Day length by latitude and season
At the June solstice of 2026, the day lasts 15 h 37 at latitude 45° but only 8 h 46 at the December solstice. On the equator it stays close to 12 h 07 all year.
Updated November 7, 2026 · Sources
Why days get longer and shorter
The Earth's axis is tilted, so over the year each hemisphere leans toward the sun, then away from it. The farther you are from the equator, the bigger the difference between summer and winter days.
The figures below come from the formulas of NOAA's solar calculator, the same as our day length tool. Sunrise and sunset are counted when the top of the sun touches the horizon, with the bending of light by the air: the sun is then 0.833° below the true horizon.
Day length table
| Latitude | March equinox | June solstice | September equinox | December solstice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0° | 12 h 07 | 12 h 07 | 12 h 07 | 12 h 07 |
| 20° | 12 h 07 | 13 h 20 | 12 h 08 | 10 h 55 |
| 30° | 12 h 07 | 14 h 05 | 12 h 09 | 10 h 13 |
| 40° | 12 h 08 | 15 h 01 | 12 h 10 | 9 h 19 |
| 45° | 12 h 09 | 15 h 37 | 12 h 11 | 8 h 46 |
| 50° | 12 h 10 | 16 h 22 | 12 h 12 | 8 h 04 |
| 55° | 12 h 11 | 17 h 22 | 12 h 14 | 7 h 10 |
| 60° | 12 h 13 | 18 h 52 | 12 h 16 | 5 h 52 |
| 70° | 12 h 19 | 24 h 00 | 12 h 24 | 0 h 00 |
Midnight sun and polar night
At latitude 60°, the day lasts 18 h 52 in June and 5 h 52 in December. Beyond the polar circles, the sun does not set at all for part of the summer and does not rise for part of the winter: at 70°, the table shows full days and full nights.
Even at the equinoxes, the day lasts a little more than half: the top of the sun shows before its center rises, and the air bends its light over the horizon.