Texas time is not as simple as it looks. Consequently, with two time zones and annual daylight saving changes, knowing the exact current time in Texas requires understanding where in the state you are. This guide covers Texas time zones, current time across all major cities, and the 2026 daylight saving schedule.
What Is Texas Time Right Now
Most of Texas runs on Central Time (CT). Therefore, cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo, and Corpus Christi all share the same local time throughout the year. The exception is El Paso and the surrounding Trans-Pecos region, which runs on Mountain Time — one hour behind. For the live exact time right now, use our Texas Time Zone Clock tool.
Central Time vs Mountain Time in Texas
Central Standard Time (CST) is UTC minus 6 hours. Central Daylight Time (CDT) is UTC minus 5 hours during summer. In contrast, Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC minus 7 hours and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is UTC minus 6 hours. As a result, El Paso is always one hour behind Houston regardless of the time of year, because both shift together during daylight saving transitions.
Texas Time by City
Here is a quick reference for which time zone each major Texas city follows. All Central Time cities share identical local time at all times of year.
- Houston — Central Time (CT)
- Dallas / Fort Worth — Central Time (CT)
- Austin — Central Time (CT)
- San Antonio — Central Time (CT)
- Lubbock — Central Time (CT)
- Amarillo — Central Time (CT)
- Waco — Central Time (CT)
- Midland / Odessa — Central Time (CT)
- El Paso — Mountain Time (MT) — 1 hour behind above cities
Daylight Saving Time in Texas 2026
Texas follows US federal daylight saving time rules. Clocks spring forward one hour on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November. Furthermore, discussions about making daylight saving permanent in Texas have occurred in the state legislature but no change has passed into law as of 2026.
- Spring forward: March 8, 2026 — 2:00 AM becomes 3:00 AM
- Fall back: November 1, 2026 — 2:00 AM becomes 1:00 AM
Texas Time vs World Cities
Understanding Texas time relative to global cities helps with international business and travel scheduling. Texas Central Time is 1 hour behind New York, 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles, the same as Chicago and Mexico City, 6 hours behind London in winter, 7 hours behind Paris in winter, and 15 hours behind Tokyo in winter. Additionally, during daylight saving time the offset to European cities reduces by one hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Texas in?
Most of Texas is in the Central Time Zone. Far West Texas including El Paso observes Mountain Time, which is one hour behind the rest of the state.
Is Texas currently in CST or CDT?
Texas observes Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) from November through March and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) from March through November during daylight saving time.
What time is it in Texas right now?
Use our live Texas Time Zone Clock tool to see the exact current time in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, and other major Texas cities updated in real time.
Does El Paso follow the same time as Houston?
No. El Paso follows Mountain Time, which is one hour behind Central Time. When Dallas shows 5:00 PM, El Paso shows 4:00 PM simultaneously.
When do clocks change in Texas in 2026?
Clocks spring forward on March 8, 2026 at 2:00 AM and fall back on November 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM. Texas follows federal daylight saving time rules.
See the live Texas time right now with our Texas Time Zone Clock. You can also read our What Time Is It in Texas guide for a full breakdown. Additionally, check our Texas Time Zone guide for detailed daylight saving information.
