Cell Phone Coverage In Chicago
All three major networks are expected to offer good cell coverage in Chicago. Check coverage at your location with the map below.
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Chicago Coverage Maps
Coverage maps draw on data from the FCC's Broadband Data Collection and Coverage Critic's crowdsourcing.
Coverage maps draw on data from the FCC's Broadband Data Collection and Coverage Critic's crowdsourcing.
- Visible Runs Over Verizon's Network
- Unlimited Plan Is Only $25/Month
- Unlimited calls, texts, and data
- Excellent coverage expected in Chicago
- Service over Verizon’s network
4G LTE & 5G Coverage In Chicago
The table below shows the proportion of Chicago with coverage from different cellular technologies.| Network | 4G Coverage | 5G Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 100% | 100% |
| T-Mobile | 100% | 100% |
| Verizon | 100% | 99% |
| Dish | 0% | 98% |
US Cellular And Dish Roaming Coverage
US Cellular does not have native coverage in Chicago. However, some US Cellular subscribers may still have coverage in Chicago thanks to roaming agreements.
Millimeter Wave 5G
Parts of Chicago have millimeter wave 5G coverage. This novel celluar technology offers extremely fast speeds, but the coverage potential is limited. Millimeter waves aren't well-suited for traveling long distances.
| Network | Millimeter Wave |
|---|---|
| Verizon | ✓ |
| AT&T | ✓ |
| T-Mobile | ? |
Millimeter wave coverage in Chicago is likely sparse (mostly limited to dense, outdoor areas like popular parks or sports stadiums).
Chicago Cell Signal Strength
There are 5,644 map hexes within the census-defined boundaries of Chicago. The table below shows the proportion of hexes at various levels of signal strength. Where both 4G and 5G coverage is available, data is drawn from whichever technology offers a stronger signal.
| Network | Strong | Decent | Weak | None |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 13% | 78% | 9% | 0% |
| T-Mobile | 94% | 6% | 0% | 0% |
| Verizon | 45% | 54% | 1% | 0% |
| Dish | 10% | 84% | 4% | 2% |
For most purposes, decent signals are perfectly sufficient. Weak or non-existent signals cause far greater degradation in user experience.
Due to data-reliability concerns, 105 hexes in Chicago that fall in bodies water, along rivers, or near shorelines are excluded from the table above.
Crowdsourced Coverage Data In Chicago
Coverage Critic has 619,767 crowdsourced data points from 4,233 map hexes within the boundaries of Chicago. Data is available for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
| Network | Unique Hexes | Total Observations |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | 3,190 | 162,279 |
| T-Mobile | 3,910 | 399,860 |
| Verizon | 2,220 | 55,903 |
Click here to toggle to the map's crowdsourced data layer.
Illinois State-Wide Coverage Scores
| Network | Coverage Score |
|---|---|
| Verizon | 8.6 / 10 |
| AT&T | 8.7 / 10 |
| T-Mobile | 7.8 / 10 |
All the major networks generally perform well in Chicago and the surrounding area. Verizon and AT&T may have an advantage in rural portions of Illinois.
Data Confidence
The coverage information for Chicago is rated as high confidence. The predictions likely reflect reality. However, small areas of Chicago may have worse coverage than predicted. Documentation is available elsewhere covering limitations of Coverage Critic's approach.
Last updated: February 27, 2024