The absorption spectra of di-, tri- and tetra-derivatives of chlorobenzene have been studied in their pure form in the spectral range 400–20,000cm −1 . A large number of bands associated with the fundamental, the overtones and the combination frequencies of CH stretching mode have been observed. Vibrational frequencies, anharmonicity constants and dissociation energies, for the CH stretch vibrations for the six molecules have been determined using local mode model. The CH stretch frequencies obtained from experiments are compared with the corresponding frequency determined theoretically using RHF and DFT methods with same 6–31+G* basis set. This information has been used for the assignment of several combination bands as well as some weak overtone bands. Effect of hydrogen atom substitution by chlorine atom has been studied by measuring changes in the vibrational frequency of the CH stretching mode and the CH bond length. Frequency changes have been well correlated with the change in charge density on carbon as well as chlorine atoms.