CME & futures trading
Chicago Mercantile Exchange futures start trading at 17:00 CT the previous evening. Traders worldwide track CT for session opens.
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Chicago
United States
Daytime
17:18:36
Wed, May 20
CDTUTC-5
Time converter
Convert Chicago time to your time
Pick a local time in Chicago and instantly compare it against your own timezone before you schedule calls, travel, or deadlines.
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Today in Chicago
CST / CDTUTC−6 / UTC−5
ChicagoYour timeStatus
World Clock
Current time in Chicago
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.
Use cases
Why people check Chicago time
Practical use cases for this city's current local time and timezone.
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.
FAQ
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.
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Continue with Chicago
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