Most of Texas observes Central Time — specifically Central Daylight Time (CDT), which is UTC-5, from March through early November, and Central Standard Time (CST), which is UTC-6, from November through March. As of June 2026, the current time in Texas (Central Daylight Time) is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and 1 hour behind Eastern Time. There is one notable exception: El Paso County and Hudspeth County observe Mountain Time, putting them one hour behind the rest of the state.
Current Time in Texas
For the vast majority of Texans — including those in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Amarillo — the time is Central Time. In late June 2026, Texas observes CDT (UTC-5), meaning Texas time is: 1 hour behind Eastern Time (New York), 2 hours ahead of Pacific Time (Los Angeles), and 5 hours behind UTC.
For El Paso and Hudspeth County: those areas observe Mountain Daylight Time (MDT, UTC-6) during summer, placing them one hour behind the rest of Texas.
Texas Time Zone: Central Time in Detail
Texas uses the IANA time zone identifier America/Chicago for the Central Time Zone. The Central Time Zone covers virtually all of Texas’s 254 counties, with the exception of El Paso and Hudspeth counties in the far west, which use America/Denver (Mountain Time).
An additional nuance: the northwestern portion of Culberson County near Guadalupe Mountains National Park informally observes Mountain Time due to its proximity to the New Mexico border.
Texas Daylight Saving Time 2026
DST began: Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. (clocks moved forward one hour — ‘spring forward’). DST ends: Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. (clocks move back one hour — ‘fall back’). Therefore, from March 8 through November 1, 2026, Texas observes CDT (UTC-5).
Why El Paso Is on Mountain Time
El Paso’s Mountain Time Zone designation is a result of geography, commerce, and political history. El Paso sits in the far western tip of Texas, directly adjacent to New Mexico. The city’s economy and daily life are deeply integrated with neighboring New Mexico and, across the Rio Grande, Ciudad Juárez in Mexico.
Related guides: Texas area codes | Texas county map | What time zone is Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Texas in?
Most of Texas is in the Central Time Zone. Texas observes Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-5) from March through November and Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) from November through March. El Paso and Hudspeth counties are on Mountain Time.
Is Texas on Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Time right now?
As of June 2026, Texas is on Central Daylight Time (CDT), which is UTC-5. Texas switches to Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) on November 1, 2026.
Does all of Texas follow the same time zone?
No. The vast majority of Texas uses Central Time, but El Paso County and Hudspeth County in far west Texas observe Mountain Time.
When does Texas change its clocks in 2026?
In 2026, Texas clocks sprang forward on March 8 and will fall back on November 1.
How many hours behind New York is Texas?
Texas (Central Time) is one hour behind New York (Eastern Time) at all times of year.