How do you convert EST to CST?

Use CST = EST − 1 hour. For 20:00 EST that gives 19:00 CST.

What does 20:00 EST actually mean?

It sits between 17 and 23 EST; the table on this page shows how those compare.

20:00 EST to CST

19:00 CST

20:00 Eastern Standard Time equals 19:00 Central Standard Time.

These are standard-time offsets, which never change. What changes is which one a place observes: New York is on EST in winter but EDT (an hour later) during daylight saving, and the UK is on GMT in winter and BST in summer. If you mean "the time in New York right now", use the full converter — it reads live offsets.

How the conversion works

This one is a formula rather than a single multiplier:

CST = EST − 1 hour → 19:00 CST

Going the other way: 19:00 CST to EST.

Convert a different time zone

EST =19:00 CST

Open the full time zone converter for every other unit.

Nearby values

EST	CST
17:00 EST	16:00 CST
18:00 EST	17:00 CST
19:00 EST	18:00 CST
21:00 EST	20:00 CST
22:00 EST	21:00 CST
23:00 EST	22:00 CST

Questions

What is 20:00 EST in CST?: 20:00 EST is 19:00 CST.
How do you convert EST to CST?: Use CST = EST − 1 hour. For 20:00 EST that gives 19:00 CST.
What does 20:00 EST actually mean?: It sits between 17 and 23 EST; the table on this page shows how those compare.