Current Time in Chicago
Chicago, USA 🇺🇸 runs on America/Chicago.
16:12:27
Saturday, 16 May 2026
America/Chicago · UTC-5 (DST in effect)
Timezone
America/Chicago
UTC Offset
UTC-5
Country
USA
DST
Observed
The current time in Chicago is shown above. The clock updates every second once the page loads. Chicago bridges East Coast and West Coast US hours, sitting one hour behind New York and two ahead of LA.
When is it daytime in Chicago?
In Chicago, daytime runs roughly from 7am to 7pm local. Right now it is daytime in Chicago. Business hours are typically 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Other cities in the same time zone
Chicago is the only major city in our current-time index on America/Chicago.
Plan a meeting with Chicago
Most cross-city scheduling from Chicago runs against the cities below. Each page shows the overlap window and the time difference, with DST handled live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is it in Chicago right now?
Use the live clock at the top of this page for the current Chicago time. Chicago operates on America/Chicago, which is currently UTC-5.
What time zone does Chicago use?
Chicago uses America/Chicago (IANA timezone identifier). At standard time, the UTC offset is -6. During daylight saving the offset shifts by one hour.
Does Chicago observe daylight saving time?
Yes. When DST is in effect, the offset becomes UTC-5 from a standard-time UTC-6.
How can I plan a meeting with someone in Chicago?
Use one of the meeting-time pages below for a specific city pair. Each page shows the overlap window between Chicago working hours and the other city's, and the live tool maps it in both directions.