Memphis uses Central Time (CT) — UTC−6 in winter (CST) and UTC−5 in summer (CDT). Known as the "Home of the Blues" and "Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll", Memphis is a legendary music city, home to Elvis Presley's Graceland, Beale Street, and world-famous barbecue.
Everything you need to know about Memphis's time zone, UTC offset, and Daylight Saving Time schedule.
From the first Sunday of November to the second Sunday of March, Memphis observes CST (UTC−6). This is the standard winter time used across much of the Midwest and South.
From the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November, Memphis advances to CDT (UTC−5) — clocks move forward 1 hour, giving longer summer evenings.
The official IANA time zone name for Memphis is America/Chicago. This identifier is used in programming, operating systems, and all modern calendar applications.
Spring forward: 9 March 2025 at 02:00 → 03:00
Fall back: 2 November 2025 at 02:00 → 01:00
Spring forward: 8 March 2026 at 02:00 → 03:00
Fall back: 1 November 2026 at 02:00 → 01:00
Memphis is where W.C. Handy wrote the first blues songs, where Elvis Presley recorded "That's All Right" at Sun Studio, and where B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding made history.
Memphis-style BBQ is legendary — dry-rub ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, and tangy sauces. The city hosts the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest every May.
Memphis is the second-largest city in Tennessee, with a population of over 630,000 (metro area over 1.3 million). Founded in 1819 on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, Memphis has played a central role in American music, civil rights, and Southern culture. It is known as the "Home of the Blues" and the "Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll."
Memphis is arguably the most important city in American music history. Beale Street, a historic thoroughfare, is where W.C. Handy wrote the first blues songs in the early 1900s, and where B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf honed their craft. Sun Studio, now a museum, is where a young Elvis Presley recorded "That's All Right" in 1954, launching rock 'n' roll. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Roy Orbison also recorded there. Stax Records produced the "Memphis Soul" sound (Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Sam & Dave), while Hi Records gave the world Al Green.
The city is also the home of Elvis Presley's Graceland, the second most-visited house in America (after the White House). Graceland attracts over 600,000 visitors annually, who tour the mansion, Elvis's car museum, and his private jets. Elvis is buried on the grounds.
Memphis is deeply connected to the civil rights movement. The National Civil Rights Museum is located at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The museum provides a powerful, comprehensive history of the struggle for equality in America.
No visit to Memphis is complete without experiencing its barbecue. Memphis-style BBQ is known for dry-rub ribs (seasoned with a blend of spices before smoking), pulled pork sandwiches topped with coleslaw, and tangy tomato-based sauces. Legendary spots include Central BBQ, Rendezvous, Gus's Fried Chicken, and Corky's.
Memphis International Airport (MEM) is a major FedEx hub (the "SuperHub"), making it one of the busiest cargo airports in the world. Passenger service includes non-stop flights to over 30 destinations, including major hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and Las Vegas.
630,000+ (city) / 1.3M (metro). 2nd largest city in Tennessee.
Home of the Blues, Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll (Sun Studio), Stax Records, Beale Street, and Graceland (Elvis Presley).
National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
World-famous dry-rub ribs, pulled pork, and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
Humid subtropical. Hot, humid summers (avg. 33°C / 91°F in July), mild winters (avg. 4°C / 39°F in January).
+1 (US country code). Area codes: 901. Currency: US Dollar (USD, $).
Current time in major cities compared to Memphis. Times update live every second.
Note on DST transitions: The offsets shown above reflect the current live offset, which changes twice a year due to Daylight Saving Time. The US, EU, and other regions change their clocks on different dates, which means the difference between Memphis and a European city can vary by 1 hour for a short period in spring and autumn. Always verify the exact time difference around DST transition dates for critical scheduling.
Ask any question about time, zones or conversions in natural language. The AI assistant will understand your query and provide a precise answer.
Ask: "What time is it in Madrid?" — The built-in assistant instantly provides the current time and offset without needing an API key.
AI knows over 600 IANA time zones and can answer questions about these zones.
Connect your own API keys (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Mistral, DeepSeek) — full control.
Without an API key the module uses built-in zone logic — fast and delay-free.
Memphis's Central Time zone shapes the rhythm of the blues — from late-night sets on Beale Street to the annual barbecue championship. The Central Time Zone is home to over 90 million people across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
TimeZoria AI uses your browser's built-in Intl API and the IANA tz database to always display the correct Memphis time — including DST changes — without any network requests.
Check the current time in other major cities — all on TimeZoria AI.
Common questions about Memphis's time zone, UTC offset, and Daylight Saving Time.