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Wisconsin • Live Time-Zone Reference

Wisconsin Time Zone

Wisconsin uses Central Time (CT) statewide. Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Eau Claire, La Crosse and all 72 Wisconsin counties share the same official civil time. Wisconsin uses CST at UTC−06:00 during standard time and CDT at UTC−05:00 during daylight saving time.

Quick answer: Wisconsin has one time zone and no internal time-zone boundary. Use America/Chicago for date-aware software calculations. Even Wisconsin's Lake Superior shore, Door Peninsula and western Mississippi River counties use the same Central Time clock.
Time zones1Central Time statewide
Standard timeCSTUTC−06:00
Daylight timeCDTUTC−05:00
Wisconsin Time Zone at a Glance Wisconsin Time Zone Map Current Time in Wisconsin
Search a Wisconsin city, county, Central Time abbreviation, UTC offset, related state or time-zone tool.
Popular: U.S. Time Zones Central Time CST CDT Milwaukee Time Now Wisconsin Time Zone Map Daylight Saving Time

Wisconsin Time Zone at a Glance

Wisconsin is a one-zone state. Every county and major region uses Central Time, while the abbreviation and UTC offset change seasonally with daylight saving time.

CT

Central Time in Wisconsin

The entire state follows Central Time, including all 72 counties and every major Wisconsin community.

Central Time details → CST

Central Standard Time

Wisconsin uses CST at UTC−06:00 during the standard-time portion of the year.

See CST time now → CDT

Central Daylight Time

Wisconsin uses CDT at UTC−05:00 while daylight saving time is in effect.

See CDT time now → DST

Wisconsin Daylight Saving Time

Wisconsin currently changes clocks in March and November under state and federal rules.

See DST rules → MKE

Current Time in Milwaukee

Milwaukee has a dedicated current-time page; its time-zone questions remain part of this statewide Wisconsin reference.

See Milwaukee time now → ⌖

Wisconsin Time Zone Map

See Wisconsin inside Central Time and understand its border relationship with Michigan's two-zone system.

View Wisconsin map →

Wisconsin Time Zone by Major City & Region

Every location below shares the same Central Time clock. Current abbreviations and UTC offsets update automatically with the date.

Current time across Wisconsin →
Wisconsin LocationCurrent TimeCurrent AbbreviationCurrent UTC OffsetReference
Milwaukee · Milwaukee CountyLive——Milwaukee time now
Madison · Dane CountyLive——State capital reference
Green Bay · Brown CountyLive——Northeast Wisconsin
Kenosha · Kenosha CountyLive——Southeast Wisconsin
Racine · Racine CountyLive——Lake Michigan shore
Eau Claire · Eau Claire CountyLive——West-Central Wisconsin
La Crosse · La Crosse CountyLive——Mississippi River reference
Superior · Douglas CountyLive——Lake Superior reference
Central Time Zone Current Time in Wisconsin Wisconsin Time Zone Map

Wisconsin Time-Zone Guides & Related References

Continue with Central Time, official related states, statewide and Milwaukee current time, nearby state boundaries, daylight-saving guidance and the dedicated Wisconsin map.

All U.S. time zones →
Statewide zoneCentral TimeThe time zone used throughout Wisconsin.→ Standard timeCSTUTC−06:00 during standard time.→ Daylight timeCDTUTC−05:00 while DST is active.→ Official related stateOklahomaAnother statewide Central Time reference.→ Official related stateMissouriAnother statewide Central Time reference.→ Live statewide timeCurrent Time in WisconsinMilwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and other Wisconsin city clocks.→ Live city timeCurrent Time in MilwaukeeDedicated current-time owner for Wisconsin's largest city.→ Southern neighborIllinoisCentral Time continues across Wisconsin's southern border.→ Two-zone neighborMichiganIts Wisconsin-border counties are Central, while most of Michigan is Eastern.→ Dedicated state mapWisconsin Time Zone MapSee statewide Central Time and regional boundary context.→ Zone mapCentral Time Zone MapSee Wisconsin inside the broader Central region.→ Seasonal rulesDaylight Saving TimeCurrent U.S. clock-change dates and rules.→
One Wisconsin Clock

Wisconsin Central Time & UTC Now

Wisconsin has one statewide civil time, but its UTC offset changes seasonally. The live cards compare Wisconsin with New York and UTC while keeping the current CST/CDT status date-aware.

