Illinois time zone and daylight saving time

Central Time Next clock change: Nov 1

Chicago, UTC−5Sunrise 7:19 a.m. · Sunset 5:48 p.m. · 10 h 29 min of daylight

Illinois at a glance

Time zone
Central
Daylight saving time
Observed. UTC−5 in summer, UTC−6 in winter.
Upcoming clock changes
  • Sunday, November 1, 2026: clocks fall back
  • Sunday, March 14, 2027: clocks spring forward
  • Sunday, November 7, 2027: clocks fall back
  • Sunday, March 12, 2028: clocks spring forward
Each change happens at 2:00 a.m. local time.
Permanent daylight time law
None. Illinois is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having enacted one.

All of Illinois uses Central Time and observes daylight saving time: UTC−5 in summer and UTC−6 in winter.

Time zones in bordering states

Illinois matches all its neighbours except along part of the Indiana border, where Indiana’s own time zone line comes into play.

Select a state on the map to see its time zone details.

Time zone map of Illinois and surrounding states. Each state is a link to its page.Counties are shaded by time zone. Hatched counties are split between two zones; dotted areas do not observe daylight saving time.AlabamaGeorgiaIndianaKansasMinnesotaNorth CarolinaOklahomaSouth DakotaMissouriWest VirginiaArkansasIowaKentuckyMichiganMississippiOhioTennesseeVirginiaWisconsinNebraskaSouth Carolina

Current time in each zone

  • Eastern
  • Central
  • Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Kentucky: same time all along the border.
  • Indiana: same time in the northwest, near Chicago (Lake and Newton counties), and the southwest (Gibson and Posey counties), which use Central Time. In between, Indiana uses Eastern Time and is 1 hour ahead of Illinois.

What permanent time would mean for Illinois

Ending clock changes would mean keeping one time all year: either permanent daylight time or permanent standard time. Here’s how each would shift sunrise and sunset in Chicago.

Permanent daylight time

Later winter mornings

8:15 a.m.

Sunrise on the shortest day, December 21 (now 7:15 a.m.).

Winter sunset: 5:23 p.m. (now 4:23 p.m.).

Permanent standard time

Earlier summer evenings

7:29 p.m.

Sunset on the longest day, June 21 (now 8:29 p.m.).

Summer sunrise: 4:16 a.m. (now 5:16 a.m.).

Times for Chicago, calculated for 2026. Actual sunrise and sunset can differ by a few minutes with terrain and weather.

Illinois and permanent daylight time

Illinois has not enacted a law to adopt permanent daylight time; it is not among the 19 states the Congressional Research Service lists as having done so.

Lawmakers have repeatedly proposed permanent daylight time: in 2025, several bills to make it the year-round time of the state, and a resolution urging Congress to act, did not pass, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Any switch to permanent daylight time would need Congress to act first. The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July 2026, and it is now with the Senate.

Common questions

What time zone is Illinois in?

All of Illinois uses Central Time and observes daylight saving time.

Is Chicago on the same time as Indianapolis?

No. Indianapolis uses Eastern Time, 1 hour ahead of Chicago all year.

Is Chicago on the same time as Gary, Indiana?

Yes. Lake County, Indiana, home to Gary, uses Central Time, the same as Chicago.

Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation (49 CFR Part 71); Congressional Research Service; Congress.gov; National Conference of State Legislatures.

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