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Time Difference: Chicago to Sydney

🇺🇸ChicagoUTC-6
vs
🇦🇺SydneyUTC+10
🇺🇸
Chicago, US
Wed, Jun 3
🇦🇺
Sydney, Australia
Thu, Jun 4

Click a time to convert

Time Difference
15 hours
Sydney is 15 hours ahead of Chicago
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🇺🇸
Chicago
View city page
🇦🇺
Sydney
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Chicago vs Sydney timezone guide

Chicago (US) uses the America/Chicago timezone at UTC-6, while Sydney (Australia) uses Australia/Sydney at UTC+10. This means Sydney is 16 hours ahead of Chicago (based on standard offsets — the live difference above accounts for daylight saving time).

Best meeting times between Chicago and Sydney

Standard 9-to-5 working hours in Chicago and Sydney 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

ChicagoSydneyStatus
6am9pmChicago early, Sydney evening
7am10pmChicago early, Sydney late evening
8am11pmChicago early, Sydney late evening
9am12amChicago working hours, Sydney asleep
10am1amChicago working hours, Sydney asleep
11am2amChicago working hours, Sydney asleep
12pm3amChicago working hours, Sydney asleep
1pm4amChicago working hours, Sydney asleep
2pm5amChicago working hours, Sydney asleep
3pm6amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
4pm7amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
5pm8amChicago evening, Sydney early
6pm9amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
7pm10amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
8pm11amOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
9pm12pmOne side outside 9-to-5 but still awake
10pm1pmChicago late evening, Sydney 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 Sydney

Both cities observe daylight saving time, but on different schedules. This creates short windows each year where the usual difference of 15 hours behind temporarily shifts.

  • Dec 31 → Mar 8Difference temporarily 17 hours behind.
  • Mar 8 → Apr 4Difference temporarily 16 hours behind.
  • Oct 3 → Nov 1Difference temporarily 16 hours behind.
  • Nov 1 → Dec 31Difference temporarily 17 hours behind.

Chicago transitions on March 8, 2026 and November 1, 2026. Sydney transitions on April 5, 2026 and October 4, 2026.

Distance between Chicago and Sydney

Great-circle distance
14,876 km
Direct flight time
~18h 30m

Chicago and Sydney are 14,876 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly ~18h 30m, depending on aircraft type, winds, and routing.

More comparisons

Chicago to New YorkChicago to LondonChicago to TokyoSydney to New YorkSydney to LondonSydney to TokyoSydney to Dubai

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between Chicago and Sydney?
The current time difference is 15 hours. Chicago is currently 15 hours behind Sydney.
Is Chicago ahead of Sydney?
No. Chicago is currently 15 hours behind Sydney.
What time is it in Sydney when it's 9 AM in Chicago?
When it's 9 AM in Chicago, it's 12am in Sydney.
When is the best time to schedule a meeting between Chicago and Sydney?
Standard 9-to-5 working hours in Chicago and Sydney 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 Sydney observe daylight saving time?
Chicago and Sydney both observe daylight saving time, but on different schedules. Short windows each year (a week or two around each set of transitions) produce a temporarily different offset.
How far apart are Chicago and Sydney?
Chicago and Sydney are 14,876 km apart along the great-circle route. A direct flight takes roughly 18 hours 30 minutes.