Best meeting time: Berlin & Chicago
Recommended slots for a cross-timezone call between Berlin (Germany) and Chicago (United States). Times update live and account for Daylight Saving automatically.
Germany
Berlin
10:49 PM
UTC+02:00 · GMT+2
United States
Chicago
3:49 PM
UTC-05:00 · CDT
Recommended windows
Recommended business-hours window
- Berlin
- 4:00 PM
- Chicago
- 9:00 AM
Both Berlin and Chicago are in working hours. Send the invite confidently.
Morning in Berlin
- Berlin
- 8:00 AM
- Chicago
- 1:00 AM
Great for a focused morning standup on the Berlin side.
Afternoon in Chicago
- Berlin
- 8:00 PM
- Chicago
- 1:00 PM
Works when Chicago prefers post-lunch slots and Berlin can take an early or late call.
Advice
Best overlap: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM Berlin time (2/2 zones in business hours).
24-hour overlap
Green = both cities in business hours. Amber = one in evening. Grey = at least one asleep.
| UTC | Berlin | Chicago | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:00 | 2:00 AM | 7:00 PM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 01:00 | 3:00 AM | 8:00 PM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 02:00 | 4:00 AM | 9:00 PM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 03:00 | 5:00 AM | 10:00 PM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 04:00 | 6:00 AM | 11:00 PM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 05:00 | 7:00 AM | 12:00 AM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 06:00 | 8:00 AM | 1:00 AM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 07:00 | 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | Limited — one asleep |
| 08:00 | 10:00 AM | 3:00 AM | Limited — one asleep |
| 09:00 | 11:00 AM | 4:00 AM | Limited — one asleep |
| 10:00 | 12:00 PM | 5:00 AM | Limited — one asleep |
| 11:00 | 1:00 PM | 6:00 AM | Limited — one asleep |
| 12:00 | 2:00 PM | 7:00 AM | Limited — one asleep |
| 13:00 | 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM | Limited — one asleep |
| 14:00 | 4:00 PM | 9:00 AM | Excellent — both working |
| 15:00 | 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Workable — one evening |
| 16:00 | 6:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Workable — one evening |
| 17:00 | 7:00 PM | 12:00 PM | Workable — one evening |
| 18:00 | 8:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Workable — one evening |
| 19:00 | 9:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Workable — one evening |
| 20:00 | 10:00 PM | 3:00 PM | Limited — one asleep |
| 21:00 | 11:00 PM | 4:00 PM | Limited — one asleep |
| 22:00 | 12:00 AM | 5:00 PM | Poor — both off-hours |
| 23:00 | 1:00 AM | 6:00 PM | Poor — both off-hours |
About
Working across 7 hours of time difference
At 7 hours apart, Berlin and Chicago have a narrow overlap window — usually one or two hours where both teams are reasonably awake and at work. Treat meetings as a shared cost: alternate between early-morning (Berlin) and late-evening (Chicago) slots so neither side bears the inconvenience permanently.
Daylight Saving Time can shift the gap by an hour twice a year. The North American DST window does not align with the European one, so the offset between Berlin and Chicago can drift in late March and again in early November. Use this page to re-check your standing meeting on each transition.
FAQ
What's the best time for a meeting between Berlin and Chicago?
Best overlap: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM Berlin time (2/2 zones in business hours). The strongest business-hour overlap is UTC 12:00–16:00, which is Berlin 2:00 PM–5:00 PM and Chicago 7:00 AM–10:00 AM locally.
What is the time difference between Berlin and Chicago?
Berlin is currently UTC+02:00 and Chicago is UTC-05:00, a difference of 7 hours. The exact gap can shift by one hour when one city switches to or from Daylight Saving Time.
Should we shift the meeting if one city changes Daylight Saving Time?
Yes — when only one of the two cities observes DST, the overlap window moves by an hour. Re-check this page in the weeks around March/April and October/November and adjust your standing meeting accordingly. The 24-hour grid below always reflects the current correct offset.
Can I schedule a daily standup that works for both Berlin and Chicago?
It's tight but doable. A meeting early in Berlin's day (around 8–9am) catches the other city at the end of theirs. Rotate the burden monthly to keep it fair.