Chicago Time
Chicago Time
Chicago runs on Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) during daylight saving. It is the Midwest's financial and cultural centre, home to the CME Group futures exchanges.
Why people check Chicago time
Common reasons to track the current time in Chicago.
CME & futures trading
Chicago Mercantile Exchange futures start trading at 17:00 CT the previous evening. Traders worldwide track CT for session opens.
Sports broadcasts
Major league and college sports events in Chicago are listed in CT. East and West coast viewers add or subtract hours accordingly.
Midwest business hub
Chicago is a hub for manufacturing, logistics, and finance. Teams spanning the US coasts use CT as the central reference.
O'Hare connections
O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the US. International travellers convert local time to CT for layover planning.
Chicago Time — FAQ
What time zone is Chicago in?
Chicago uses Central Time: CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) during daylight saving (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).
How many hours behind New York is Chicago?
Chicago is always 1 hour behind New York. Both cities observe daylight saving on the same dates.
Is Chicago on the same time as Dallas?
Yes — Dallas (Texas) also uses Central Time and follows the same DST rules as Chicago.
Related city clocks