Current local time in Chicago
Chicago, United States, uses the America/Chicago time zone (Central Standard Time / Central Daylight Time). Clocks change 2 times in 2026. Below: the live clock, exact clock-change dates, sunrise and sunset, and the best times to call other cities.
- Time zone
- Central Daylight TimeCDT
- UTC offset now
- UTC−5
- Daylight saving
- Next change Sunday, November 1, 2026: UTC−5 → UTC−6
- Dialing code
- +1
The time zone, at a glance.
Chicago follows America/Chicago. There are 2 clock changes scheduled in 2026 under the current time zone rules. For an appointment, use the date of the event: another city can change its clocks even when this one does not.
Offsets shown at local noon on the 15th of each month, 2026. Exact transition instants are listed below.
When do the clocks change?
2026
01:59 is followed by 03:00 one minute later.
Some local times are skipped.UTC−6 → UTC−52026-03-08 08:00 UTC01:59 is followed by 01:00 one minute later.
Some local times occur twice. Choose the occurrence when converting.UTC−5 → UTC−62026-11-01 07:00 UTC2027
01:59 is followed by 03:00 one minute later.
Some local times are skipped.UTC−6 → UTC−52027-03-14 08:00 UTC01:59 is followed by 01:00 one minute later.
Some local times occur twice. Choose the occurrence when converting.UTC−5 → UTC−62027-11-07 07:00 UTCFuture dates reflect the time zone database available at build time (2026-10-22), not a promise that governments will leave the rules unchanged. See the international clock-change calendar →
How the light changes in Chicago.
Of these monthly samples, Jun has the most daylight (15h 13m) and Dec the least (9h 9m).
| Date in 2026 | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | UTC offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | 7:15 AM | 4:44 PM | 9h 29m | UTC−6 |
| Feb 15 | 6:46 AM | 5:23 PM | 10h 38m | UTC−6 |
| Mar 15 | 7:02 AM | 6:57 PM | 11h 55m | UTC−5 |
| Apr 15 | 6:10 AM | 7:31 PM | 13h 22m | UTC−5 |
| May 15 | 5:30 AM | 8:04 PM | 14h 34m | UTC−5 |
| Jun 15 | 5:14 AM | 8:27 PM | 15h 13m | UTC−5 |
| Jul 15 | 5:28 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 55m | UTC−5 |
| Aug 15 | 5:58 AM | 7:50 PM | 13h 52m | UTC−5 |
| Sep 15 | 6:30 AM | 6:59 PM | 12h 29m | UTC−5 |
| Oct 15 | 7:03 AM | 6:08 PM | 11h 6m | UTC−5 |
| Nov 15 | 6:40 AM | 4:29 PM | 9h 49m | UTC−6 |
| Dec 15 | 7:11 AM | 4:20 PM | 9h 9m | UTC−6 |
Local civil times; a jump in sunrise on the clock can reflect daylight saving, not an abrupt change in the Sun’s movement.
Compare Chicago with your world.
Add cities, choose the actual date, and preview your weekly meeting across clock changes.
Best times to call from Chicago
One-hour calls on Thursday, October 22, 2026, preferring 9 am – 5 pm on both sides. Times are Chicago time unless marked.
| Calling | Difference | Best one-hour window | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 hour ahead | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM (10:00 AM–5:00 PM there) | Working hours for both |
| London | 6 hours ahead | 9:00 AM–11:00 AM (3:00 PM–5:00 PM there) | Working hours for both |
| Tokyo | 14 hours ahead | 7:00 PM–9:00 PM (9:00 AM–11:00 AM there) | Early or late for someone |
| Los Angeles | 2 hours behind | 11:00 AM–5:00 PM (9:00 AM–3:00 PM there) | Working hours for both |
| Sydney | 16 hours ahead | 3:00 PM–9:00 PM (7:00 AM–1:00 PM there) | Early or late for someone |
| Dubai | 9 hours ahead | 7:00 AM–8:00 AM (4:00 PM–5:00 PM there) | Early or late for someone |
Calculated for the date above; differences can change around clock-change dates. Public holidays and personal schedules are not included.
Upcoming public holidays
National holidays in the United States, when offices and banks are often closed. Regional holidays are not listed.
- Wed, Nov 11, 2026 · Veterans Day
- Thu, Nov 26, 2026 · Thanksgiving Day
- Fri, Dec 25, 2026 · Christmas Day
- Fri, Jan 1, 2027 · New Year's Day
- Mon, Jan 18, 2027 · Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Mon, Feb 15, 2027 · Washington's Birthday
Airports serving Chicago
Flight times are published in each airport’s local time. Airports with scheduled service within 80 km; straight-line distance from the city center.
- MDW Chicago Midway International Airport · 14 km
- ORD Chicago O'Hare International Airport · 25 km
- GYY Gary/Chicago International Airport · 34 km
- MGC Michigan City Municipal Airport · 70 km
Places that share Chicago’s clock
These places use the same America/Chicago rules, so their time always matches Chicago, including clock changes.
- Houston · United States of America
- Dallas · United States of America
- Minneapolis · United States of America
- San Antonio · United States of America
- St. Louis · United States of America
- Ft. Worth · United States of America
- Milwaukee · United States of America
- Kansas City · United States of America
- Austin · United States of America
- Memphis · United States of America
- Nashville · United States of America
- Birmingham · United States of America
- Tulsa · United States of America
- Oklahoma City · United States of America
- Omaha · United States of America
- Arlington · United States of America
- New Orleans · United States of America
- St. Paul · United States of America
- Pasadena · United States of America
- Wichita · United States of America
Also on UTC−5 today
Countries with places on the same offset on 2026-10-22. Their clocks match Chicago today but may differ after a clock change.
- Peru
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Mexico
- Panama
- Jamaica
- Canada
- Brazil
- Bolivia
- United States of America
- Cayman Islands
Questions about time in Chicago
What time zone is Chicago in?
Does Chicago observe daylight saving time?
Yes. In 2026, clocks go forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and go back on Sunday, November 1, 2026. The next change is on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from UTC−5 to UTC−6.
What is the time difference between Chicago and other major cities?
On Thursday, October 22, 2026: New York is 1 hour ahead of Chicago; London is 6 hours ahead of Chicago; Tokyo is 14 hours ahead of Chicago; Los Angeles is 2 hours behind Chicago; Sydney is 16 hours ahead of Chicago; Dubai is 9 hours ahead of Chicago.
How do I call Chicago from abroad?
Dial your international access code (or + on a mobile), then +1, then the local number without its leading trunk zero where one is used. Check the best calling windows above before you dial.
What these numbers can—and cannot—tell you.
The live clock converts your device’s time with your browser’s IANA-based time zone data. It does not independently synchronize your clock. The solar calculations use SunCalc with representative city-center coordinates; civil sunrise and sunset are approximate horizon events, not weather forecasts.
Our date-aware calculations are more useful than treating Chicago as a permanently fixed abbreviation. For calendar software, use America/Chicago. For a one-off invitation, include the full date and a shared conversion link. Read the methodology and data limitations.