🇺🇸 Washington D.C. ↔ 🇺🇸 Chicago

Washington D.C. is usually 1 hour ahead of Chicago. Both observe daylight saving time, so the difference shifts by an hour for a few weeks around the spring and autumn changeovers.

Sunrise 5:45 AMSunset 8:38 PM(local)

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

Washington D.C.: daylight saving timeNow UTC-4 EDT. Next change: November 1, 2026 — clocks go back 1 hour.
Chicago: daylight saving timeNow UTC-5 CDT. Next change: November 1, 2026 — clocks go back 1 hour.
Washington D.C.UTC-4EDT
ChicagoUTC-5CDT

🇺🇸 Washington D.C.

Dialing code+1
Population689,545
Coordinates38.90°N, 77.04°W
Elevation7 m

🇺🇸 Chicago

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

Best time for a call: 10:00–18:00 in Washington D.C.Add to calendar

Working hours assumed 9:00–18:00.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between Washington D.C. and Chicago?
Washington D.C. is 1 hour ahead of Chicago. 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 Washington D.C. and Chicago?
The best window to call is 10:00–18:00 Washington D.C. 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 Washington D.C. and Chicago change?
Because at least one of Washington D.C. and Chicago 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).