The short answer

3pm in Central Time is 2pm in Mountain Standard Time.

Central Time is 1 hour ahead of Mountain Standard Time. Both sides are inside the standard 9-to-5 working day, so this is a sociable time for a call in both places.

Central Time
3pm
Mountain Standard Time
2pm
Right now
4:54amCDT · UTC-05:00 · Mon, Jun 22
3:54amMDT · UTC-06:00 · Mon, Jun 22
Read across to convert
Central Time
CDT · UTC-05:00
4:54am ☾
Mountain Standard Time
MDT · UTC-06:00
3:54am ☾
Pinned3pmCentral Time=2pmMountain Standard Time
12amMon
11pmSun ·−1d
1am
12amMon
2am
1am
3am
2am
NOW
4am
3am
5am
4am
6am
5am
7am
6am
8am
7am
9am
WORK
8am
10am
WORK
9am
WORK
11am
WORK
10am
WORK
12pm
WORK
11am
WORK
1pm
WORK
12pm
WORK
2pm
WORK
1pm
WORK
PINNED
3pm
WORK
2pm
WORK
4pm
WORK
3pm
WORK
5pm
4pm
WORK
6pm
5pm
7pm
6pm
8pm
7pm
9pm
8pm
10pm
9pm
11pm
10pm
daylightnightworking hoursoverlap
Best time to meet
Best for a call
Central Time
10am–5pm
=
Mountain Standard Time
9am–4pm
Popular conversions

Quick reference.

9amCentral Time=8amMountain Standard Time
12pmCentral Time=11amMountain Standard Time
3pmCentral Time=2pmMountain Standard Time
5pmCentral Time=4pmMountain Standard Time
9pmCentral Time=8pmMountain Standard Time
In context

What each side covers.

Central Time
CDT · UTC-05:00
4:54am
Cities on this clock
Mountain Standard Time
MDT · UTC-06:00
3:54am
Cities on this clock
Did you mean…? “CDT” is shared by several places. This page shows Central Time (US & Canada) — or switch to China Time.

Frequently asked

Quick answers about converting between Central Time and Mountain Standard Time. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].

What is the time difference between Central Time and Mountain Standard Time?
Central Time is 1 hour ahead of Mountain Standard Time right now. We always show the live, daylight-saving-correct difference, so this figure already accounts for whichever side is observing summer time today.
When it's 3pm in Central Time, what time is it in Mountain Standard Time?
3pm in Central Time is 2pm in Mountain Standard Time. Both sides are inside the standard 9-to-5 working day, so this is a sociable time for a call in both places. Use the hour-by-hour table above to read any other time across.
What's the best time for a call between Central Time and Mountain Standard Time?
10am–5pm in Central Time lines up with 9am–4pm in Mountain Standard Time — both sides are inside a 9-to-5 working day.
Does this account for daylight saving time?
Yes. We track every clock change in both places, so the abbreviations you see — CDT and MDT — are the ones actually in effect right now, not a fixed all-year value. When either side changes its clocks, this page updates automatically.
Why is the date sometimes different on each side?
When two places are far enough apart, the same moment can fall on different calendar days. That is why some conversions are marked "previous day" or "next day" — it is the same instant in time, read off two clocks that crossed midnight at different points.