Current time in Chicago
06:00:00GMT-5
Thursday 1 October 2026
Chicago is 6 hours behind the UK right now.
In the UK it is 12:00 BST. Your device: 12:00 (Same as UK).
Chicago time zone
Chicago uses Central Time: Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6) in winter and Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. The IANA zone is America/Chicago.
Central Time also covers Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, St Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans. Several states are split between zones:
- Indiana is mostly on Eastern Time, but the north-west corner near Chicago and the south-west around Evansville use Central.
- Tennessee and Kentucky: Nashville is Central, while Knoxville and Louisville are Eastern.
- Florida: the western panhandle, including Pensacola, is Central.
- Texas is Central except El Paso and the far west, which use Mountain Time.
Mexico City is on UTC−6 all year since Mexico stopped changing its clocks in 2022, so it matches Chicago in winter and is an hour behind in summer.
Time difference between the UK and Chicago
| Period | UK on | Chicago on | Chicago is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan to 7 Mar 2026 | GMT | CST | 6 hours behind |
| 8 Mar to 28 Mar 2026 | GMT | CDT | 5 hours behind |
| 29 Mar to 24 Oct 2026 | BST | CDT | 6 hours behind |
| 25 Oct to 31 Oct 2026 | GMT | CDT | 5 hours behind |
| 1 Nov 2026 to 13 Mar 2027 | GMT | CST | 6 hours behind |
| 14 Mar to 27 Mar 2027 | GMT | CDT | 5 hours behind |
| 28 Mar to 30 Oct 2027 | BST | CDT | 6 hours behind |
| 31 Oct to 6 Nov 2027 | GMT | CDT | 5 hours behind |
| 7 Nov to 31 Dec 2027 | GMT | CST | 6 hours behind |
The 5-hour rows are the weeks when the US has changed its clocks and the UK has not.
Best times to call Chicago from the UK
| UK time | Chicago (usual) | Chicago (5-hour weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | 08:00 | 09:00 |
| 15:00 | 09:00 | 10:00 |
| 17:00 | 11:00 | 12:00 |
| 20:00 | 14:00 | 15:00 |
Office hours overlap from 3pm to 5pm UK time, which is 9am to 11am in Chicago.
Converting the time
A 10am meeting in Chicago is 4pm in London for most of the year and 3pm in the 5-hour weeks. Chicago is always one hour behind New York, so an event listed in Eastern Time starts an hour earlier on Chicago clocks. Use the time zone converter for a specific date, or the meeting planner for a call across several zones.
Other US times
See time in New York (one hour ahead) and time in Los Angeles (two hours behind), or every city on the world clock. For the UK side, read about GMT and the clock change dates.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours behind the UK is Chicago?
Usually 6 hours. For about three weeks in March and one week around the end of October, Chicago is 5 hours behind.
Which US cities are on Central Time?
Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, St Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans are among the largest.
What is the difference between CST and CDT?
CST is Central Standard Time, UTC−6, used in winter. CDT is Central Daylight Time, UTC−5, used from March to November.
Is all of Texas on Central Time?
Almost. El Paso and the far west of Texas use Mountain Time, one hour behind Chicago.