Calculate Daylight Hours for Any Date & Location
Estimate sunrise, sunset, and total daylight hours for trip planning, photography, and outdoor activities.
How Daylight Varies
Daylight hours depend on latitude and time of year. At the equator: ~12 hours year-round. At 40°N (NYC): 9 hours in December, 15 hours in June. At 65°N (northern Alaska): 24 hours in midsummer, near-zero in midwinter. The summer solstice (June 21) has the most daylight; the winter solstice (Dec 21) has the least.
Golden Hour Photography
The "golden hour" is the first hour after sunrise and last hour before sunset — when sunlight is warm, soft, and directional. Professional photographers plan shoots around these windows. The "blue hour" (20-30 minutes before sunrise and after sunset) offers cooler, ethereal light. Knowing exact sunrise/sunset times helps you be in position when the light is perfect.
Landscape photographers call the 20 minutes around sunrise/sunset the "magic minutes" — when the sky can turn vivid pink, orange, and purple. Being set up and ready 30 minutes before sunrise is the difference between capturing a spectacular shot and missing it. This calculator helps you plan exactly when to arrive.
