What Time Is It in Chicago: Current Local Time and Time Zone Explained

If you’re asking “what time is it in Chicago” right now, you’re looking for the current local time in one of the major cities in the United States. Chicago, located in the state of Illinois, observes Central Standard Time (CST) when not on daylight saving time.

Chicago Time Zone Basics

Chicago is in the Central Time Zone, which is:

• UTC‑6 hours during Standard Time (CST)

• UTC‑5 hours during Daylight Saving Time (CDT)

Most of the year Chic ago uses Central Standard Time — especially in winter — and shifts to Central Daylight Time in spring and summer when clocks move forward by one hour.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) in Chicago

• DST typically starts in early March and ends in early November in the U.S.

• In 2026, clocks in Chi cago will move forward one hour on March 8 2026 for daylight saving time.

So if you’re checking after March 8, Chi cago time would be UTC‑5 (CDT) until November.

How Chicago Time Compares to Other Places

Because Chi cago follows Central T ime:

• It’s 1 hour behind Eastern T ime (e.g., New York).

• It’s 2 hours ahead of Pacific T ime (e.g., Los Angeles).

• Chi cago time is 6 hours behind UTC while on standard time.

This means when it’s 10:00 PM in Chi cago (CST), it’s:

• 11:00 PM in New York (EST)

• 8:00 PM in Los Angeles (PST)

• 4:00 AM UTC (next day)

Chicago Time Throughout the Year

Chicago time changes with daylight saving policies. Here’s how that works:

Central Standard Time (CST)

• Used in winter months

• UTC‑6 hours

• Applies from November to early March

Central Daylight Time (CDT)

• Used in spring and summer

• UTC‑5 hours

• Applies from early March to early November

So if you’re checking what time is it in Chic ago between March and November, it’s most likely Central Daylight T ime. If it’s winter, you’re seeing Central Standard T ime.

Why Time Zones Matter

T ime zones like Chic ago’s Central T ime Zone help coordinate schedules across long distances. Without them, transportation, broadcasting, business meetings, and travel planning would become much more complicated.

Most U.S. states observe daylight saving time to take advantage of longer daylight hours in the summer. However, there are ongoing discussions and proposals about adjusting or eliminating these seasonal shifts. For example, Illinois has recently considered a bill to make standard time permanent if neighboring states do the same.

Quick Reference: Chicago Time Now

Tips for Checking Time in Chicago

Here are easy ways to check what time it is in Chi cago at any moment:

• Search real‑ti me t ime websites like ti me.is or t imeanddate.com.

• Use your phone’s world clock feature and add “Chic ago.”

• Ask smart assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant for live time.

Summary

• Chica go runs on Central Standard T ime (CST) in winter and Central Daylight Ti me (CDT) in summer.

• Current local time is 22:50 (10:50 PM), February 12 2026 (CST).

• Time varies with daylight saving shifts — next change is March 8, 2026.