Charlotte is 1 hour ahead of Chicago. Charlotte uses Eastern Time (EST/EDT) while Chicago uses Central Time (CST/CDT). When it's 10:00 AM in Charlotte, it's 9:00 AM in Chicago.
Both cities observe daylight saving time on the same schedule, so the 1-hour difference remains constant year-round.
Best calling time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Charlotte time. This corresponds to 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM in Chicago, providing excellent overlap for business calls.
Charlotte and Chicago are both major US banking and financial centers. American Airlines operates a major hub in Charlotte, providing frequent connections to Chicago. Direct flights take approximately 2 hours.