Des Moines Sunrise & Sunset in May 2026

CST41.5868°N, 93.6250°W

Northern Hemisphere • mid-latitude latitude band

Last updated: February 23, 2026

This page shows daily sunrise and sunset times for Des Moines, Iowa throughout May 2026, displayed in local time. You can view how sunrise and sunset times change day by day across the entire month. The daylight characteristics of May in Des Moines reflect seasonal transitions. The golden hour occurs twice daily—shortly after sunrise and before sunset—providing ideal lighting conditions for photography. During May, these periods shift gradually, offering different timing opportunities throughout the month. Outdoor enthusiasts in Des Moines benefit from accurate May sun times when planning activities like hiking, running, cycling, and beach visits. Understanding when daylight begins and ends helps ensure safety and maximizes enjoyment. Whether you're a long-time resident or a first-time visitor, understanding May's sun time patterns in Des Moines, Iowa enhances your ability to plan and enjoy activities. The month's daylight characteristics are part of what makes the location unique. The daily variations in sun times during May may seem minor, but they reflect the Earth's continuous motion around the sun. These changes affect everything from energy consumption to mood and daily routines. Understanding these patterns helps residents and visitors make the most of each day's available daylight.

May is a seasonal transition month for Des Moines in the Northern Hemisphere. Daylight length changes more noticeably now, with sunrise and sunset shifting week by week as the sun moves between solstice extremes.

May daylight summary

  • Sunrise shifts 28m earlier from the start to the end of the month.
  • Sunset shifts 30m later from the start to the end of the month.
  • Total daylight changes by 58m longer by month end.

Key May Statistics

  • Earliest sunrise: May 1 at 6:13 AM
  • Latest sunrise: May 31 at 5:45 AM
  • Earliest sunset: May 1 at 8:11 PM
  • Latest sunset: May 31 at 8:41 PM
  • Day length change: +0h 58m from start to end of month

May averages

  • Average sunrise: 5:57 AM
  • Average sunset: 8:27 PM
  • Average day length: 14h 30m

Monthly Sun Trend Charts

Sunrise Trend
Sunset Trend
Day Length Trend

Daily Sun Times for May 2026

DateSunriseSunsetDay LengthMorning Golden HourEvening Golden Hour
May 16:13 AM8:11 PM13h 58m6:13 AM - 6:52 AM7:33 PM - 8:11 PM
May 26:12 AM8:13 PM14h 0m6:12 AM - 6:51 AM7:34 PM - 8:13 PM
May 36:11 AM8:14 PM14h 3m6:11 AM - 6:49 AM7:35 PM - 8:14 PM
May 46:10 AM8:15 PM14h 5m6:10 AM - 6:48 AM7:36 PM - 8:15 PM
May 56:08 AM8:16 PM14h 8m6:08 AM - 6:47 AM7:37 PM - 8:16 PM
May 66:07 AM8:17 PM14h 10m6:07 AM - 6:46 AM7:38 PM - 8:17 PM
May 76:06 AM8:18 PM14h 12m6:06 AM - 6:45 AM7:39 PM - 8:18 PM
May 86:05 AM8:19 PM14h 14m6:05 AM - 6:44 AM7:40 PM - 8:19 PM
May 96:03 AM8:20 PM14h 17m6:03 AM - 6:43 AM7:41 PM - 8:20 PM
May 106:02 AM8:21 PM14h 19m6:02 AM - 6:42 AM7:42 PM - 8:21 PM
May 116:01 AM8:22 PM14h 21m6:01 AM - 6:41 AM7:43 PM - 8:22 PM
May 126:00 AM8:23 PM14h 23m6:00 AM - 6:40 AM7:44 PM - 8:23 PM
May 135:59 AM8:24 PM14h 25m5:59 AM - 6:39 AM7:45 PM - 8:24 PM
May 145:58 AM8:25 PM14h 27m5:58 AM - 6:38 AM7:46 PM - 8:25 PM
May 155:57 AM8:26 PM14h 29m5:57 AM - 6:37 AM7:47 PM - 8:26 PM
May 165:56 AM8:27 PM14h 31m5:56 AM - 6:36 AM7:48 PM - 8:27 PM
May 175:55 AM8:28 PM14h 33m5:55 AM - 6:35 AM7:49 PM - 8:28 PM
May 185:54 AM8:29 PM14h 35m5:54 AM - 6:34 AM7:49 PM - 8:29 PM
May 195:53 AM8:30 PM14h 37m5:53 AM - 6:33 AM7:50 PM - 8:30 PM
May 205:52 AM8:31 PM14h 39m5:52 AM - 6:33 AM7:51 PM - 8:31 PM
May 215:52 AM8:32 PM14h 41m5:52 AM - 6:32 AM7:52 PM - 8:32 PM
May 225:51 AM8:33 PM14h 43m5:51 AM - 6:31 AM7:53 PM - 8:33 PM
May 235:50 AM8:34 PM14h 44m5:50 AM - 6:30 AM7:54 PM - 8:34 PM
May 245:49 AM8:35 PM14h 46m5:49 AM - 6:30 AM7:55 PM - 8:35 PM
May 255:48 AM8:36 PM14h 48m5:48 AM - 6:29 AM7:55 PM - 8:36 PM
May 265:48 AM8:37 PM14h 49m5:48 AM - 6:28 AM7:56 PM - 8:37 PM
May 275:47 AM8:38 PM14h 51m5:47 AM - 6:28 AM7:57 PM - 8:38 PM
May 285:46 AM8:39 PM14h 52m5:46 AM - 6:27 AM7:58 PM - 8:39 PM
May 295:46 AM8:40 PM14h 54m5:46 AM - 6:27 AM7:59 PM - 8:40 PM
May 305:45 AM8:40 PM14h 55m5:45 AM - 6:26 AM7:59 PM - 8:40 PM
May 315:45 AM8:41 PM14h 56m5:45 AM - 6:26 AM8:00 PM - 8:41 PM

