Time Difference Between Chicago and Sydney

The time difference between Chicago and Sydney is 16 hours. When it is 12:00 noon in Chicago, it is 04:00 in Sydney. Chicago uses the America/Chicago time zone (UTC-5), while Sydney uses Australia/Sydney (UTC+11).

Sydney is 16 hours ahead of Chicago — 16 hours
Chicago, United States
17:19:29
Thursday, March 26, 2026
UTC-5 · CDT (DST)
Sydney, Australia
09:19:29
Friday, March 27, 2026
UTC+11 · AEDT (DST)

Time Zone Details: Chicago vs Sydney

Detail Chicago Sydney
Time Zone IDAmerica/ChicagoAustralia/Sydney
UTC OffsetUTC-5UTC+11
AbbreviationCDTAEDT
DST ActiveYes — currently observingYes — currently observing
CountryUnited StatesAustralia
RegionNorth AmericaOceania

Best Time to Schedule a Call

With a 16 hours gap, there is no standard business-hours overlap between Chicago and Sydney. One party will need to adjust their schedule. Early mornings in Sydney or late evenings in Chicago tend to be the most practical compromise.

Hour-by-Hour Time Conversion

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

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

Daylight Saving Time (DST) Impact

Both Chicago and Sydney are currently observing daylight saving time. The current 16 hours 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 Chicago–Sydney Scheduling

Compare Chicago and Sydney with Other Cities

From Chicago

From Sydney

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time difference between Chicago and Sydney?

The time difference is 16 hours. Sydney is 16 hours ahead of Chicago.

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 Chicago to Sydney?

There is no ideal window during standard business hours. Consider scheduling at the edges — early morning for the city that is ahead and late afternoon for the city that is behind.

How do I convert Chicago time to Sydney time?

Add 16 hours to Chicago time to get Sydney 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.