The Time in Wisconsin

When asking "what time is it in Wisconsin?", the answer is remarkably consistent across America's Dairyland. With only a minor historical exception, the entire state operates on a single, unified time zone.

Central Time Zone

Wisconsin is officially and almost entirely located in the **Central Time Zone**. This standard dictates its local time relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and shifts seasonally with Daylight Saving Time:

• CST (Central Standard Time): The state's time during fall and winter, set at **UTC-6**.
• CDT (Central Daylight Time): The state's time during spring and summer, set at **UTC-5**.

Observance of Daylight Saving Time

Wisconsin fully observes Daylight Saving Time. All counties in the state move their clocks forward one hour on the second Sunday in March and turn them back one hour on the a first Sunday in November, staying in sync with the national standard. Our live clock automatically reflects the current standard.

The Myth of a Divided State

While some sources show a tiny sliver of the state near Michigan observing Eastern Time, this is not officially recognized for any major town and is largely a historical footnote. For all practical and commercial purposes, you can consider the entire state, from Milwaukee to Green Bay to Madison, to be on **Central Time**.

Wisconsin in a National Context

Understanding Wisconsin's Central Time is key for coordination with the rest of the country. At any given moment, the time in Wisconsin is:

• The same time as Chicago and Dallas.
• 1 hour behind New York and the East Coast.
• 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles and the West Coast.