EST to Chicago Time Converter
Convert Eastern Time to Chicago instantly.
Scroll the timeline to check any hour of the day.
Eastern Time
EST
4:24
Chicago
CST
3:24
EST and Chicago are on daylight savings right now, shown as EDT and CDT.
Search any city, build a custom world clock, and plan across more time zones and options in the FlutterTime app. Free.
How the EST to Chicago time difference works
Chicago is 1 hour behind EST. Eastern Time (EST) is the time zone of the US East Coast. Chicago (CST) is a city in United States. For example, 9:00 AM EST is 8:00 AM Chicago. Scroll the timeline above to convert any moment, or use the chart below for a quick reference.
Time difference
1 hour
Daylight saving
Both observe
EST offset
UTC-5
Chicago offset
UTC-6
EST to Chicago conversion chart
| Eastern Time (EST) | Chicago (CST) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 11:00 PM -1 day |
| 1:00 AM | 12:00 AM |
| 2:00 AM | 1:00 AM |
| 3:00 AM | 2:00 AM |
| 4:00 AM | 3:00 AM |
| 5:00 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 6:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 7:00 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 8:00 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 9:00 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 10:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 11:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 2:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 11:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
Best time to meet
A standard 9 to 5 workday overlaps from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Chicago). Schedule inside that window to catch both coasts during business hours.
Cities in each time zone
Eastern Time (EST)
New YorkWashington D.C.AtlantaMiamiBostonPhiladelphia
Chicago (CST)
HoustonDallasAustinSan AntonioFort WorthLincoln (Nebraska)
EST to Chicago questions
Is Chicago ahead of or behind EST?
Chicago is 1 hour behind EST. So 9:00 AM EST is 8:00 AM Chicago, and 5:00 PM EST is 4:00 PM Chicago.
What time is it in Chicago when it is 12:00 PM EST?
When it is 12:00 PM (noon) EST in Eastern Time, it is 11:00 AM Chicago in Chicago.
How many hours difference is there between EST and Chicago?
There is a 1 hour difference. Chicago (CST) runs 1 hour behind Eastern Time (EST).
Do EST and Chicago observe daylight saving time?
Both Eastern Time and Chicago observe daylight saving time on aligned dates, so the 1 hour difference between them holds all year.
What is the best time to schedule a meeting between EST and Chicago?
A standard 9-to-5 workday overlaps from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Chicago). Scheduling inside that window keeps the call during business hours in both Eastern Time and Chicago.
Which cities use EST and Chicago?
Eastern Time (EST) covers cities such as New York, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia. Chicago (CST) covers cities such as Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Lincoln (Nebraska).