🇺🇸 Chicago ↔ 🇺🇸 Los Angeles

Chicago is usually 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Both observe daylight saving time, so the difference shifts by an hour for a few weeks around the spring and autumn changeovers.

Sunrise 5:17 AMSunset 8:30 PM(local)

Sunrise 5:43 AMSunset 8:09 PM(local)

Chicago: daylight saving timeNow UTC-5 CDT. Next change: November 1, 2026 — clocks go back 1 hour.
Los Angeles: daylight saving timeNow UTC-7 PDT. Next change: November 1, 2026 — clocks go back 1 hour.
ChicagoUTC-5CDT
Los AngelesUTC-7PDT

🇺🇸 Chicago

Dialing code+1
Population2,664,452
Coordinates41.85°N, 87.65°W
Elevation179 m

🇺🇸 Los Angeles

Dialing code+1
Population3,820,914
Coordinates34.05°N, 118.24°W
Elevation89 m

Best time for a call: 11:00–18:00 in ChicagoAdd to calendar

Working hours assumed 9:00–18:00.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between Chicago and Los Angeles?
Chicago is 2 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Use the side-by-side clocks and the day/night strips above to convert any hour between them.
When is the best time to call between Chicago and Los Angeles?
The best window to call is 11:00–18:00 Chicago time, when working hours overlap in both cities. Pick an hour on the strips to add it to your calendar.
Why does the time difference between Chicago and Los Angeles change?
Because at least one of Chicago and Los Angeles observes daylight saving time, the difference shifts by an hour when one city changes its clocks and the other has not yet (or does not).