Tampa is 1 hour ahead of Chicago. Tampa uses Eastern Time (ET, UTC-5/-4) while Chicago uses Central Time (CT, UTC-6/-5). When it's 12:00 PM in Chicago, it's 1:00 PM in Tampa.
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 Tampa time. This corresponds to 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM in Chicago, covering standard Midwest business hours.
Tampa and Chicago are both major US business centers. Tampa is Florida's business hub on the Gulf Coast, while Chicago is the Midwest's financial and commercial capital. The 1-hour time difference makes same-day collaboration very convenient for business across these regions.