Central Time (CT)
Dallas operates on Central Time (CT). Dallas observes Daylight Saving Time, springing forward one hour in March and falling back in November. During DST, the abbreviation changes to reflect the shift.
Time Zone: Central Time (CT) — Standard Offset: UTC-6 (CST) — DST Offset: UTC-5 (CDT)
Country: United States
This city observes Daylight Saving Time, so the UTC offset changes twice per year. Always verify the current offset when scheduling across time zones.
Dallas operates on Central Time, positioning it as one of America's most strategically timed business cities. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is home to 22 Fortune 500 companies — more than any other US metro except New York. AT&T, ExxonMobil, American Airlines, Texas Instruments, and Southwest Airlines all headquarter in the DFW area. Central Time's middle-of-the-country position makes Dallas an efficient hub for national operations.
While Houston leads in oil and gas operations, Dallas plays a major role in energy business, finance, and technology. Energy trading and corporate decisions in the DFW area follow Central Time. The CT position means Dallas energy executives can coordinate with both East Coast financial markets and West Texas oil fields during normal business hours.
Texas observes DST from the second Sunday in March through the first Sunday in November. Like other Central Time cities, Dallas shifts from CST (UTC-6) to CDT (UTC-5). There have been periodic legislative efforts in Texas to adopt permanent DST or permanent standard time, but none have passed as of 2025.
Dallas's CT location provides an ideal bridge for national scheduling. A 9 AM meeting in Dallas is 10 AM in New York and 7 AM in LA — tight but workable. By 10 AM CT, all three coasts are fully online. For international coordination, Dallas to London is 6 hours (5 during BST), and Dallas to Tokyo is 15 hours (14 during CDT). The city's major international airport (DFW, one of the world's busiest) reflects its role as a connection hub in both travel and time.