Last updated: February 23, 2026

About sunrise and sunset in Des Moines in May

Sunrise and sunset times shift slightly each day through May as we move through the solstice. The times shown are in local time for Des Moines, Iowa, and are calculated based on the city's exact geographic coordinates.

You can come back daily to see updated values. This page shows you not just sunrise and sunset times, but also golden hour periods (ideal for photography), dawn and dusk times (civil twilight), and day length for every day of the month. All times are displayed in local time and update automatically based on the current date.

Whether you're planning outdoor activities, photography sessions, or simply want to know when daylight begins and ends, this calendar helps you make the most of each day in May.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is sunrise in Des Moines, Iowa in May?

Today, the sun rises in Des Moines, Iowa at 7:00 AM local time. Sunrise shifts slightly each day throughout May, so check this page for the latest times.

What time is sunset in Des Moines, Iowa in May?

Today, the sun sets in Des Moines, Iowa at 5:58 PM local time. Sunset shifts slightly each day throughout May, so check this page for the latest times.

How long is the day in Des Moines, Iowa in May?

Today's daylight in Des Moines, Iowa lasts about 10h 59m. As we move through May, day length changes gradually, and this page updates daily with new values.

What is golden hour in Des Moines, Iowa?

Golden hour in Des Moines, Iowa refers to the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, creating warm, soft lighting ideal for photography. These periods occur twice daily and shift gradually throughout the month. For more information about planning photos during golden hour, see our guide on golden hour photography.

How often are these sunrise and sunset times updated?

Sunrise and sunset times are updated daily and are based on reliable astronomical calculations. The times account for your location's exact geographic coordinates, timezone, and the Earth's position in its orbit. You can check back each day to see the latest values.

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How People Use This Information

People use sunrise and sunset times for planning outdoor activities, photography, travel, prayer times, fitness routines, gardening, and understanding seasonal daylight changes. SunTimesToday is designed as a quick, location-specific reference that updates daily to reflect accurate astronomical calculations.

Data Source & Accuracy

Sunrise, sunset, daylight length, and twilight times on SunTimesToday are calculated using standard astronomical algorithms based on your selected location and date. Data is updated daily to reflect seasonal and yearly changes. While times are accurate for most practical uses, small variations may occur due to atmospheric conditions and local geography.