When Is Golden Hour Today?

Golden hour today depends on your exact location, the date, and your local sunrise and sunset times. Golden hour occurs twice each day—once in the morning shortly after sunrise, and once in the evening shortly before sunset. Below, you'll find today's golden hour times, why they change throughout the year, and how to get accurate golden hour times for your city.

Golden Hour Times by City

Golden hour is calculated based on your city's sunrise and sunset times. The morning golden hour begins at sunrise and lasts approximately one hour. The evening golden hour starts about one hour before sunset and ends at sunset. Since golden hour times are derived from sunrise and sunset, they vary by location, date, and season.

Each city page shows today's sunrise and sunset times, which you can use to calculate golden hour. Morning golden hour starts at sunrise, and evening golden hour begins about one hour before sunset.

Why Golden Hour Times Change Every Day

Golden hour times change daily because they depend on sunrise and sunset times, which shift throughout the year due to Earth's tilt and orbit.

Here's what that means:

• Morning golden hour begins at sunrise, which changes by 1–3 minutes per day
• Evening golden hour starts about one hour before sunset, which also changes daily
• During summer, days are longer, so golden hour occurs later in the evening and earlier in the morning
• During winter, days are shorter, so golden hour occurs earlier in the evening and later in the morning

This is why today's golden hour times are slightly different from yesterday — even if you stay in the same city.

How Long Does Golden Hour Last?

Golden hour typically lasts about 60 minutes, but the exact duration varies:

• Near the equator: around 45 minutes
• At higher latitudes: can extend to 90 minutes or more
• During summer months: may last longer due to the sun's angle
• Weather conditions: cloud cover can extend or shorten the visible golden hour effect

The best golden hour light occurs when the sun is between 6 degrees below and 6 degrees above the horizon, creating the characteristic warm, diffused light that photographers seek.

Common Reasons People Check Golden Hour Times

People look up today's golden hour times for many reasons, including:

• Planning photography sessions (portraits, landscapes, weddings)
• Scheduling outdoor activities during optimal lighting
• Capturing the best natural light for social media content
• Understanding when to expect the most flattering light conditions

Because golden hour depends on local sunrise and sunset times, the most accurate results come from city-level data.

How We Calculate Golden Hour Times

Golden hour times on SunTimesToday are calculated using:

• Accurate sunrise and sunset times for your location
• Astronomical solar position formulas
• Exact geographic coordinates
• Local time zone adjustments
• Daily recalculation for accuracy

Morning golden hour begins at sunrise. Evening golden hour starts approximately one hour before sunset. These times are updated daily to reflect seasonal changes.

Frequently Asked Questions