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Time Difference: Chicago to Shanghai

🇺🇸ChicagoUTC-6
vs
🇨🇳ShanghaiUTC+8
🇺🇸
Chicago, US
Mon, May 18
🇨🇳
Shanghai, China
Mon, May 18

Click a time to convert

Time Difference
13 hours
Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of Chicago
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🇺🇸
Chicago
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🇨🇳
Shanghai
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Chicago vs Shanghai timezone guide

Chicago (US) uses the America/Chicago timezone at UTC-6, while Shanghai (China) uses Asia/Shanghai at UTC+8. This means Shanghai is 14 hours ahead of Chicago (based on standard offsets — the live difference above accounts for daylight saving time).

Best meeting times between Chicago and Shanghai

Standard 9-to-5 working hours in Chicago and Shanghai do not overlap. To meet synchronously, one side will need to start early or stay late — see the hour-by-hour planner below for the least disruptive options.

Hour-by-hour planner

ChicagoShanghaiStatus
6am7pmChicago early, Shanghai evening
7am8pmChicago early, Shanghai evening
8am9pmChicago early, Shanghai evening
9am10pmChicago working hours, Shanghai late evening
10am11pmChicago working hours, Shanghai late evening
11am12amChicago working hours, Shanghai asleep
12pm1amChicago working hours, Shanghai asleep
1pm2amChicago working hours, Shanghai asleep
2pm3amChicago working hours, Shanghai asleep
3pm4amChicago working hours, Shanghai asleep
4pm5amChicago working hours, Shanghai asleep
5pm6amChicago evening, Shanghai early
6pm7amChicago evening, Shanghai early
7pm8amChicago evening, Shanghai early
8pm9amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
9pm10amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
10pm11amChicago late evening, Shanghai working hours

Green = standard working hours (9 AM – 5 PM). Amber = early (6–9 AM). Orange = evening (5–10 PM). Grey = asleep or late.

Daylight saving time between Chicago and Shanghai

Chicago observes daylight saving time, but Shanghai does not. That means the difference between the two cities changes seasonally — by one hour, around Chicago's transition dates.

  • Dec 31 → Mar 8Chicago is 14 hours behind Shanghai
  • Mar 8 → Nov 1Chicago is 13 hours behind Shanghai
  • Nov 1 → Dec 31Chicago is 14 hours behind Shanghai

Distance between Chicago and Shanghai

Great-circle distance
11,357 km
Direct flight time
~14h 22m

Chicago and Shanghai are 11,357 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly ~14h 22m, depending on aircraft type, winds, and routing.

More comparisons

Chicago to New YorkChicago to LondonChicago to TokyoChicago to SydneyShanghai to New YorkShanghai to LondonShanghai to TokyoShanghai to Sydney

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between Chicago and Shanghai?
The current time difference is 13 hours. Chicago is currently 13 hours behind Shanghai.
Is Chicago ahead of Shanghai?
No. Chicago is currently 13 hours behind Shanghai.
What time is it in Shanghai when it's 9 AM in Chicago?
When it's 9 AM in Chicago, it's 10pm in Shanghai.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between Chicago and Shanghai?
Standard 9-to-5 working hours in Chicago and Shanghai do not overlap. To meet synchronously, one side will need to start before 9 AM or work past 5 PM — see the planner above for the least disruptive options.
Do Chicago and Shanghai observe daylight saving time?
Chicago observes daylight saving time, but Shanghai does not — the difference between the two cities changes by one hour around the DST transition dates.
How far apart are Chicago and Shanghai?
Chicago and Shanghai are 11,357 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly 14 hours 22 minutes.