Texas Time Now
Time Zones
time zones
Quick Answer
Most of Texas uses Central Time. El Paso uses Mountain Time.
Use the region toggle to switch between the two Texas time zones.
What Time Zone Is Texas In?
Texas spans two time zones. The vast majority of the state — including Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Corpus Christi — follows Central Time (CST/CDT, America/Chicago). El Paso and Hudspeth County in far west Texas follow Mountain Time (MST/MDT, America/Denver).
This means El Paso is always 1 hour behind the rest of Texas. When it's 12:00 PM in Houston, it's 11:00 AM in El Paso.
Texas Time Differences
| Location | vs Houston (CT) | vs El Paso (MT) |
|---|---|---|
| New York (ET) | +1h | +2h |
| Los Angeles (PT) | −2h | −1h |
| London (GMT/BST) | +6h | +7h |
| India (IST) | +11h 30m | +12h 30m |
| El Paso ↔ Houston | 1 hour difference | |
Positive = ahead. All US zones switch DST together, keeping differences stable.
Texas Time for Business and Travel
Texas is the second-largest US state by both area and population, with major business hubs in Houston (energy, NASA), Dallas (finance, tech), Austin (tech, state capital), and San Antonio (military, tourism). When scheduling meetings or flights, always confirm which Texas time zone applies — especially for El Paso.
El Paso — Mountain Time Exception
El Paso and Hudspeth County in far west Texas use Mountain Time (MST/MDT, America/Denver), one hour behind the rest of the state. This aligns El Paso with neighboring Las Cruces, New Mexico rather than distant Dallas or Houston. The border between Central and Mountain Time runs along the Hudspeth-Culberson county line. When driving east from El Paso, you gain an hour at Van Horn.
Texas Cities by Population & Industry
| City | Zone | Key Industry |
|---|---|---|
| Houston | Central | Energy, NASA, Healthcare |
| Dallas | Central | Finance, Tech, Telecom |
| Austin | Central | Tech, State Capital, Music |
| San Antonio | Central | Military, Tourism |
| El Paso | Mountain | Border trade, Military |