Chicago zone
CDT (GMT-5)
UTC zone
UTC (GMT-0)
Difference
5 hours ahead of Chicago
Business overlap
3h (9-5 windows)
Working hours overlap
Each cell is one hour in Chicago. Filled cells mark when 9 AM – 5 PM in Chicago and UTC both apply.
3 hours per day
- Chicago
- GMT-5
- UTC
- GMT-0
- Difference
- +5h
- Business overlap
- 3h
Hour-by-hour conversion
Each row shows the matching local time in UTC for an hour in Chicago.
| Chicago | UTC | Day | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 5:00 AM | same day | — |
| 1:00 AM | 6:00 AM | same day | — |
| 2:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day | — |
| 3:00 AM | 8:00 AM | same day | — |
| 4:00 AM | 9:00 AM | same day | — |
| 5:00 AM | 10:00 AM | same day | — |
| 6:00 AM | 11:00 AM | same day | — |
| 7:00 AM | 12:00 PM | same day | — |
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 PM | same day | — |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 PM | same day | Both 9-5 |
| 10:00 AM | 3:00 PM | same day | Both 9-5 |
| 11:00 AM | 4:00 PM | same day | Both 9-5 |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 PM | same day | — |
| 1:00 PM | 6:00 PM | same day | — |
| 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | same day | — |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM | same day | — |
| 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | same day | — |
| 5:00 PM | 10:00 PM | same day | — |
| 6:00 PM | 11:00 PM | same day | — |
| 7:00 PM | 12:00 AM | next day | — |
| 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM | next day | — |
| 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM | next day | — |
| 10:00 PM | 3:00 AM | next day | — |
| 11:00 PM | 4:00 AM | next day | — |
Best meeting windows
If both teams keep standard 9 AM – 5 PM hours, the overlap window is roughly 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM in Chicago time. That gives you 3 hours per workday for live meetings.
Tighter overlap is achievable by having the side with later working hours start earlier, or by treating the first and last hours of each side as flexible. The bar above marks every hour where both cities sit inside a 9 AM – 5 PM window.
About converting Chicago time to UTC time
Chicago follows the America/Chicago time zone (currently CDT, GMT-5), while UTC follows UTC (currently UTC, GMT-0). UTC is 5 hours ahead of Chicago right now.
Chicago observes daylight saving time, while UTC does not. The offset between the two cities changes by one hour at the daylight saving transitions.
Daylight saving transitions in 2026
Chicago
- Spring forward · Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Fall back · Sunday, November 1, 2026
UTC
Does not observe daylight saving time.
Reverse this conversion
UTC to Chicago
Open the converter
Plan a meeting between Chicago and UTC
More conversions from Chicago
Frequently asked questions
- How many hours is Chicago from UTC?
- UTC is 5 hours ahead of Chicago right now.
- What time is 9:00 AM Chicago in UTC?
- 9:00 AM in Chicago is 2:00 PM in UTC.
- What time is 5:00 PM Chicago in UTC?
- 5:00 PM in Chicago is 10:00 PM in UTC.
- When do Chicago and UTC business hours overlap?
- Standard 9 AM - 5 PM working hours overlap for about 3 hours, roughly from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM in Chicago time.
- Does daylight saving time change the difference between Chicago and UTC?
- Chicago observes daylight saving time while UTC does not, so the offset between them changes by one hour twice a year.
Local time page
Time in Chicago
Local time page
Time in UTC