The conformation of the N—H bond in the title compound, C8H7Cl2NO, is syn to the ortho-chloro group and anti to the meta-chloro group, in contrast to the syn conformation observed with respect to both ortho- and meta-chloro substituents in N-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)acetamide and the anti conformation with respect to the meta-chloro substituent in N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)acetamide. The dihedral angle between the dichlorophenyl and acetamide groups is 44.6 (2)°. Short Cl...Cl type II contacts (Cl...Cl = 3.5 Å) and intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chains.