Current Time in Chicago
Chicago is on CDT (UTC-5) right now, until 1 November 2026. Clocks go back 1 hour that day.
Chicago time at a glance
- Time zone: America/Chicago (CST / CDT).
- UTC offset now: UTC-5, on daylight saving time.
- Next clock change: 1 November 2026, clocks go back 1 hour.
- Country: Illinois, United States of America.
- Longest 9-to-5 overlap among eight hubs: New York, 7 hours.
What time is it in Chicago? CDT (UTC-5), next clock change 1 November 2026, UTC table and working-hours overlap with eight cities.
What time zone is Chicago in?
Chicago is in the America/Chicago time zone. Right now it is on CDT (UTC-5), which is 5 hours behind UTC, until 1 November 2026.
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, switches between CST (UTC-6) and CDT (UTC-5). Chicago is currently on daylight saving time.
Does Chicago use daylight saving time?
Yes. Chicago moves between CST (UTC-6) and CDT (UTC-5). The next change is on 1 November 2026, when clocks go back 1 hour and Chicago moves to CST.
| Date | What happens | New time zone |
|---|---|---|
| 1 November 2026 | At 2:00 AM clocks go back 1 hour to 1:00 AM | CST (UTC-6) |
| 14 March 2027 | At 2:00 AM clocks go forward 1 hour to 3:00 AM | CDT (UTC-5) |
What is Chicago time in UTC?
Right now Chicago is 5 hours behind UTC, so add 5 hours to Chicago time to get UTC. The offset is UTC-6 on CST and UTC-5 on CDT, so use the column for the date you need.
| Time in Chicago | UTC when Chicago is on CST (UTC-6) | UTC when Chicago is on CDT (UTC-5) |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 9:00 AM | 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 12:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 8:00 PM | 2:00 AM (+1 day) | 1:00 AM (+1 day) |
| 11:00 PM | 5:00 AM (+1 day) | 4:00 AM (+1 day) |
What is the time difference between Chicago and other major cities?
Chicago is 5 hours behind London and 1 hour behind New York right now. The longest shared 9 AM to 5 PM window is with New York, at 7 hours.
| City | Gap from Chicago | Shared 9-to-5 window (Chicago time) | Same window in that city |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 5 hours ahead | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM |
| New York | 1 hour ahead | 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM | 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Los Angeles | 2 hours behind | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM |
| Dubai | 9 hours ahead | — | — |
| Mumbai | 10 hours 30 minutes ahead | — | — |
| Singapore | 13 hours ahead | — | — |
| Tokyo | 14 hours ahead | — | — |
| Sydney | 16 hours ahead | — | — |
Which time converters include Chicago?
SavvyToolz has 4 converter pages for Chicago, pairing it with New York and London. Each one gives the hour-by-hour table, the gap across daylight saving changes and the best time to call.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What time zone is Chicago in?
- Chicago is in the America/Chicago time zone. Right now it is on CDT (UTC-5), which is 5 hours behind UTC, until 1 November 2026.
- When do the clocks change in Chicago?
- Yes. Chicago moves between CST (UTC-6) and CDT (UTC-5). The next change is on 1 November 2026, when clocks go back 1 hour and Chicago moves to CST.
- Is Chicago ahead of or behind UTC?
- Chicago is 5 hours behind UTC right now (UTC-5), so add 5 hours to Chicago time to get UTC. After 1 November 2026 it is on CST (UTC-6).
- What is the best time to call Chicago from New York?
- Both cities are inside 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Chicago time, which is 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM in New York. Chicago is 1 hour behind New York right now.