Current Time in Chicago
The current local time in Chicago, United States, updated live every second.
Note The time is computed in your browser from Chicago’s official time zone (America/Chicago) — never hardcoded. It follows daylight-saving changes automatically.
Chicago vs other United States cities, right now
Live current time in nearby major cities, and how far each is ahead of or behind Chicago.
| City | Current time | vs Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| New York United States | --:--:-- | |
| Los Angeles United States | --:--:-- | |
| Houston United States | --:--:-- | |
| Denver United States | --:--:-- | |
| Phoenix United States | --:--:-- | |
| Miami United States | --:--:-- | |
| Seattle United States | --:--:-- | |
| San Francisco United States | --:--:-- | |
| Boston United States | --:--:-- | |
| Washington DC United States | --:--:-- |
How to read the time in Chicago
- 01 The large clock shows Chicago’s current local time, ticking every second in 24-hour format, with the 12-hour (AM/PM) time beside it.
- 02 Read the zone label and UTC offset to see how Chicago relates to Coordinated Universal Time — it updates itself when daylight saving changes.
- 03Use the “ahead of / behind your local time” line to convert Chicago time to your own instantly.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Chicago in?
Chicago, United States uses the America/Chicago time zone (IANA identifier). Chicago observes daylight saving time. Its clocks run at UTC-6 in standard time and UTC-5 during daylight saving, so its offset from UTC changes twice a year. The clock above always shows the correct current time.
Does Chicago observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Chicago shifts its clocks by one hour twice a year, moving between UTC-6 (standard time) and UTC-5 (daylight saving time). Because the clock on this page is computed live from Chicago's time zone, you never have to track those changes yourself — the displayed time and UTC offset update automatically.
What is the time difference between Chicago and New York?
The gap between Chicago and New York depends on the current daylight-saving state of each city, so it can shift during the year. The live reference table above shows exactly how many hours New York and other cities are ahead of or behind Chicago right now.
Is this Chicago clock accurate and free?
Yes. The time is calculated live in your browser from Chicago's official IANA time zone (America/Chicago) and your device clock — nothing is hardcoded and nothing is uploaded. It is completely free and needs no sign-up.