Time zone
CST / CDT — the standard and daylight abbreviations for Houston.
Current local time
Current Time in Houston
Check the current time in Houston, United States. Houston is on Central Time, UTC-6 in winter and UTC-5 during daylight saving from spring through fall.
01:13:14
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Central Daylight Time — UTC-5
Houston time zone at a glance
The key facts for Houston, United States, and how its clock relates to UTC.
About time in Houston
Houston, the largest city in Texas, keeps Central Time at UTC-6 in winter and UTC-5 during Central Daylight Time. Sharing the IANA zone America/Chicago, it changes its clocks on the same dates as the rest of the central United States. As a global energy capital, Houston's business hours often overlap with both East Coast finance and international oil markets. Its position in the heart of the country makes it a convenient three-hour bridge between New York's morning and Los Angeles' early start.
Houston changes its clocks for daylight saving time, so its exact UTC offset depends on the season (UTC-6 (UTC-5 in summer)). The live clock above reads Houston's local time directly from the IANA time zone database in your browser, so it stays accurate through daylight-saving transitions without any manual adjustment. To plan a call or convert a specific moment, use the timezone converter or meeting planner linked below.
Frequently asked questions about Houston time
Does Houston observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Houston follows Central Daylight Time (UTC-5) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, then returns to Central Standard Time (UTC-6).
Is Houston in the same time zone as Dallas?
Yes. Houston and Dallas are both in the Central Time Zone and always share the same local time.
What time zone is Houston in?
Houston is in the Central Time Zone, using CST (UTC-6) in winter and CDT (UTC-5) in summer, under the IANA zone America/Chicago.
Current time in other cities
Compare Houston with other major world clocks.
New York Current local time in New York, United States (UTC-5 (UTC-4 in summer)). Los Angeles Current local time in Los Angeles, United States (UTC-8 (UTC-7 in summer)). Chicago Current local time in Chicago, United States (UTC-6 (UTC-5 in summer)). Phoenix Current local time in Phoenix, United States (UTC-7 (no DST)). Denver Current local time in Denver, United States (UTC-7 (UTC-6 in summer)). Seattle Current local time in Seattle, United States (UTC-8 (UTC-7 in summer)).
Time tools for Houston
Learn about time zones
Background guides that explain how Houston's clock relates to the rest of the world.