Willis tower sears tower name change is one of the most common confusions in Chicago tourism, and it is a simple one to clear up: these are two names for the exact same building. I still hear visitors ask whether they booked the wrong ticket because a listing says Willis Tower and their map app or an old guidebook says Sears Tower, so let me settle it properly. Whichever name you know it by, seeing how all six Willis Tower ticket options stack up is still the fastest way to find the right one for your visit before you dig into the history.
Ready to see prices? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See times Is Sears Tower the Same Building as Willis Tower?
Yes, Sears Tower and Willis Tower are the same 108-story skyscraper at 233 South Wacker Drive in Chicago. Nothing about the building, its height, or its observation deck changed when the name did. I would stop worrying the moment you see “Sears Tower” anywhere online. It is pointing at the exact same place as “Willis Tower.”
Why Did the Name Change From Sears to Willis?
Sears, Roebuck and Company, the retailer the tower was originally built for and named after, moved its headquarters out of the building in the early 1990s, and the Sears name stuck around informally for years afterward purely out of habit. The official change to Willis Tower came in 2009, when the Willis Group, a London-based insurance brokerage, signed a major lease and secured naming rights as part of the deal. I think of it as a corporate sponsorship swap rather than any change to the building itself, which is exactly what it was.
When Did the Building Officially Become Willis Tower?
The building officially became Willis Tower in 2009, when the Willis Group insurance brokerage took a significant lease and the naming rights that came with it.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesWhy Do So Many Chicagoans Still Call It Sears Tower?
Longtime residents grew up with the Sears name for decades before the 2009 change, and a nickname that deep rarely disappears just because a lease changes hands. I would not correct a local who calls it Sears Tower. It is a point of civic habit more than a factual error at this point, and plenty of Chicagoans say it on purpose.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesDoes the Building Have Another Name Besides Willis Tower?
The Willis Group’s own lease eventually ended, and the building briefly carried additional branding tied to other tenants over the years, which is part of why you may see it referred to as “the Willis Towers” or with slightly different naming in older materials. I would treat Willis Tower as the name to search and book under today, since that is what current ticket listings and maps use.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See timesDoes the Observation Deck Have Its Own Separate Name?
Yes, the observation deck itself is called Skydeck, which is a separate brand from the building’s own name and has stayed consistent through both the Sears and Willis eras. I would search for Skydeck tickets specifically rather than just the building name, since that gets you straight to the right product every time.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesHow High Is the Skydeck Observation Deck?
Skydeck sits on the 103rd floor at 1,353 feet, with views that reach roughly four states on a clear day. I break down the exact floor count, the elevator ride time, and what you can actually see in each direction in a full look at Skydeck’s height and floor, which goes deeper than this page needs to.
What Is The Ledge, and Is the “Cracked Glass” Story Real?
The Ledge is Skydeck’s set of glass boxes that extend out from the 103rd floor, and a viral photo years ago convinced a lot of people the glass had actually cracked beneath a visitor’s feet. It had not. I walk through the real engineering explanation and what stepping onto The Ledge actually feels like in a dedicated page on The Ledge and the cracked glass myth, which is worth reading if that rumor is part of what is making you hesitate.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See timesDoes the Name Change Affect How the Skyline Looks at Night?
The building’s exterior lighting and nighttime silhouette have nothing to do with which corporate name it carries, and the skyline view from Skydeck after dark is one of the best reasons to book a later time slot. I cover exactly when to go and what changes after sunset in a closer look at Skydeck at night.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesHas the Building Shown Up in Movies Under Either Name?
Willis Tower, mostly still credited as Sears Tower in older films, has appeared in plenty of Hollywood productions over the decades, usually as shorthand for the Chicago skyline itself. I rounded up the most recognizable appearances in a page on Skydeck in movies and pop culture, which is a fun read before or after your visit.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesDoes the Name Confusion Extend to Chicago’s Other Observation Deck?
A similar renaming happened across town: the building now home to 360 CHICAGO used to be called the John Hancock Center, and some visitors still search for the Hancock Observatory by mistake when comparing the two towers. I lay out that full comparison, including price and the Ledge versus Tilt question, in my Skydeck vs 360 CHICAGO guide.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See timesWhen Is the Best Time to Visit, Regardless of Which Name You Use?
Whichever name got you here, the practical planning question is the same: when to go to avoid crowds and catch the clearest views. I cover opening hours, seasonal crowd patterns, and my own recommended time slots in a full guide to Skydeck hours and the best time to visit, which is worth checking before you lock in a date.
Want a closer look? Chicago CityPASS: Skydeck Plus 4 Top Attractions, from $144 See timesMy Take: Which Name Should You Use When Booking?
I would use “Willis Tower” and “Skydeck” when you are actually booking tickets today, since that is the current, correct branding that matches what you will see on-site and in your confirmation email. But do not let the Sears Tower name throw you off if you see it in an older article, a cab driver’s directions, or your grandparents’ stories about visiting Chicago decades ago. It is the same building, the same 103rd-floor deck, and the same willis tower tickets either way. I find the renaming history genuinely interesting once you know it, rather than confusing, and it is worth a minute of your attention before you head up.
Short on time? Small Group Tour with Skydeck and River Cruise, from $189 See timesFrequently Asked Questions
Is Sears Tower the same as Willis Tower? Yes. It is the same 108-story building at 233 South Wacker Drive in Chicago. Only the name changed, in 2009, not the structure or its observation deck.
Why did Sears Tower change its name to Willis Tower? The Willis Group, a London-based insurance brokerage, signed a major lease on the building and secured naming rights as part of the deal in 2009.
Why do people still call it Sears Tower? The Sears name was used for decades before the 2009 change, and habits that deep tend to stick around in everyday speech long after an official rename.
Is the observation deck called Sears Skydeck or Willis Skydeck? Neither. The deck’s own brand is simply Skydeck, and that name has stayed the same through both the Sears and Willis eras of the building’s history.
Does booking under the wrong name cause problems at check-in? No. Ticket listings and signage all use the current Willis Tower and Skydeck branding, so there is nothing to correct once you arrive with a valid ticket.
Ready to see prices? Willis Tower Skydeck and The Ledge Ticket, from $47.10 See times