A sunrise sunset calculator tells you exactly when the sun rises and sets at any location on any date, along with twilight phases, golden hour windows, and total day length. Whether you are planning a hike, scheduling outdoor photography, or simply curious about daylight hours in your area, this free tool uses astronomical algorithms to deliver accurate solar times — no API calls, everything runs locally in your browser.
Calculate Solar Times
Morning Golden Hour
--:-- -- --:--
Sun within 6 degrees above horizon — warm, soft light
Evening Golden Hour
--:-- -- --:--
Warm light before sunset — the classic magic hour
Civil Twilight
Dawn: --:-- -- --:-- | Dusk: --:-- -- --:--
Sun 0-6 degrees below horizon — enough light without artificial lighting
Nautical Twilight
Dawn: --:-- -- --:-- | Dusk: --:-- -- --:--
Sun 6-12 degrees below horizon — horizon visible at sea
Astronomical Twilight
Dawn: --:-- -- --:-- | Dusk: --:-- -- --:--
Sun 12-18 degrees below horizon — sky dark enough for astronomy
Day Timeline
7-Day Sunrise & Sunset Trend
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day Length |
|---|
Times are approximate and may vary by 1-2 minutes due to atmospheric refraction, elevation, and terrain. Verify with local sources for critical planning.
How to Use the Sunrise Sunset Calculator
Knowing exactly when the sun rises and sets is essential for outdoor activities, photography, gardening, and daily planning. This free sunrise sunset calculator computes precise solar times for any location on Earth using astronomical algorithms — no internet connection required after the page loads, because everything runs locally in your browser.
Step 1: Set Your Location
Click the "Use My Location" button to let your browser detect your GPS coordinates automatically. This is the fastest way to get started. Alternatively, type latitude and longitude manually — you can find coordinates for any place by right-clicking on an online map or searching for "[city name] coordinates." Latitude ranges from -90 (South Pole) to 90 (North Pole), and longitude from -180 to 180.
Step 2: Choose a Date
The date defaults to today, but you can pick any date to check solar times. This is especially useful for planning future hikes, camping trips, or photography sessions. Solar times shift significantly between seasons — a summer day in northern latitudes can have 16+ hours of daylight, while winter might offer fewer than 9 hours.
Step 3: Review Your Results
After clicking "Calculate Sunrise & Sunset," you get a comprehensive breakdown: sunrise and sunset times, total day length, solar noon, golden hour windows (morning and evening), and three levels of twilight — civil, nautical, and astronomical. A visual timeline bar shows how daylight, twilight, and darkness spread across the full 24-hour day.
Understanding Twilight Phases
Civil twilight occurs when the sun is 0-6 degrees below the horizon. There is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Nautical twilight (6-12 degrees below) is when the horizon is still visible at sea — sailors use this for navigation. Astronomical twilight (12-18 degrees below) is when the sky becomes dark enough for serious stargazing. The sunrise sunset calculator shows all three phases so you can plan for any type of outdoor activity.
Using the 7-Day Trend View
The week view table shows sunrise, sunset, and day length for seven consecutive days starting from your selected date. This helps you spot trends — for example, around the equinoxes, day length changes by about 2-3 minutes per day at mid-latitudes, while near the solstices the change is barely noticeable. Use this view to pick the best day for your outdoor plans.
FAQ
Is this sunrise sunset calculator free to use?
Yes, the Sunrise & Sunset Calculator is completely free with no limits. You can calculate solar times for any location and any date as many times as you want. No signup, no account, and no data is stored.
Is my location data safe and private?
Yes, all calculations run entirely in your browser using astronomical math. Your coordinates are never sent to any server. The geolocation button is optional — you can always enter coordinates manually. Nothing is stored after you close the page.
How accurate are the sunrise and sunset times?
The calculator uses the NOAA Solar Calculator algorithm, which is accurate to within 1-2 minutes for most locations. Actual times may vary slightly due to atmospheric conditions, local elevation, and terrain obstructions like mountains or buildings.
What is the difference between civil, nautical, and astronomical twilight?
Civil twilight is when the sun is 0-6 degrees below the horizon — there is enough light to see without artificial lighting. Nautical twilight is 6-12 degrees below, when the horizon is still visible at sea. Astronomical twilight is 12-18 degrees below, when the sky is dark enough for most astronomical observations.
Why does day length change throughout the year?
Day length changes because Earth's axis is tilted 23.45 degrees relative to its orbit around the sun. During summer, your hemisphere tilts toward the sun, creating longer days. During winter, it tilts away, creating shorter days. At the equinoxes in March and September, day and night are roughly equal everywhere.
What is golden hour and when does it happen?
Golden hour is the period when the sun is within 6 degrees above the horizon — just after sunrise and just before sunset. The light is warm, soft, and directional, creating long shadows and a golden tone. It is prized by photographers and filmmakers for its flattering quality.
Can I see sunrise and sunset trends for a whole week or month?
Yes, the calculator includes a week view that shows how sunrise, sunset, and day length change over 7 days from your selected date. This is useful for planning outdoor activities or noticing how quickly days are getting longer or shorter in your area.
Does this work for locations near the poles?
Yes, the calculator handles extreme latitudes. For locations above the Arctic Circle or below the Antarctic Circle, it will indicate polar day (24-hour sunlight) or polar night (24-hour darkness) when those conditions occur during summer and winter solstices respectively.