Time Difference Between Atlanta and Chicago

The time difference between Atlanta and Chicago is 1 hour. When it is 12:00 noon in Atlanta, it is 11:00 in Chicago. Atlanta uses the America/New_York time zone (UTC-4), while Chicago uses America/Chicago (UTC-5).

Chicago is 1 hour behind Atlanta — 1 hour
Atlanta, United States
18:26:49
Thursday, March 26, 2026
UTC-4 · EDT (DST)
Chicago, United States
17:26:49
Thursday, March 26, 2026
UTC-5 · CDT (DST)

Time Zone Details: Atlanta vs Chicago

Detail Atlanta Chicago
Time Zone IDAmerica/New_YorkAmerica/Chicago
UTC OffsetUTC-4UTC-5
AbbreviationEDTCDT
DST ActiveYes — currently observingYes — currently observing
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
RegionNorth AmericaNorth America

Best Time to Schedule a Call

There are 7 overlapping business hours between Atlanta and Chicago (assuming 9:00–17:00 in each city). The ideal window for calls and meetings is:

10:00–17:00 in Atlanta  =  09:00–16:00 in Chicago

Hour-by-Hour Time Conversion

Use this table to quickly convert any hour from Atlanta time to Chicago time. Rows highlighted in green indicate overlapping business hours in both cities.

Atlanta Chicago
00:00 23:00 (-1 day) Night
01:00 00:00 Night
02:00 01:00 Night
03:00 02:00 Night
04:00 03:00 Night
05:00 04:00 Night
06:00 05:00
07:00 06:00
08:00 07:00
09:00 08:00
10:00 09:00 Overlap
11:00 10:00 Overlap
12:00 11:00 Overlap
13:00 12:00 Overlap
14:00 13:00 Overlap
15:00 14:00 Overlap
16:00 15:00 Overlap
17:00 16:00
18:00 17:00
19:00 18:00
20:00 19:00
21:00 20:00
22:00 21:00 Night
23:00 22:00 Night

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Impact

Both Atlanta and Chicago are currently observing daylight saving time. The current 1 hour difference reflects both cities' DST offsets. When one city switches back to standard time before the other, the gap will temporarily change by 1 hour.

Practical Tips for Atlanta–Chicago Scheduling

Compare Atlanta and Chicago with Other Cities

From Atlanta

From Chicago

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time difference between Atlanta and Chicago?

The time difference is 1 hour. Chicago is 1 hour behind Atlanta.

Does the time difference change during the year?

Yes. Both cities observe daylight saving time, but they may switch on different dates, causing the gap to shift by 1 hour temporarily.

When is the best time to call from Atlanta to Chicago?

The best window is between 10:00 and 17:00 Atlanta time, which corresponds to 09:00–16:00 in Chicago. Both sides fall within normal business hours.

How do I convert Atlanta time to Chicago time?

Subtract 1 hour from Atlanta time to get Chicago time. Use the hour-by-hour table above for a quick reference.

Related Pages

For sunrise and sunset data, visit TheSunsetTimes.com. For detailed DST schedules, see DaylightSavingTime.info.