What is the time in Texas now? Whether you are scheduling a call, planning a flight connection, or simply coordinating with someone in the Lone Star State, getting the current Texas time right is essential. Consequently, Texas follows Central Time for the vast majority of the state with one important exception in El Paso. This guide provides the live current Texas time and quick reference comparisons for the most common scheduling needs.
Texas Time Now — Live Reference
The time in Texas now follows Central Time for Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Lubbock, Amarillo, Waco, and almost every other Texas city. Therefore, checking the current time in Texas now is the same as checking Chicago time or New Orleans time — they all share Central Time simultaneously. For the live exact current time in Texas now updated every second, use our Texas Time Zone Clock tool.
CST vs CDT — What Texas Is On Now
Texas uses two different Central Time designations depending on the time of year. Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC minus 6 applies from the first Sunday of November through the second Sunday of March. Central Daylight Time (CDT) at UTC minus 5 applies from the second Sunday of March through the first Sunday of November. Furthermore, in 2026 the spring forward is March 8 and the fall back is November 1. As a result, whether you check in January or July changes which UTC offset applies when converting Texas time to other zones.
Texas Now vs Key US Cities
- Texas now vs New York now: New York is 1 hour ahead of Texas
- Texas now vs Chicago now: Same time — no difference
- Texas now vs Los Angeles now: Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Texas
- Texas now vs Denver now: Denver is 1 hour behind Texas
- Texas now vs El Paso now: El Paso is 1 hour behind Dallas, Houston, and Austin
El Paso — The Texas Exception Right Now
El Paso follows Mountain Time — not Central Time like the rest of Texas. Therefore, right now El Paso is exactly one hour behind Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. When Dallas shows noon right now, El Paso simultaneously shows 11 AM. Furthermore, both zones shift simultaneously during daylight saving transitions, so the one-hour gap between El Paso and the rest of Texas is constant year-round. As a result, always subtract one hour from the Central Time shown on this page when determining El Paso’s current time.
Why Knowing Texas Time Now Matters
Texas is home to four of the ten largest US cities, major energy and technology companies, and extensive international business relationships. Furthermore, the Houston ship channel, Dallas-Fort Worth airport, and Austin’s tech sector create constant international scheduling needs. As a result, accurately knowing what time it is in Texas now — and how that translates to London, Tokyo, or New York — is a practical daily need for millions of professionals who work with or in the Lone Star State.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is it in Texas now?
Texas follows Central Time for most of the state. Use our Texas Time Zone Clock tool for the exact live current time in Texas now — updated every second for Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso.
Is Texas now on CST or CDT?
Texas is on Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) from November through March and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) from March through November. Check the current date to determine which applies right now.
What time is it in Texas now compared to eastern US?
Texas now is one hour behind the Eastern United States. If it is noon in New York or Miami now, it is 11 AM in Texas at the same moment.
What time is it in Dallas Texas now?
Dallas Texas is on Central Time. Use our Texas Time Zone Clock for the exact live time in Dallas now. Dallas always shares the same time as Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.
What time is it in Texas now vs California?
Texas is currently two hours ahead of California. If it is 2 PM in Texas now, it is noon in California (Pacific Time) at the same moment.
Get the live current Texas time now with our Texas Time Zone Clock. You can also read our What Time Is It in Texas Right Now guide for more detail. Additionally, our Time in Texas guide covers the full annual daylight saving schedule.
