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Current time in Chicago

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Tuesday, 1 September 2026

United States — Central Time · UTC−5 · daylight saving active

CityLocal timeDate
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What time is it in Chicago?

The current local time in Chicago is on Tuesday, 1 September 2026. Chicago is on CT — CST (UTC−6) in winter (UTC−5).

Chicago sets the reference clock for US Central Time, the zone that covers more states than any other. It is one hour behind New York, one ahead of Denver and two ahead of Los Angeles, and it observes daylight saving from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Time zone facts

Time zoneCT — CST (UTC−6) in winter, CDT (UTC−5) in summer
Current offsetUTC−5
Daylight savingCurrently active (summer time)
Next clock changeSunday, 1 November 2026
IANA zoneAmerica/Chicago

Sunrise and sunset today

Sunrise06:17
Sunset19:26
Day length13 h 09 m
Solar noon12:52

Good to know

  • Central Time is where most US national broadcast schedules quote a second slot, as in '8/7c'.
  • Chicago's futures and options markets set the trading day that Asian and European desks follow overnight.
  • December sunsets in Chicago fall around 4:20pm; late June sunsets are past 8:30pm.

Planning a call?

Use the time zone converter to line up a specific hour, the world clock to watch several cities at once, or a countdown timer to track how long until the call starts.

Frequently asked questions

What time is it in Chicago right now?

The clock at the top of this page shows the current local time in Chicago, updated every second from your device clock and the America/Chicago time zone. CT — CST (UTC−6) in winter, CDT (UTC−5) in summer.

Does Chicago use daylight saving time?

Yes. Chicago changes its clocks twice a year, so the UTC offset shifts by an hour. This page shows whether daylight saving is active right now and the date of the next change.

What is the time difference between Chicago and me?

The comparison table on this page converts the current time in Chicago into your own local time and into the main cities people schedule with.

When does the sun rise and set in Chicago?

Today's sunrise, sunset and day length are calculated on this page from the local coordinates — no account or location permission needed.

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