Live · calculated from the IANA time-zone database
Time difference between New York and Chicago
Short answer
Chicago is 1 hour behind New York. Right now it is 08:34 in New York (EDT, UTC−4) and 07:34 in Chicago (CDT, UTC−5).
Right now
New York · United States
08:34
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Eastern Daylight Time · EDT · UTC−4
Chicago · United States
07:34
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Central Daylight Time · CDT · UTC−5
Times at the moment this page was generated. Reload for a fresh reading.
Does the difference between New York and Chicago change during the year?
No. The difference is 1 hour for the whole of 2026: both cities change their clocks on the same dates, so the gap between them never moves.
Best time to call Chicago from New York (and vice versa)
The window in which both cities are inside their 9:00–17:00 working day runs from 10:00 to 17:00 in New York, which is 09:00 to 16:00 in Chicago: 7 hours of overlap per day. For a call that disturbs nobody, aim for the middle of that window.
Outside that window, the practical rule: mornings in New York are afternoons in Chicago. Avoid any hour that falls before 8:00 or after 21:00 in either city.
New York to Chicago conversion table
Each New York hour and its equivalent in Chicago today. Rows shaded green are working hours (9:00–17:00) in both cities at once.
| New York time · Tue, Sep 15 | Chicago time |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | 23:00previous day |
| 01:00 | 00:00 |
| 02:00 | 01:00 |
| 03:00 | 02:00 |
| 04:00 | 03:00 |
| 05:00 | 04:00 |
| 06:00 | 05:00 |
| 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 09:00 | 08:00 |
| 10:00 | 09:00 |
| 11:00 | 10:00 |
| 12:00 | 11:00 |
| 13:00 | 12:00 |
| 14:00 | 13:00 |
| 15:00 | 14:00 |
| 16:00 | 15:00 |
| 17:00 | 16:00 |
| 18:00 | 17:00 |
| 19:00 | 18:00 |
| 20:00 | 19:00 |
| 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 22:00 | 21:00 |
| 23:00 | 22:00 |
Looking for it the other way round? This page covers both directions: Chicago to New York is the same difference with the sign flipped.
The two time zones
New York — America/New_York
New York keeps Eastern Time (ET): UTC−5 in winter (EST) and UTC−4 in summer (EDT), the reference zone for US finance, media and the whole East Coast from Boston to Miami.
Chicago — America/Chicago
Chicago follows Central Time (CT): UTC−6 in winter (CST) and UTC−5 in summer (CDT), shared with Dallas, Houston and most of the US Midwest and South.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours difference between New York and Chicago?
Chicago is 1 hour behind New York. The difference is the same all year: neither city changes its clocks.
When it is 12:00 noon in New York, what time is it in Chicago?
11:00 in Chicago (at today's difference of 1 hour).
What is the best time for a meeting between New York and Chicago?
Between 10:00 and 17:00 in New York, which is 09:00–16:00 in Chicago: 7 hours of overlap inside both cities' 9:00–17:00 working day.
Do New York and Chicago observe daylight saving time?
New York: yes. Chicago: yes. Both change, but not necessarily on the same dates — see the transitions section on this page.
What time zone is New York in? And Chicago?
New York: Eastern Daylight Time (America/New_York, UTC−4). Chicago: Central Daylight Time (America/Chicago, UTC−5).
Tools
Meeting grid — add both cities and click a slot
Time zone converter — any city, any time
Working hours overlap calculator
Daylight saving time 2027 — all dates
More time differences from New York
More time differences from Chicago
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