Detroit is 1 hour ahead of Chicago. Detroit uses Eastern Time (EST/EDT) while Chicago uses Central Time (CST/CDT). When it's 12:00 PM in Detroit, it's 11:00 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: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Detroit time. This corresponds to 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM in Chicago, covering Central Time business hours.
Detroit and Chicago are about 4 hours apart by car on I-94. Both are major Midwestern hubs with strong manufacturing heritage and growing tech scenes. Detroit is known for automotive while Chicago is a financial center.