Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower — tickets, height & honest verdict
Also searched as: Sears Tower observation deck · Willis Tower observation deck · The Ledge
Can you go up today?
| Mon | 9am – 10pm |
|---|---|
| Tue | 9am – 10pm |
| Wed | 9am – 10pm |
| Thu | 9am – 10pm |
| Fri | 9am – 10pm |
| Sat | 9am – 10pm |
| Sun | 9am – 10pm |
Times are local to Chicago. Holiday closures and private events can override this — the deck page's tips cover the ones we know about.
Worth it if…
Yes — it's Chicago's definitive high view (four states on a clear day) and The Ledge remains the most extreme glass-floor experience of any major US deck, included in base admission rather than upsold. The 2019-renovated entry museum does Chicago history properly.
Pick another deck if…
Your Chicago time lives on the Michigan Avenue/lakefront side — 360 Chicago is closer, cheaper, faces the lake and skyline, and its Tilt is a decent thrill substitute. Skydeck's Loop location and longer queues are the trade for the height record.
Book Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower tickets
Buy direct from the official site, or book through Viator below — same-day cancellation policies and combo bundles are often only available there. Viator links earn this site a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Prices last checked 2026-08-11.
Best time to visit
Weekday first-entry or the last 90 minutes — The Ledge queue is the bottleneck, and it's shortest at open and after dinner. Sunset west over the plains is underrated.
Hours: Daily year-round, 9am–10pm (Saturdays from 8:30am); last entry ~1h before close. · Pricing note: The Ledge glass boxes are included in base general admission — no separate Ledge ticket exists; express and combo tiers price higher.
Tips from the deck
- The Ledge photo etiquette: queues form per-box; the far boxes usually run shorter than the first one everyone joins.
- Buy timed tickets online — walk-up queues on summer weekends are brutal, and sold-out sunset slots are common.
- Clear-day bonus: look southwest for the grid running to the horizon — the four-states claim is real with binoculars.
- If The Ledge is the whole point for you, verify it's open that day — individual boxes rotate through maintenance.
Where Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower is — and the other Chicago decks
Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower — quick answers
Yes — the building was renamed Willis Tower in 2009, but the 103rd-floor Skydeck is the same deck, and locals still say Sears Tower. Searches for both names land here.
It's a fully transparent box — floor, walls, ceiling — projecting 4.3 ft outside the building at 1,353 ft. It's engineered for it and feels exactly as alarming as that sounds; you can enjoy the deck fully without stepping in.
Skydeck for maximum height and The Ledge; 360 Chicago for the lake-and-skyline view (many find it the prettier vista), lower price, and Tilt. Photographers often prefer 360's north-side vantage — the skyline is in frame, not underfoot.