Sunset Tonight: What Time Is It Near You?
Whether you're planning an evening walk, scheduling a photo shoot, or simply want to catch the beautiful colors of the evening sky, knowing what time sunset is tonight helps you plan better. But here's the thing: sunset time changes every single day, and it varies by your exact location. That's why checking your local sunset time tonight is essential for accurate planning.
If you only need tonight's sunset and sunrise times, use our Sunrise & Sunset search tool – enter your city to see exact sunrise, sunset, dawn, dusk, and golden hour times for your location.
You may also find these guides helpful:
What Time Is Sunset Tonight?
Sunset is the exact moment when the upper edge of the sun disappears below the horizon. It's a specific clock time that marks the transition from day to evening twilight. But the exact time depends on two key factors: your city and location, and the date.
Even within the same time zone, sunset can vary by several minutes depending on your exact latitude and longitude. Cities farther east in a time zone see sunset earlier than cities farther west. And as Earth orbits the sun throughout the year, sunset times shift daily—sometimes by just a minute, sometimes by several minutes.
The fastest way to find sunset time tonight for your location? Use SunTimesToday's search tool and enter your city name. You'll get the exact time for tonight, plus tomorrow and future dates.
How to Check Tonight's Sunset Time for Your City
Finding your local sunset time is simple with the right tool. Here's the step-by-step process:
- Go to the Sunrise & Sunset search page
Visit SunTimesToday.com/sunrise-sunset/ to access the search tool. - Type your city name
Enter your city and state (or country) in the search field. Examples: "New York, NY," "Los Angeles, CA," or "London, UK." The search will show matching results instantly. - Open your city's page
Click on your city from the search results to open its detailed sunrise/sunset page. - Find today's date
Look for the "Today" summary at the top of the page, or find today's date in the monthly table. You'll see sunset time tonight clearly displayed, along with sunrise, day length, and golden hour windows.
Each city page also shows dawn, dusk, and twilight times, so you can plan activities around the full evening light progression. You can even navigate to future dates to plan ahead for trips or events.
Golden Hour Before Sunset
The best light for photos, walks, and outdoor activities happens during golden hour—the period 30–60 minutes before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, creating warm, soft, flattering light. During golden hour, the light is:
- Warmer in color (more orange and red tones, less harsh blue)
- Softer and more flattering (no harsh shadows, better for portraits)
- More cinematic and moody (longer shadows add depth and visual interest)
For photography, golden hour is often the best time to shoot. But it's also perfect for evening walks, outdoor dates, family photos, or any activity where you want beautiful, natural light.
Pro tip: Arrive 15–20 minutes before golden hour starts to scout your location and get set up. The light changes quickly, so being ready when it hits is crucial. Keep shooting through the entire golden hour window—some of the best light often happens in the last 10 minutes before sunset.
Dusk After Sunset
After the sun sets, the sky doesn't go dark immediately. There's a beautiful transition period called dusk (or twilight) when there's still light in the sky, but the sun is below the horizon.
Understanding the difference between sunset vs dusk helps clarify:
- Sunset is the exact moment when the sun's upper edge disappears below the horizon—a specific clock time
- Dusk is the period of twilight that follows sunset—a window of time when there's still light in the sky but the sun is below the horizon
Astronomers define three types of dusk based on how far the sun is below the horizon: civil dusk (brightest, 20–30 minutes after sunset), nautical dusk (medium brightness, 40–50 minutes after sunset), and astronomical dusk (darkest, 60–90 minutes after sunset). For most people, civil dusk is what they notice—it's when there's still enough light to see clearly, but the sky shows beautiful colors.
For more details about dusk times and how they differ from sunset, check out our guide on what time is dusk today.
Why Sunset Times Change Throughout the Year
You might notice that sunset time tonight is slightly different from yesterday—maybe a minute earlier or later. This daily shift happens because of Earth's movement and position relative to the sun.
Earth's Tilt and Seasons
Earth tilts about 23.5° on its axis. As we orbit the sun throughout the year, different hemispheres tilt toward or away from the sun, changing day length and the timing of sunset. In summer, sunset happens later because the sun sets later. In winter, sunset happens earlier. This seasonal change is most dramatic at higher latitudes.
Latitude and Time Zones
Your latitude (how far north or south you are) dramatically affects sunset timing. Locations near the equator see relatively consistent sunset times year-round. Higher latitudes experience much more variation—in extreme northern locations, sunset can shift by hours between summer and winter.
Your longitude (east-west position) affects what time sunset appears on your clock within your time zone. Cities farther east in a time zone see sunset earlier than cities farther west, even though they share the same clock time.
These factors combine to create the daily shifts in sunset timing. That's why using a tool like SunTimesToday that accounts for all these variables gives you the most accurate sunset times. For a deeper dive into why the shortest day of the year isn't the earliest sunset, see our guide on the shortest day of the year.
Tips for Watching Sunset Tonight
Once you know what time sunset is tonight, here are practical tips to make the most of it:
- Face west with a clear horizon: The sun sets in the west, so find a spot with an unobstructed view of the western sky. Hills, mountains, or tall buildings can block the sun earlier than the calculated time.
- Check weather conditions: Clouds can enhance sunset colors by reflecting and diffusing light, but thick overcast may block the view entirely. A few clouds often create the most dramatic sunsets.
- Arrive 15–30 minutes before sunset: This gives you time to find a good spot and catch the golden hour light before the sun actually sets.
- Stay 15–30 minutes after sunset: The sky often shows its most beautiful colors during civil dusk, when the sun is just below the horizon. Don't leave immediately after sunset—the twilight colors are often the best part.
- Safety tips: If you're driving to a sunset viewing spot, arrive before sunset and stay alert as visibility decreases. If you're near water, be extra cautious as light fades. Bring a flashlight or headlamp if you'll be out after dusk.
How to Use Sunset Time in Your Daily Routine
Knowing sunset time tonight helps you plan more than just watching the sun go down. Here are practical ways to use it:
Planning Evening Runs or Walks
If you prefer to finish your run or walk before dark, check sunset time and plan to start early enough to finish with daylight remaining. For example, if sunset is at 7:00 PM and you want a 45-minute run, start by 6:15 PM to finish with a little light left.
Outdoor Workouts
Whether you're doing yoga, calisthenics, or any outdoor workout, knowing sunset time helps you plan when to start and finish. Golden hour light can make outdoor workouts more enjoyable, too.
Family Time Outside
After work or school, knowing sunset time helps you plan backyard activities, park visits, or outdoor playtime with kids. You can maximize daylight hours and ensure everyone gets home safely before dark.
Photography or Content Creation
If you're creating content for social media, blogs, or portfolios, golden hour and sunset times are essential for planning shoots. Arrive early to scout locations and set up equipment, then shoot through golden hour and into dusk for the best variety of light.
Find Sunset Tonight Near You
Don't guess what time sunset is tonight—use location-based data for accuracy. Sunset time changes every day and varies by your exact coordinates, so having a quick way to check is essential.
Use SunTimesToday's search tool to find your exact sunset time tonight, and bookmark your city page for instant access anytime. You'll see sunset, sunrise, golden hour, and twilight times clearly displayed for today and future dates.
Don't let another sunset catch you by surprise. Check your local sunset time now and plan your evening around the best light of the day.