Sunrise and sunset

Sunrise and sunset shows sunrise, sunset, daylight, golden hour and blue hour times for any place and date. It is free and calculated right in your browser.

Calculated from the coordinates and date (standard solar formulas, accurate to about a minute; hills and tall buildings make the real sunrise a little later). Golden hour: the sun less than 6° above the horizon. Blue hour: 4–6° below. Civil twilight: enough light to walk without a torch.

About the Sunrise and sunset

Sunrise and sunset gives you the sun's timetable for any place and date. Big cards show sunrise, sunset and hours of daylight, and a sky band from midnight to midnight shows night, blue hour, twilight, golden hour and daylight, with the sun's arc and a now marker. It also lists first light, solar noon and last light, plus the next 7 days. It suits photographers, hikers, early risers and anyone planning a sunset dinner or a day trip.

How it works

  1. Choose a place and a date.
  2. Read the sunrise, sunset and daylight cards.
  3. Look at the sky band for golden hour, blue hour and twilight.
  4. Check the 7-day table to see how the times change.

Features

Sunrise, sunset, daylightBig, easy-to-read cards for any place and date.
Midnight-to-midnight sky bandShows night, blue hour, twilight, golden hour and daylight, with the sun's arc and a now marker.
Light times for photosFirst light, blue hours, golden hours, solar noon and last light.
Next 7 daysA table of the coming week with the daily change in daylight.
Hiking tipA reminder to plan your hike so you are back by sunset.
Works near the polesHandles midnight sun and polar night. Calculated in your browser, accurate to about a minute.

Why it helps on a trip

Get back before dark. Knowing sunset is at 5:10 pm tells you when to turn around on a trail, with time to spare.
Catch the best light. Plan a viewpoint visit for golden hour, or the city skyline for blue hour, instead of arriving as the light fades.
Plan long and short days. Daylight can vary a lot between seasons and latitudes. The daylight card shows how much of the day you really have for sightseeing.

Tips

  • Arrive at a sunset spot 30 minutes early; the best color often comes just before and after the sun touches the horizon.
  • In mountains or deep valleys, the sun disappears behind ridges before the official sunset time.
  • Use the 7-day table on longer trips to see whether days are getting shorter or longer.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sunrise and sunset tool free?

Yes. It is free, needs no account and has nothing to install. All the sun times are calculated right in your browser, accurate to about a minute, so the page works quickly on a phone. You can choose any place and date, and the next 7 days are shown in a table with the daily change.

What is golden hour?

Golden hour is the time shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky. Light is softer and warmer, and shadows are long, which is why photographers love it. Despite the name, its length depends on where you are and the time of year. The tool shows the golden hours for your place and date.

What is blue hour?

Blue hour is the period of twilight when the sun is a little below the horizon, just before sunrise and just after sunset. The sky turns deep blue and city lights start to glow, which makes it a favorite time for skyline photos. It often lasts less than an hour. The sky band in the tool shows it clearly.

Why does sunset time change so much between places and seasons?

Day length depends on your latitude and the time of year, because the Earth is tilted. Near the equator, days stay close to 12 hours all year. Further from the equator, summer days are long and winter days are short. Inside the Arctic and Antarctic circles, there can be midnight sun in summer and polar night in winter.

What is the difference between sunrise and first light?

Sunrise is the moment the top of the sun appears on the horizon. First light comes earlier, when the sky starts to brighten while the sun is still below the horizon. That twilight gives enough light to see well outdoors before sunrise. The tool shows first light, sunrise, sunset and last light for each day.

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