Sunrise & Sunset Times Explained (Today, Tomorrow, and How They're Calculated)
Sunrise and sunset times aren't fixed — they change a little bit every day based on your location, the date, and Earth's tilt and orbit. If you've ever wondered why your sunrise is later in winter, why sunset shifts after the solstice, or how "golden hour" relates to sunrise/sunset, this guide breaks it down.
If you just want the exact times right now, you can jump straight to:
Get sunrise, sunset, and golden hour for your exact location
Use your city page for instantly updated daily times, twilight, and golden hour — plus month-by-month patterns.
Table of Contents
- Quick Answers
- What Sunrise and Sunset Times Actually Mean
- Why Sunrise and Sunset Times Change Every Day
- Why the Earliest Sunset Isn't Always on the Winter Solstice
- Twilight: Civil, Nautical, and Astronomical
- What Is Golden Hour?
- How Sunrise & Sunset Times Are Calculated
- Find Sunrise, Sunset, and Golden Hour for Your Location
- FAQ
Quick Answers
What time is sunrise today?
Sunrise today depends on your city (latitude/longitude) and date. The fastest way to get the correct time is to use your location (or search your city) and view today's sunrise instantly.
What time is sunset today?
Sunset today also depends on your city and date. Use your city page to see today's sunset, plus useful nearby events like civil twilight and golden hour.
Does sunrise always happen before sunset?
Yes — sunrise is when the top edge of the sun first appears above the horizon, and sunset is when it disappears below the horizon. Sunrise comes first each day, sunset comes later.
What Sunrise and Sunset Times Actually Mean
Sunrise is the moment the sun appears at the horizon in the morning.
Sunset is the moment the sun disappears below the horizon in the evening.
These are horizon-based events. Small differences in:
- your elevation
- local terrain
- atmospheric conditions
can shift what you "see" by a minute or two — but the published times are standardized and consistent for planning.
Why Sunrise and Sunset Times Change Every Day
Sunrise and sunset change daily because:
- Earth is tilted (~23.5°), which changes the sun's path through the sky across seasons.
- Earth orbits the sun, changing day length through the year.
- Your latitude matters — the farther you are from the equator, the bigger the seasonal swings.
That's why:
- Winter usually means later sunrise + earlier sunset
- Summer usually means earlier sunrise + later sunset
- Spring/fall generally shift more gradually
Why the Earliest Sunset Isn't Always on the Winter Solstice
This surprises a lot of people: the earliest sunset and latest sunrise often do not occur on the exact day of the winter solstice.
That's because clock time is influenced by:
- Earth's elliptical orbit
- Earth's axial tilt
- how solar time differs from clock time (often explained via the "equation of time")
Practical takeaway:
Expect the earliest sunset to happen a bit before the solstice and the latest sunrise a bit after, depending on your location.
Learn more: Why the shortest day of the year matters
Twilight: Civil, Nautical, and Astronomical
Even after the sun sets, there's still usable light. That's what twilight describes.
- Civil twilight: enough light for many outdoor activities (think "streetlight time")
- Nautical twilight: horizon is still faintly visible at sea
- Astronomical twilight: sky is nearly fully dark, best for astronomy
Many people actually care more about civil dawn/dusk than sunrise/sunset because it reflects "usable light."
Learn more: What time is dusk today? and What time is dawn tomorrow?
What Is Golden Hour?
Golden hour is the period when sunlight is softer and warmer — popular for photography, running, hiking, and outdoor plans.
A simple rule of thumb:
- Morning golden hour starts around sunrise and lasts ~1 hour
- Evening golden hour ends around sunset and starts ~1 hour before
Golden hour length varies based on:
- season
- location
- how the sun's angle changes through the year
Your city page shows golden hour times along with sunrise and sunset.
Learn more: What is golden hour?
How Sunrise & Sunset Times Are Calculated
Sunrise/sunset times are computed using standardized astronomical formulas based on:
- latitude/longitude
- date
- the sun's apparent position in the sky
- a standardized definition of the horizon
Times are displayed in local time for the location you're viewing.
Find Sunrise, Sunset, and Golden Hour for Your Location
Option 1: Use "Near Me"
If you're on a phone or browser that allows location, the fastest method is:
Option 2: Search by city
Search any city (example: "Los Angeles, CA" or "London") to see:
- today's sunrise
- today's sunset
- golden hour
- twilight times
- month-by-month patterns
Option 3: Browse by country
Use the country list to quickly find cities worldwide.
Popular Quick Links
Get sunrise, sunset, and golden hour for your exact location
Use your city page for instantly updated daily times, twilight, and golden hour — plus month-by-month patterns.
Popular Cities
FAQ
Are sunrise/sunset times the same everywhere in a state or country?
No. Even small changes in latitude/longitude can shift times by minutes. Always use the closest city.
Why are my times slightly different than another website?
Different sites may use slightly different rounding, horizon definitions, or time zone handling. Most differences are small (often within 1–2 minutes).
What affects how early it gets dark?
Your latitude, the season, and local weather/cloud cover affect perceived darkness — but sunset time is calculated astronomically.
Final note
If you need today's exact times, don't guess — use your location or city page for the most accurate sunrise, sunset, twilight, and golden hour info.