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Time difference between Johannesburg and Chicago

Chicago is 7 hours behind Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa is UTC+2 · Chicago, the United States is UTC−6 — on standard time

The gap is not the same all year

Every converter gives one number for this pair. That number is right for most of the year and wrong for part of it, because Johannesburg does not change its clocks and Chicago goes forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.

Johannesburg / Chicago clocksDifferenceHow long
standard / summer7 hours behindabout 34 weeks — most of the year
standard / standard8 hours behindabout 18 weeks

Johannesburg stays put all year while Chicago moves, so the gap changes twice a year from Chicago's side alone. A recurring meeting set in Johannesburg's calendar will drift by an hour without anyone touching it.

When they can both be at their desks

Nine-to-five in both cities overlaps for 1 hour — 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Johannesburg, the same moment as 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in Chicago.

Johannesburg to Chicago, hour by hour

JohannesburgChicago
12:00 AM5:00 PM (previous day)
1:00 AM6:00 PM (previous day)
2:00 AM7:00 PM (previous day)
3:00 AM8:00 PM (previous day)
4:00 AM9:00 PM (previous day)
5:00 AM10:00 PM (previous day)
6:00 AM11:00 PM (previous day)
7:00 AM12:00 AM
8:00 AM1:00 AM
9:00 AM2:00 AM
10:00 AM3:00 AM
11:00 AM4:00 AM
12:00 PM5:00 AM
1:00 PM6:00 AM
2:00 PM7:00 AM
3:00 PM8:00 AM
4:00 PM9:00 AM
5:00 PM10:00 AM
6:00 PM11:00 AM
7:00 PM12:00 PM
8:00 PM1:00 PM
9:00 PM2:00 PM
10:00 PM3:00 PM
11:00 PM4:00 PM

On the usual gap of 7 hours.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between Johannesburg and Chicago?

Chicago is 7 hours behind Johannesburg for most of the year. It is not the same all year — there is one other gap, because Johannesburg does not change its clocks and Chicago goes forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.

Is Chicago ahead of Johannesburg?

No — Chicago is 7 hours behind. Johannesburg is UTC+2 and Chicago is UTC−6 on standard time.

What time is 9 AM in Johannesburg in Chicago?

2:00 AM, on the usual gap.

When can Johannesburg and Chicago meet?

Standard nine-to-five hours overlap for 1 hour: 4:00 PM–5:00 PM in Johannesburg, which is 9:00 AM–10:00 AM in Chicago.

Other pairs

Every Johannesburg pair · Every Chicago pair · All city pairs · Time zones by abbreviation