Central Time covers Chicago, Houston, Dallas and much of the US South, where many Nigerian families, nurses and logistics firms are based. It sits one hour behind New York, so it is easy to mix up with Eastern Time. Right now US Central Time is 6 hours behind WAT in summer and 7 hours behind in winter.
WAT to CST converter
US Central Time is 6 hours behind WAT in summer and 7 hours behind WAT in winter. Pick any date and time below to convert it, with daylight saving handled for you.
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Runs on your device with its built-in time zone rules. Nothing you enter is sent to our server.
WAT to US Central Time conversion table
| WAT (WAT) | US Central Time, winter (CST) | US Central Time, summer (CDT) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 AM | 11 PM (previous day) | 12 AM |
| 7 AM | 12 AM | 1 AM |
| 8 AM | 1 AM | 2 AM |
| 9 AM | 2 AM | 3 AM |
| 10 AM | 3 AM | 4 AM |
| 11 AM | 4 AM | 5 AM |
| 12 PM | 5 AM | 6 AM |
| 1 PM | 6 AM | 7 AM |
| 2 PM | 7 AM | 8 AM |
| 3 PM | 8 AM | 9 AM |
| 4 PM | 9 AM | 10 AM |
| 5 PM | 10 AM | 11 AM |
| 6 PM | 11 AM | 12 PM |
| 7 PM | 12 PM | 1 PM |
| 8 PM | 1 PM | 2 PM |
| 9 PM | 2 PM | 3 PM |
| 10 PM | 3 PM | 4 PM |
| 11 PM | 4 PM | 5 PM |
Daylight saving time notes
- US Central Time: clocks go forward one hour on Sunday 8 March 2026, so US Central Time moves to CDT.
- US Central Time: clocks go back one hour on Sunday 1 November 2026, so US Central Time moves to CST.
Nigeria (WAT) and most of Africa do not use daylight saving, so only the other side moves. Between the change dates the winter or summer column applies; the live converter above always uses the exact date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between WAT and US Central Time?
US Central Time is 6 hours behind WAT in summer and 7 hours behind WAT in winter. The gap changes when daylight saving time starts or ends; the converter above uses the exact rules for the date you pick.
What is 3 PM WAT in US Central Time time?
3 PM in WAT is 9 AM in US Central Time in summer and 8 AM in winter.
When do WAT and US Central Time working hours overlap?
On weekdays, a 9 AM to 5 PM day overlaps from 3 PM to 5 PM (WAT time) in summer, and from 4 PM to 5 PM in winter. Use the meeting planner to stretch the day or add more cities.
Is CST the same as China Standard Time?
The letters are the same but the zones are not. In US job posts CST means Central Standard Time (UTC−6, Chicago). China Standard Time is UTC+8. This page uses US Central Time, which is CDT (UTC−5) in summer.
Does this tool handle daylight saving time?
Yes. It uses your browser's built-in time zone database (the IANA database that phones and computers use), so summer and winter time changes are applied for the exact date you pick. Nigeria (WAT, UTC+1) never changes its clocks, but the US, Canada, the UK and Europe do, so the gap to them moves by one hour twice a year.
Best time to talk between WAT and US Central Time
If both of you keep a 9 AM to 5 PM weekday, the shared window is 3 PM to 5 PM WAT time in summer (4 PM to 5 PM in winter). Put calls near the middle of it so nobody joins tired or rushed. Need three or four cities? Use the meeting planner. Want everyone to see the time in their own zone? Share your working-hours link.