Current Time in CET
Central European Time
About CET Central European Time
The standard time for many European and some North African countries. During summer, most of these locations switch to Central European Summer Time (CEST). Equivalent to MET (Middle European Time).
UTC Offset: +01:00
CET at a glance
| Right now | 13:54 on Tuesday |
|---|---|
| UTC offset | UTC+01:00 (1 hour ahead of UTC) |
| Full name | Central European Time |
| Countries | 34 |
| IANA zones | 38 |
What is CET?
CET is a time zone that is currently UTC+01:00 - that's 1 hour ahead of UTC. Its full name is Central European Time. Right now the local time on CET is 13:54. Today 34 countries (including Albania, Algeria and Andorra) and 38 IANA database zones sit at this offset, which is why CET is a useful shorthand even though the exact local rules differ from place to place.
How to convert CET to UTC
For quick planning, use today's offset as a rule of thumb: 12:00 UTC = 13:00 local time, and 09:00 local time = 08:00 UTC. The live clock above is the safest reference when daylight saving or regional rules may apply.
Which countries use CET?
CET is used across Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina, plus 28 more. Open a country to see all of its cities and their local time.
IANA time zones in CET
CET maps to the IANA database zones Africa/Algiers, Africa/Ceuta, Africa/Tunis, Arctic/Longyearbyen, Atlantic/Jan_Mayen and CET, among 38 in total. Each zone page shows its exact rules, including any daylight saving changes.
💡 Tip: Comparing times? CET is 1 hour ahead of UTC. Use the IANA links and country links on this page when you need the exact local rule for a real place, not just the offset.
CET - Frequently asked questions
What is CET?
CET is a time zone currently UTC+01:00 (1 hour ahead of UTC). Its full name is Central European Time.
What is the UTC offset of CET?
CET is UTC+01:00 right now - 1 hour ahead of UTC.
Which countries are on CET?
CET is used in Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina, plus 28 more.
What time is it in CET now?
The current time on CET is 13:54 on Tuesday. The clock above updates every second.
How Alarm.now explains CET
Abbreviation, offset, and IANA zones
CET is shown as a time-zone group for Central European Time with offset +01:00. The page links the abbreviation to the IANA zones and countries that use it, so users and search engines can distinguish a short label from an exact time-zone rule set.
When to use a specific IANA page
Use this group page for an overview of the abbreviation and offset. Use a linked IANA time-zone page when you need exact daylight-saving rules for a calendar, app, or future-date comparison.