Sun and golden hour calculator
Plan exteriors around the sun. Choose a location and date to get sunrise and sunset, the morning and evening golden hour and blue hour, solar noon, day length and the direction the sun rises and sets.
Enter a time to see the sun's height and direction at that moment and how long shadows are, useful for planning which side of a building or street will be lit.
How to use it
- Location: pick a city, use your location, or enter coordinates and a time zone.
- Date: any date, past or future.
- Time: the moment you want the sun position for.
Example
In Istanbul on 21 June, the sun sets at about 20:39 and the evening golden hour runs from about 19:58 to 21:00, followed by blue hour until about 21:13.
Good to know
Golden hour is taken as the sun between 6° above and 4° below the horizon, blue hour as 4° to 6° below. Times assume a flat horizon at sea level; mountains, buildings and trees end the light earlier. Directions are compass bearings from true north.