Central European Time (CET)

Central European Time UTC Offset

• Central European Time (CET) is 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1:00).
• Many regions that use CET observe Daylight Saving Time (DST). During DST, they switch to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2:00.

What Is Central European Time?

Central European Time (CET) is the standard time zone used by many countries in Europe and parts of northern Africa. Major countries using CET include Germany, France, Italy, Spain (mainland), Poland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, and several others.

CET remains at UTC+1 during the standard time period, usually from late October to late March.

When Daylight Saving Time is in effect—typically from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October—regions switch from CET (UTC+1) to CEST (UTC+2).

Because many countries share CET, the time zone helps coordinate travel, business, and communication across a large part of Europe.

During DST, clocks are set forward by one hour to extend evening daylight. When DST ends, clocks return to CET at UTC+1.

CET Is Widely Used Across Europe

In everyday usage, CET refers to the standard time (UTC+1). During summer months, the same areas switch to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2, but people may still casually refer to it as “Central European Time.”

For example, when it is 12:00 UTC, it is 13:00 CET during standard time and 14:00 CEST during Daylight Saving Time.

Use Our Time Zone Converter: Find the Time Difference

Where and When is CET Observed?

Europe

Africa

Other Time Zones in UTC +1

Some time zones exist that have the same offset as CET, but can be found under a different name:

• A – Alfa Time Zone
• BST – British Summer Time
• IST – Irish Standard Time
• WAT – West Africa Time
• WEST – Western European Summer Time
• WST – Western Sahara Summer Time