This guide gives you everything you need to know about the time zone in Chicago—plus rich insights into the city's geography, culture, history, and economic importance.

Table of Contents

Chicago Overview

Chicago, also known as "The Windy City" or "Chi-Town", is the largest city in the Midwest and the third most populous in the United States, with over 2.7 million residents.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois, Chicago is a global hub for architecture, culture, education, and commerce. It is home to the world’s first skyscraper (built in 1885) and features one of the most iconic skylines in the world.

Tourism plays a big role in Chicago's economy—it’s the second most visited city in the U.S. and home to major attractions like museums, sports stadiums, universities, and the scenic Riverwalk.

What Time Zone Is Chicago In?

Chicago is located in the Central Time Zone (CT), which applies to the entire state of Illinois.

So whether you’re downtown or in the suburbs, the whole metro area follows Central Time—no regional variation.

Time Zone Basics & History

Before time zones, each town kept its own time based on the sun. This worked fine—until railroads and communication systems demanded consistency.

  • In 1883, the U.S. adopted four primary time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific.
  • Illinois and Chicago were placed in the Central Time Zone.
  • The system was formalized under the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

Central Time Zone Explained

The Central Time Zone uses two formats depending on the season:

Time Format Description UTC Offset
Central Standard Time (CST) Used from November to March UTC -6
Central Daylight Time (CDT) Used during Daylight Saving (March to November) UTC -5

Chicago switches between CST and CDT depending on the time of year.

Daylight Saving Time in Chicago

Chicago fully observes Daylight Saving Time (DST), along with the rest of Illinois and most U.S. states.

  • Begins: Second Sunday in March
  • Ends: First Sunday in November
  • From March to November, the city observes CDT (UTC -5).
  • From November to March, it switches back to CST (UTC -6).

This schedule was expanded by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Where Else Uses Central Time?

The Central Time Zone applies to many areas in and outside the U.S.:

  • Entirely in: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Alabama, Mississippi, and several others
  • Partially in: Texas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, and Nebraska
  • Internationally observed in:
    • Most of Mexico
    • Parts of Canada
    • Several Central American countries
    • Certain Caribbean Islands

If you're coordinating with someone across time zones, chances are high Chicago's CT will line up with other central regions in North America.

Plan Your Trip