Time Difference Between Central Time and Arizona Time
As of 31 August 2026, Arizona Time is 2 hours behind Central Time. That number is not constant. Over the course of a year, because of daylight saving changes, Arizona Time, United States ranges from 2 hours behind to 1 hour behind relative to Central Time, United States. The calculator below is always up to date.
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Central Time, United States
17:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC-5 · CDT · America/Chicago
Arizona Time, United States
-2h15:34
Mon, Aug 31, 2026
UTC-7 · MST · America/Phoenix
Arizona Time is 2 hours behind Central Time.
Time zone details
| Place | Local date | Time zone | UTC offset | Summer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Time | Monday, August 31, 2026 | CDTAmerica/Chicago | UTC-5 | Active now |
| Arizona Time | Monday, August 31, 2026 | MSTAmerica/Phoenix | UTC-7 | Not observed |
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.
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.
Hour by hour: Central Time to Arizona Time
Every hour of today in Central Time and what it is in Arizona Time. Highlighted rows fall inside Arizona Time working hours (09:00–18:00).
| Central Time | Arizona Time |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 22:00prev day |
| 01:00 | 23:00prev day |
| 02:00 | 00:00 |
| 03:00 | 01:00 |
| 04:00 | 02:00 |
| 05:00 | 03:00 |
| 06:00 | 04:00 |
| 07:00 | 05:00 |
| 08:00 | 06:00 |
| 09:00 | 07:00 |
| 10:00 | 08:00 |
| 11:00 | 09:00 |
| Central Time | Arizona Time |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | 10:00 |
| 13:00 | 11:00 |
| 14:00 | 12:00 |
| 15:00 | 13:00 |
| 16:00 | 14:00 |
| 17:00 | 15:00 |
| 18:00 | 16:00 |
| 19:00 | 17:00 |
| 20:00 | 18:00 |
| 21:00 | 19:00 |
| 22:00 | 20:00 |
| 23:00 | 21:00 |
Best time to call or meet
Overlapping working hours
11:00–18:00 in Central Time (09:00–16:00 in Arizona 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
10:00–21:00 in Central Time (08:00–19:00 in Arizona 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, Arizona Time is 1 hour behind Central Time — instead of 2 hours behind, 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.
Central Time and Arizona Time: common questions
What is the time difference between Central Time and Arizona Time?
As of 31 August 2026, Arizona Time is 2 hours behind Central Time. The gap is not fixed: across the year, Arizona Time ranges from 2 hours behind to 1 hour behind relative to Central Time, as clocks change. The calculator on this page always shows the difference for right now.
When it is 9:00 AM in Central Time, what time is it in Arizona Time?
It is 07:00 AM in Arizona Time, United States. Use the time field in the calculator above to check any other hour.
Is Arizona Time ahead of or behind Central Time?
Arizona Time is behind Central Time by 2 hours at the moment. In practical terms, the working day in Arizona Time starts and ends later in Central Time terms.
Do Central Time and Arizona 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, Arizona Time ranges from 2 hours behind to 1 hour behind relative to Central Time.
What is the best time to call Arizona Time from Central Time?
Working hours overlap between 11:00 and 18:00 Central Time time, which is 09:00 to 16:00 in Arizona Time. Calls inside that window reach both sides during the normal working day.
Related comparisons
Local dates shown for Central Time, United States (UTC-5) and Arizona Time, United States (UTC-7) were generated on Monday, August 31, 2026 UTC and refresh in your browser.