Current Time in Houston, United States
Exact time synced with atomic clocks (IANA + NTP)
Country
Dialling: +1
City Details
Houston
Lat: 29.7604° N
Long: 95.3698° W
Population: 2,328,000
Time Zone
America/Chicago
CDT
Public Holidays in United States
Truman Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Via Nager.Date
Time Difference from You to Houston
Business Hours in Houston
Sunrise & Sunset in Houston Today
Data via sunrisesunset.io
Current Weather in Houston, United States
Data via Open-Meteo · Updates every 30 min
Moon Phase in Houston Tonight
Overview
Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, with 2.3 million residents in the city and 7.7 million in Greater Houston as of 2024. It is the global capital of the oil and gas industry — home to more than 5,000 energy-related firms — and also the home of NASA's Johnson Space Center, which has managed every US human spaceflight mission since 1961.
Administrative Region
South / Gulf Coast
US-TX
Local Currency
$
Metadata
- Web Domain.us
- ISO CodeUS-TX
Culture & Daily Life
📜 History & Origins
Founded on 30 August 1836 by brothers Augustus and John Kirby Allen, who purchased land along Buffalo Bayou and named it after General Sam Houston, then President of the Republic of Texas. The city grew slowly until the 1901 Spindletop oil discovery 130km to the east transformed the Texas Gulf Coast into a global petroleum hub. The opening of the Houston Ship Channel in 1914 — a 52-mile dredged waterway — made it a major port despite being 80km inland.
🗣️ Languages
👥 Demographics
✨ Leisure Highlights
- •Space Center Houston — NASA's official visitor centre
- •Museum District — 19 museums including MFAH, natural science and Holocaust museums
- •Buffalo Bayou Park and the downtown skyline
- •Houston Zoo and Hermann Park
- •Kemah Boardwalk — waterfront entertainment
🎒 Visitor Tip
Houston is car-dependent by design — few neighbourhoods are walkable between each other, and distances are enormous. Use Uber or rideshare for everything. The Museum District is a dense cluster of 19 institutions accessible on foot. Space Center Houston (NASA) is the must-do attraction and takes a full day. The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, is also here if that's relevant. Summers are very hot and humid (35–38°C) — plan accordingly.
Geography & Climate
Land & Terrain
Surface area and physical characteristics
Built on the flat coastal plain of the Texas Gulf Coast, approximately 80km from the Gulf of Mexico. The city is almost entirely flat, averaging just 15m above sea level, with the highest point in the city limits around 38m. The terrain is composed of soft alluvial clay that is highly prone to subsidence — parts of the city have sunk over 3m since the 1920s due to groundwater extraction. Houston sits within a flood-prone bayou network and experienced catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Climate Stats
Humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa)
Avg Summer
33°C
Avg Winter
11°C
Annual Rainfall
1330 mm
Best Months (Sunshine)
Travel & Connectivity
✈️ Nearby AirportsIATA / Distance
🚄 Rail ConnectionsOperator / Distance
Nearby Cities & Excursions
Other times compared to Houston
Frequently Asked Questions about time in Houston
What timezone is Houston in?↓
Houston is in the America/Chicago time zone (America/Chicago), currently UTCCDT.
Does United States observe daylight saving time?↓
No. United States does not observe daylight saving time. Houston stays on CST/CDT (UTCCDT) year-round, so the clocks never change.
What is CST/CDT?↓
CST/CDT stands for America/Chicago. It is UTCCDT and is the standard time used in United States.
What is the time difference between Houston and New York?↓
Houston is 5 hours ahead of New York (EST). When New York switches to EDT in summer, the difference decreases by 1 hour.
How accurate is the time shown for Houston?↓
The time displayed for Houston is synced with atomic clock sources via NTP (Network Time Protocol) and uses IANA timezone data to ensure accuracy to the second. It automatically reflects any daylight saving time changes.
What does UTCCDT mean for Houston?↓
UTCCDT means Houston is aligned with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the global standard for timekeeping.
What are the business hours in Houston?↓
Standard business hours in Houston are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM CST/CDT (UTCCDT). Many businesses also operate Saturday mornings. Public holidays follow the United States national calendar.
Is there much time difference between Houston and London?↓
Houston is within a few hours of London, so scheduling calls is usually straightforward. Always confirm the current local time in both cities, especially around daylight saving time changes.