Central Time CST CDT UTC Offsets Time Zone Difference
Wisconsin · Central TimeLive timeAmerica/Chicago · current abbreviation and offset
New York · Eastern TimeLive timeNormally one hour ahead of Wisconsin.
UTC ReferenceLive timeCoordinated Universal Time · UTC+00:00
Wisconsin Counties72Every county uses Central Time.

Wisconsin UTC Offset & Regional Reference

Wisconsin has no regional UTC-offset split. Every city and county changes together between CST at UTC−06:00 and CDT at UTC−05:00.

Explore UTC offsets →
Wisconsin AreaIANA ZoneCurrent TimeCurrent UTC OffsetSeasonal Rule
Milwaukee / Southeast WisconsinAmerica/ChicagoLive—CST UTC−06 → CDT UTC−05
Madison / South-Central WisconsinAmerica/ChicagoLive—CST UTC−06 → CDT UTC−05
Green Bay / Northeast WisconsinAmerica/ChicagoLive—CST UTC−06 → CDT UTC−05
Eau Claire / West-Central WisconsinAmerica/ChicagoLive—CST UTC−06 → CDT UTC−05
La Crosse / Western WisconsinAmerica/ChicagoLive—CST UTC−06 → CDT UTC−05
Superior / Northwest WisconsinAmerica/ChicagoLive—CST UTC−06 → CDT UTC−05

Do Wisconsin Borders Change the Clock?

No at ordinary direct land crossings under current rules. Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa use Central Time along Wisconsin's borders. Michigan is a two-zone state, but the four Michigan counties that directly border Wisconsin by land—Gogebic, Iron, Dickinson and Menominee—are also Central Time. Eastern Time appears farther into Michigan.

Illinois Time Zone Minnesota Time Zone Iowa Time Zone Michigan Time Zone

Wisconsin Standard Time vs Daylight Time

Wisconsin currently observes the U.S. daylight-saving schedule statewide. In 2026 the state advanced clocks on March 8 and returns to standard time on November 1.

Daylight Saving Time guide →
Wisconsin ZoneStandard TimeStandard OffsetDaylight TimeDaylight Offset
Central Time · entire stateCSTUTC−06:00CDTUTC−05:00
Wisconsin DST Rules When DST Starts When DST Ends DST by State

Compare Wisconsin Central Time

Compare Wisconsin with New York, Denver, Los Angeles, London or another location. The live comparison uses current civil-time rules rather than assuming a fixed year-round difference.

Live time
Current abbreviation and UTC offset
Live time
Current abbreviation and UTC offset
Open Full Converter Time Zone Difference

How Wisconsin Time Works

Six facts explain nearly every Wisconsin time-zone question, from statewide Central Time to all 72 counties, border travel, IANA calculations, state statutes and the 2025–2026 permanent-standard-time bills.

01 · Statewide

Wisconsin Has One Time Zone

The entire state uses Central Time. There is no Eastern or Mountain Time area inside Wisconsin.

02 · Counties

All 72 Counties Share One Clock

Every Wisconsin county follows the same CST/CDT schedule, from Douglas and Door to Grant and Kenosha.

03 · Cities

Milwaukee & Madison Always Match

Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Eau Claire, La Crosse and every other Wisconsin community share one official clock.

04 · Borders

Direct Land Borders Stay on Central Time

Even the Michigan counties directly adjoining Wisconsin are on the Central side of Michigan's zone boundary.

05 · IANA

Use America/Chicago

America/Chicago is the correct date-aware IANA zone for current and future Wisconsin civil-time calculations.

06 · Wisconsin Law

§§ 175.09 & 175.095 Define Central Time + DST

Wisconsin law establishes Central Time as the state standard and advances it one hour during the statutory daylight-saving period.

Does All of Wisconsin Have the Same Time?

Yes. All 72 Wisconsin counties use Central Time. Those counties are Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, St. Croix, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood.

Wisconsin Statute § 175.09 describes the state's standard as the time of the 90th meridian west of Greenwich, commonly known as Central Time. Current § 175.095 then advances that standard by one hour from 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March until 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday in November.

72 countiesEvery Wisconsin county follows the same official Central Time rules.
No in-state zone lineYou never change official time zones simply by traveling within Wisconsin.
One IANA rule setAmerica/Chicago handles modern Wisconsin CST/CDT calculations statewide.
Wisconsin Time Zone MapCentral Time Zone

Is Wisconsin Ending Daylight Saving Time?

