Offset
The time difference between Chicago and Bucharest is 8 hours.
Chicago (CDT) is behind Bucharest (EEST).
CDT: UTC-5
EEST: UTC+3
Both zones are currently observing daylight saving time.
When to schedule
Standard business hours (9 AM–5 PM, Mon–Fri) in Chicago and Bucharest don't overlap on the same weekday. Bucharest is 8 hours ahead of Chicago.
With some flexibility, there’s a workable window outside standard hours:
- 7 AM–12 PM in Chicago (3 PM–8 PM in Bucharest) — suggest 9:00 AM Chicago (5:00 PM Bucharest).
This means an early start or late finish for one side, but it’s a reasonable slot for a one-off meeting.
This window may shift by an hour during daylight saving time.
Public holidays in 2026
National public holidays can affect availability — a counterpart is likely off work on their own holidays, so it's worth planning meetings and deadlines around them.
United States
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMon, Jan 19
- Presidents DayMon, Feb 16
- Memorial DayMon, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence DayFri, Jun 19
- Independence DayFri, Jul 3
- Labour DayMon, Sep 7
- Columbus DayMon, Oct 12
- Veterans DayWed, Nov 11
- Thanksgiving DayThu, Nov 26
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
Romania
- New Year's DayThu, Jan 1
- Day after New Year's DayFri, Jan 2
- EpiphanyTue, Jan 6
- Saint John the BaptistWed, Jan 7
- Union Day/Small UnionSat, Jan 24
- Good FridayFri, Apr 10
- Easter SundaySun, Apr 12
- Easter MondayMon, Apr 13
- Labour DayFri, May 1
- PentecostSun, May 31
- Children's DayMon, Jun 1
- Whit MondayMon, Jun 1
- Dormition of the TheotokosSat, Aug 15
- St. Andrew's DayMon, Nov 30
- National Day/Great UnionTue, Dec 1
- Christmas DayFri, Dec 25
- St. Stephen's DaySat, Dec 26
About these zones
Quick reference
Full 24-hour conversion table — tap any time to open it in the converter.
| Chicago | Bucharest | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 am | 8:00 am | Same day |
| 1:00 am | 9:00 am | Same day |
| 2:00 am | 10:00 am | Same day |
| 3:00 am | 11:00 am | Same day |
| 4:00 am | 12:00 pm | Same day |
| 5:00 am | 1:00 pm | Same day |
| 6:00 am | 2:00 pm | Same day |
| 7:00 am | 3:00 pm | Same day |
| 8:00 am | 4:00 pm | Same day |
| 9:00 am | 5:00 pm | Same day |
| 10:00 am | 6:00 pm | Same day |
| 11:00 am | 7:00 pm | Same day |
| 12:00 pm | 8:00 pm | Same day |
| 1:00 pm | 9:00 pm | Same day |
| 2:00 pm | 10:00 pm | Same day |
| 3:00 pm | 11:00 pm | Same day |
| 4:00 pm | 12:00 am | +1 day |
| 5:00 pm | 1:00 am | +1 day |
| 6:00 pm | 2:00 am | +1 day |
| 7:00 pm | 3:00 am | +1 day |
| 8:00 pm | 4:00 am | +1 day |
| 9:00 pm | 5:00 am | +1 day |
| 10:00 pm | 6:00 am | +1 day |
| 11:00 pm | 7:00 am | +1 day |
Daylight saving time
Both zones observe daylight saving time, but they transition on different dates.
Chicago: next transition on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Bucharest: next transition on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
For approximately 7 days between transitions, the offset between Chicago and Bucharest differs from its typical value. Recurring meetings during this window will shift by one hour.
See the daylight saving time page for transition dates across every time zone.
Daylight today
- Sunrise
- 5:17 AM
- Sunset
- 8:24 PM
- Day length
- 15h 7m
- Sunrise
- 5:32 AM
- Sunset
- 8:59 PM
- Day length
- 15h 26m
Cities in these zones
Other cities in Central Time
Browse all cities to see the current local time anywhere.
Airports in these zones
Airports in Central Time
- GYY
- MDW
- ORD
- HOU
- IAH
- SAT
- DAL
- DFW
- AUS
- BNA
Airports in Eastern European Time
- BBU
- OTP
Related conversions
Common conversions
- What is 9:00 am Chicago in Bucharest?
- 9:00 am Chicago is 5:00 pm Bucharest.
- What is 12:00 pm Chicago in Bucharest?
- 12:00 pm Chicago is 8:00 pm Bucharest.
- What is 12:30 pm Chicago in Bucharest?
- 12:30 pm Chicago is 8:30 pm Bucharest.
- What is 2:00 pm Chicago in Bucharest?
- 2:00 pm Chicago is 10:00 pm Bucharest.
- What is 5:00 pm Chicago in Bucharest?
- 5:00 pm Chicago is 1:00 am Bucharest, the next day.
- What is 11:30 pm Chicago in Bucharest?
- 11:30 pm Chicago is 7:30 am Bucharest, the next day.