This CET to UTC converter turns any time in Central European Time (CET) into Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), using your device clock so daylight saving is applied automatically. UTC is 1 hour behind CET when both zones are on standard time, and 2 hours behind during the summer months when clocks have shifted. CET is UTC+1 (CEST: UTC+2); UTC is UTC+0.
CET covers Paris, Berlin, Madrid; UTC covers Reykjavik (same clock), servers and aviation. Because only CET observes daylight saving time, the difference is not constant through the year. The tables below show both cases, and the converter at the top always uses the rule in force on the date you pick.
CET and UTC UTC offsets
CET
UTC+1
Central European Time
CEST UTC+2 from March 29 to October 25, 2026
UTC
UTC+0
Coordinated Universal Time
No daylight saving time
CET to UTC conversion table (standard time)
| CET | UTC |
|---|---|
| 12 am | 11 pmprevious day |
| 3 am | 2 am |
| 6 am | 5 am |
| 8 am | 7 am |
| 9 am | 8 am |
| 10 am | 9 am |
| 11 am | 10 am |
| 12 pm | 11 am |
| 1 pm | 12 pm |
| 2 pm | 1 pm |
| 3 pm | 2 pm |
| 4 pm | 3 pm |
| 5 pm | 4 pm |
| 6 pm | 5 pm |
| 8 pm | 7 pm |
| 10 pm | 9 pm |
CET to UTC during daylight saving
Between the dates listed above, the difference is 2 hours instead of 1 hour.
| CET/CEST | UTC |
|---|---|
| 12 am | 10 pmprevious day |
| 3 am | 1 am |
| 6 am | 4 am |
| 8 am | 6 am |
| 9 am | 7 am |
| 10 am | 8 am |
| 11 am | 9 am |
| 12 pm | 10 am |
| 1 pm | 11 am |
| 2 pm | 12 pm |
| 3 pm | 1 pm |
| 4 pm | 2 pm |
| 5 pm | 3 pm |
| 6 pm | 4 pm |
| 8 pm | 6 pm |
| 10 pm | 8 pm |
Frequently asked questions
What is the time difference between CET and UTC?
UTC is 1 hour behind CET on standard time. During daylight saving the gap changes to 2 hours. That comes from the UTC offsets: CET is UTC+1 and UTC is UTC+0. For example, 9 am CET = 8 am UTC, and in summer 9 am CET = 7 am UTC.
Is UTC ahead of or behind CET?
UTC is 1 hour behind CET, so when it is noon in CET it is 11 am in UTC. Ahead means the clock there already shows a later time; a call at 5 pm CET lands at 4 pm UTC.
Does CET or UTC observe daylight saving time in 2026?
CET switches to CEST (UTC+2) on March 29 and back on October 25 in 2026. UTC keeps UTC+0 all year. Between those dates the difference in the table above shifts by an hour, which is the usual cause of missed calls in spring and autumn.
What is the best time for a meeting between CET and UTC?
Standard office hours (9 am to 5 pm) overlap from 10 am to 5 pm CET, which is 9 am to 4 pm UTC. Pick a slot inside that window and both sides stay within a normal working day. Check the daylight saving dates above, because the window moves by an hour when only one side has changed clocks.
Which cities use CET and UTC?
CET (Central European Time) is used in Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam. UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is used in Reykjavik (same clock), servers and aviation. Some cities inside a zone skip daylight saving, noted in parentheses, so their offset matches only part of the year.