
Chicago is in the Central Time Zone, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport is in the same time zone as the city. During standard time, which is between November and April, Chicago is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During Daylight Savings Time, which is between April and November, Chicago is five hours behind GMT.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone |
| Time Difference from GMT | 6 hours behind GMT (Nov-Apr) 5 hours behind GMT (Apr-Nov) |
| Time Difference from UTC | UTC -6:00 (Nov-Apr) UTC -5:00 (Apr-Nov) |
| Airports in Chicago | O'Hare International Airport, ORD Midway International Airport, MDW |
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What You'll Learn

Chicago O'Hare International Airport is in the Central Time Zone
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is located in the Central Time Zone. This is the same time zone that Chicago, Illinois, is in. The Central Time Zone is one of six time zones in the continental US. It is also one of four time zones in the Midwest, with Milwaukee and parts of Illinois and nearby states also in the Central Time Zone.
During standard time, which is from November through April, the Central Time Zone is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). GMT is a European time zone that uses the zero-degree line of longitude as its reference. When standard time is in effect, the Central Time Zone is also one hour behind the Eastern Time Zone, which includes cities like New York and Toronto.
During Daylight Saving Time, which is from April through November, the Central Time Zone is five hours behind GMT. During this time, the time difference between the Central Time Zone and the Eastern Time Zone remains the same, with the former being one hour behind the latter.
Chicago is the largest city in the Central Time Zone. This means that, if you're travelling to or from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, you may not experience as drastic of a time change as you would when travelling to or from a city in a different time zone.
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Chicago is not on GMT time
Chicago O'Hare International Airport is in the same time zone as the city, so you can call someone in Chicago during your normal hours, and it will be the same time at the airport. However, it's always good to check for daylight savings time when scheduling a call, as this can affect the time difference.
Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT, is a European time zone that uses the zero-degree line of longitude as its reference point. The continental US, on the other hand, has four distinct time zones, which become six when Alaska and Hawaii are included. The time zone borders are based on low population density rather than state lines, so some states actually observe two time zones.
Chicago, located in the Midwest region of the US, shares its time zone with nearby Milwaukee and other cities like Houston, Havana, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin. So, if you're planning a trip to Chicago, or the Skydeck at Willis Tower, be sure to keep in mind that you'll be stepping into the Central Time Zone!
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Daylight Saving Time changes
Chicago is in the Central Time Zone, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport is in the same time zone as the city. During standard time, which runs from November through April, Chicago is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). When Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins in April, the clocks move forward by one hour, so Chicago is then five hours behind GMT. DST ends in November, when the clocks are moved back by one hour.
In 2025, DST will begin on March 9 and end on November 2.
To convert the time in Chicago to GMT, add six hours during Central Standard Time or five hours if DST is in effect.
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Time difference to other locations
Chicago is in the Central Time Zone and observes Central Standard Time (CST) or Central Daylight Time (CDT), depending on whether it's winter or summer. Here is how Chicago's time compares to that of some other major cities:
London
There is a six-hour time difference between Chicago and London. When it's 9 a.m. in Chicago, it's 3 p.m. in London. The best time to schedule a call accommodating all parties in both cities is between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. in Chicago, which is between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in London.
Los Angeles
Chicago is two hours ahead of Los Angeles. The best time for a meeting accommodating all parties in both cities is between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. in Chicago, which is between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. in Los Angeles.
New York
New York is one hour ahead of Chicago. On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 9:22 a.m. in Chicago, the time in New York was 10:22 a.m.
Sydney
There is a large time difference between Chicago and Sydney, and typical working hours do not overlap. Those in Chicago who want to contact someone in Sydney should do so between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. Chicago time, which is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Sydney.
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Time zone converter
Chicago is in the Central Time Zone, and Chicago O'Hare International Airport is in the same time zone as the city. During standard time, which is from November through April, Chicago is six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During Daylight Savings Time, which is from April through November, Chicago is five hours behind GMT.
To use a time zone converter, you typically need to input the following information:
- Locations: Specify the locations for which you want to convert time. This could be cities, time zones, or even specific airports. For example, you can input "Chicago" or "Central Time Zone" as one location.
- Date and Time: Provide the specific date and time for which you want to make the conversion. This helps account for any variations in daylight savings time or standard time across different locations.
Once you've entered this information, the time zone converter will calculate and display the corresponding time in the selected locations. Some converters may also provide additional information, such as the time difference between the locations or the current time in each location.
There are many online tools and websites that offer time zone conversion services. For instance, TravelMath provides an online time zone converter where you can enter airports, cities, states, countries, or zip codes to find the time difference between any two locations worldwide. Similarly, Time Genie offers a Home Time Zone Converter and a Meeting Planner tool to assist with time differences when planning meetings or travel schedules.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicago is in the Central Time Zone.
Yes, Chicago O'Hare International Airport is in the same time zone as Chicago.
During standard time (November through April), Chicago is six hours behind GMT. During Daylight Savings Time (April through November), Chicago is five hours behind GMT.




















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