Cuba Standard Time

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about CST, daylight saving, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].

How does Cuban Standard Time compare with nearby time zones throughout the year?

Cuba shows the same time as the U.S. East Coast almost all year: UTC-05:00 in winter, like Eastern Standard Time, and UTC-04:00 in summer, like Eastern Daylight Time, because both switch on the same Sundays. Jamaica and the Cayman Islands stay on UTC-05:00 all year, so they match Cuba in winter and are one hour behind in summer.

Does all of Cuba use the same time?

Cuba has a single time zone, so every part of Cuba—mainland and outlying keys—uses the same clock and DST transitions, making scheduling across the island completely uniform.

When do Cubans change clocks each year?

Cuba moves its clocks forward an hour at midnight on the second Sunday in March and back at 1:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.

What is Cuba’s clock called during daylight saving time?

From March to November Cuba uses Cuba Daylight Time (CDT), UTC-04:00, one hour ahead of Cuba Standard Time.

Is Cuban Standard Time ever confused with the North American Central Time?

Yes, both are abbreviated CST. Cuba Standard Time is UTC-05:00, while North American Central Standard Time is UTC-06:00, and both switch to daylight time on the same dates, so Havana is one hour ahead of Chicago all year.

What is unique about Cuban Standard Time among Caribbean islands?

Many Caribbean islands never change clocks, so Cuba stands out by aligning with North American daylight hours while still following its own annual transitions.