Current Time in Chicago
The live local time in Chicago, United States — Chicago (America/Chicago). Compare it with major cities below, or open the full world clock map.
Time in Chicago
Chicago follows the America/Chicago time zone. Its offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) changes when daylight saving time is in effect, so the live clock above always shows the real local time right now.
Daylight saving: Chicago observes daylight saving time. The clocks next go back one hour (DST ends) on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
To plan a call or event across zones, compare Chicago with other cities in the list above, browse every offset on the interactive time zone map, or turn any moment into a shareable code with the Discord timestamp generator.
Chicago quick facts
- Country
- United States
- Time zone
- America/Chicago
- UTC offset
- UTC−6 (January) / UTC−5 (July)
- Calling code
- +1
- Population (metro area, approx.)
- ≈ 9.4 million
- Coordinates
- 41.88°N, 87.63°W
Best time to call Chicago
When it's 9:00 AM–5:00 PM in New York, it's 8:00 AM–4:00 PM in Chicago. The best window for business calls is roughly 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Chicago time.
When it's 9:00 AM–5:00 PM in London, it's 3:00 AM–11:00 AM in Chicago. The best window for business calls is roughly 9:00 AM–11:00 AM Chicago time.
Cities near Chicago
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Chicago in?+
Chicago is in the America/Chicago time zone. The live clock shows its current UTC offset, which already accounts for daylight saving where it applies.
Does Chicago observe daylight saving time?+
The times shown use the current IANA time zone (America/Chicago), so daylight saving is reflected automatically whenever United States observes it.
When do the clocks change in Chicago?+
Chicago observes daylight saving time. The clocks next go back one hour (DST ends) on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
What is the best time to call Chicago from New York?+
When it's 9:00 AM–5:00 PM in New York, it's 8:00 AM–4:00 PM in Chicago. The best window for business calls is roughly 9:00 AM–4:00 PM Chicago time.