Time difference
Chicago to Ottawa Time Difference
Ottawa is 1 hour ahead of Chicago — when it's 12:00 PM in Chicago, it's 1:00 PM in Ottawa. (Chicago (America/Chicago, CDT); Ottawa (America/Toronto, EDT).) Below: live local times, the best hours for a call, a full conversion table, and exact daylight-saving dates.
Ottawa is 1 hour ahead of Chicago. The best window for a call is 9 AM–4 PM in Chicago, which is 10 AM–5 PM in Ottawa — a 7-hour overlap inside 9 AM–5 PM on both sides. Chicago and Ottawa change their clocks together (or don't change at all), so the time difference between them stays the same all year.
- When it's 9:00 AM in Chicago, it's 10:00 AM in Ottawa.
- When it's 9:00 AM in Ottawa, it's 8:00 AM in Chicago.
Ottawa is currently 1 hour ahead of Chicago.
Interactive converter
12:00PM
--:----
Best times to meet
The 9 AM – 5 PM business windows in Chicago and Ottawa overlap for 7 hours. 9 AM–4 PM in Chicago is 10 AM–5 PM in Ottawa. Aim somewhere in the middle of that window so neither side starts cold or finishes drained.
Quick conversion table
| Chicago | Ottawa |
|---|---|
| 12 AM | 1:00 AM |
| 1 AM | 2:00 AM |
| 2 AM | 3:00 AM |
| 3 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 4 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 5 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 6 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 7 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 8 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 9 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 10 AM | 11:00 AM |
| 11 AM | 12:00 PM |
| 12 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 1 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 2 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 3 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 4 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 5 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 6 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 7 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 8 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 9 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 10 PM | 11:00 PM |
| 11 PM | 12:00 AM (next day) |
Daylight saving
On November 1, 2026, both Chicago and Ottawa shift for daylight saving. After that, Ottawa will be 1 hour ahead of Chicago (currently 1 hour ahead of Chicago). The converter and the tables above always reflect the correct offset for the date you pick.
- Chicago is currently observing daylight saving time.
- Ottawa is currently observing daylight saving time.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Ottawa ahead of or behind Chicago?
- Ottawa is 1 hour ahead of Chicago.
- How many hours ahead of Chicago is Ottawa?
- Ottawa is 1 hour ahead of Chicago.
- What time is 9 AM in Chicago in Ottawa?
- 9:00 AM in Chicago is 10:00 AM in Ottawa.
- What time is noon in Chicago in Ottawa?
- 12:00 PM in Chicago is 1:00 PM in Ottawa.
- What time is 5 PM in Chicago in Ottawa?
- 5:00 PM in Chicago is 6:00 PM in Ottawa. Useful for end-of-day handoffs between the two offices.
- What time is 3 PM in Chicago in Ottawa?
- 3:00 PM in Chicago is 4:00 PM in Ottawa.
- Is Chicago currently observing daylight saving time?
- Chicago is currently observing daylight saving time (summer time).
- Is Ottawa currently observing daylight saving time?
- Ottawa is currently observing daylight saving time (summer time).
- Do Chicago and Ottawa observe daylight saving?
- On November 1, 2026, both Chicago and Ottawa shift for daylight saving. After that, Ottawa will be 1 hour ahead of Chicago (currently 1 hour ahead of Chicago). The converter and the tables above always reflect the correct offset for the date you pick.
- When is the best time to call Ottawa from Chicago?
- Aim for 9 AM–4 PM in Chicago, which is 10 AM–5 PM in Ottawa.
- When is the best time to call Chicago from Ottawa?
- Aim for 10 AM–5 PM in Ottawa, which is 9 AM–4 PM in Chicago.
- Chicago (CDT) to Ottawa (EDT) — how do I convert quickly?
- Add 1 hour to Chicago local time to get Ottawa local time. Or use the converter at the top of this page — it stays accurate through daylight-saving changes automatically.
Other conversions
- Chicago to New York
- Chicago to London
- Chicago to Tokyo
- Chicago to Dubai
- Chicago to Singapore
- Chicago to Los Angeles
- Chicago to Sydney
- Chicago to Paris
- Chicago to Mumbai
- Chicago to Hong Kong