No change is in force as of August 20, 2026. Wisconsin still alternates between CST and CDT under §§ 175.09 and 175.095. The 2026 daylight-saving period began March 8 and ends November 1.

AB 160 and SB 165 in the 2025–2026 Legislature proposed repealing § 175.095 and eliminating daylight saving time, which would have left Wisconsin on Central Standard Time year-round. The Legislative Reference Bureau analysis noted that federal law allows a one-zone state such as Wisconsin to choose standard time throughout the entire state. Both companion bills ultimately failed to pass on March 23, 2026, so Wisconsin's current seasonal clock changes remain in effect.

Daylight Saving Time Is Daylight Saving Time Ending? Central Time Zone Time Zone Chart
Visual Geography

Wisconsin Time Zone Map

Wisconsin is entirely in Central Time, but a dedicated state map is useful for border context—especially the Wisconsin–Michigan relationship. The four Michigan counties that directly border Wisconsin by land are also Central Time, while Michigan's Eastern Time territory begins farther east.

Wisconsin Time Zone Map Central Time Zone Map U.S. Time Zone Map

Looking for the Current Time in Wisconsin?

This page explains Wisconsin's time zone, UTC offsets, abbreviations, DST, borders and current law. If your main question is what time it is right now, use the statewide current-time page or the dedicated Milwaukee current-time page.

Statewide current timeCurrent Time in Wisconsin
Milwaukee current timeCurrent Time in Milwaukee
Statewide zoneCentral Time Zone
Dedicated visual referenceWisconsin Time Zone Map

Sources & Methodology

CalendarHours uses location-aware, date-aware time-zone logic rather than permanently hardcoding Wisconsin as UTC−6 or UTC−5. America/Chicago supplies the modern Central Time rules used throughout the state.

The IANA Time Zone Database is the primary rules source for civil offsets and transitions. U.S. daylight-saving dates are checked against NIST. Wisconsin's 72-county structure is checked against Wisconsin state agencies. The state's time law is checked against Wisconsin Statutes §§ 175.09 and 175.095, and the most recent permanent-standard-time proposal against the 2025–2026 AB 160/SB 165 legislative record.

IANA — Time Zone Database NIST — Daylight Saving Time Rules Wisconsin DWD — 72 Counties Wisconsin Statute § 175.09 — Standard Time Wisconsin Statute § 175.095 — Daylight Saving Time Wisconsin Legislature — AB 160 / SB 165 Permanent Standard Time Proposal

Reviewed August 20, 2026. IANA architecture baseline: tzdb 2026c. Live clocks, current abbreviations and UTC offsets update automatically from supported browser time-zone data.

Wisconsin Time Zone FAQ

What time zone is Wisconsin in?

Wisconsin is entirely in Central Time. The state uses CST (UTC−06:00) during standard time and CDT (UTC−05:00) during daylight saving time.

How many time zones are in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has one official time zone: Central Time. There is no internal time-zone boundary.

Does all of Wisconsin have the same time?

Yes. Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine, Eau Claire, La Crosse and all 72 counties share the same official Central Time rules.

What time zone is Milwaukee in?

Milwaukee is in Central Time and uses CST during standard time and CDT during daylight saving time. For the live clock, see Current Time in Milwaukee.

What time zone is Madison, Wisconsin in?

Madison, the state capital, is in Central Time and follows the same CST/CDT schedule as Milwaukee and the rest of Wisconsin.

What is Wisconsin's UTC offset?

Wisconsin is UTC−06:00 during Central Standard Time and UTC−05:00 during Central Daylight Time.

Does Wisconsin observe daylight saving time?

Yes. In 2026, daylight saving time in Wisconsin runs from March 8 at 2:00 a.m. local time to November 1 at 2:00 a.m. local time.

Is Wisconsin on CST or CDT right now?

Wisconsin uses CST during standard time and CDT during daylight saving time. The live clock above calculates the current abbreviation from the date.

What IANA time zone should I use for Wisconsin?

Use America/Chicago for current and future Wisconsin civil-time calculations.

How many counties are in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has 72 counties, and every county uses Central Time.

Do I change time when crossing Wisconsin's state borders?

Not at ordinary direct land crossings under current rules. Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and the Michigan counties directly adjoining Wisconsin all use Central Time.

Is Wisconsin ending daylight saving time?

No change is in force as of August 20, 2026. Wisconsin still observes seasonal DST. AB 160 and SB 165 proposed year-round Central Standard Time, but both failed to pass on March 23, 2026.