Central Time)
Both places are inside 09:00–18:00 for 7 hours a day. Anything in this window works without asking anyone to stay late.
Reasonable calling hours
08:00–19:00 in Arizona Time (10:00–21:00 in Central Time)
Both people are awake and available between 08:00 and 21:00 local time during this window.
When this difference changes
Central Time puts its clocks back on Sunday, November 1, 2026
The local offset moves from UTC-5 to UTC-6. After that date, Central Time is 1 hour ahead of Arizona Time — instead of 2 hours ahead, as it is today.
Planning something with more than two places?
Adding a third city usually kills the obvious answer. The Meeting Time Finder takes up to five cities at once and shows only the hours that work for everybody.
Arizona Time and Central Time: common questions
What is the time difference between Arizona Time and Central Time?
As of 31 August 2026, Central Time is 2 hours ahead of Arizona Time. The gap is not fixed: across the year, Central Time ranges from 1 hour ahead to 2 hours ahead relative to Arizona Time, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in Arizona Time, what time is it in Central Time?
It is 11:00 AM in Central Time, United States. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is Central Time ahead of or behind Arizona Time?
Central Time is ahead of Arizona Time by 2 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in Central Time starts and ends earlier in Arizona Time terms.
Do Arizona Time and Central Time observe daylight saving time?
Central Time changes its clocks twice a year; Arizona Time does not. The difference therefore shifts by an hour when Central Time switches: across the year, Central Time ranges from 1 hour ahead to 2 hours ahead relative to Arizona Time.
What is the best time to call Central Time from Arizona Time?
Working hours overlap between 09:00 and 16:00 Arizona Time time, which is 11:00 to 18:00 in Central Time. Calls inside that window reach both sides during the normal working day.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for Arizona Time, United States (UTC-7) and Central Time, United States (UTC-5) were generated on Monday, August 31, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.