What Time Is Sunset?
Today's sunset, golden hour and dusk — with a live countdown.
Sunset today
8:57 PM
Next sunset in 4h 36m 25s
Light through the day
- 2:14 AMAstronomical dawnFirst light — sun 18° below horizon
- 3:40 AMNautical dawnHorizon becomes visible at sea
- 4:37 AMCivil dawnBlue hour begins
- 5:19 AMSunriseSun's upper edge meets the horizon
- 6:08 AMGolden hour endsSoft warm light fades
- 1:08 PMSolar noonSun at its highest point
- 8:07 PMGolden hour beginsWarm light returns
- 8:57 PMSunsetSun's upper edge dips below the horizon
- 9:38 PMCivil duskBlue hour ends
- 10:35 PMNautical duskHorizon no longer visible at sea
- 12:02 AMAstronomical duskFull darkness — sun 18° below horizon
Sunset, dusk and the evening light
Sunset is the moment the sun's upper edge slips below the horizon. Because the atmosphere refracts light upward, the sun's true position is already about half a degree below the horizon when we see it set — so TimerKit calculates sunset at −0.833°, matching the convention used by almanacs and observatories worldwide.
The best light of the day bookends sunset. The evening golden hour begins while the sun is still up but low (within 6° of the horizon), casting the long, warm shadows photographers chase. Once the sun sets, the blue hour takes over — a stretch of cool, even light while the sun sits 4–6° below the horizon. Then dusk deepens through its civil, nautical and astronomical stages until the sky is fully dark.
Why sunset time drifts through the year
Sunset time depends on your latitude, longitude and the date. The farther you live from the equator, the wider the gap between a late midsummer sunset and an early midwinter one. Interestingly, the earliest sunset of the year doesn't fall on the winter solstice — it arrives a week or two before, thanks to the equation of time. Step through the days with the arrows above to see how quickly it shifts where you are.
How to use this sunset tracker
Allow location access for exact local times, or choose a city or enter coordinates in the location bar. The main readout shows today's sunset and a live countdown to the next one, and the timeline below lays out the whole evening — golden hour, sunset, blue hour and each stage of dusk. It all runs in your browser: no ads, no account, and it keeps working offline.
Sunset FAQ
What time is sunset today?
Sunset today depends on your latitude, longitude and the date. Allow location access or pick your city above and TimerKit calculates the exact sunset time for you, plus a live countdown to the next sunset.
When is golden hour in the evening?
The evening golden hour begins when the sun drops to about 6° above the horizon and runs until sunset, bathing everything in warm, soft light. After sunset comes the blue hour, while the sun is 4–6° below the horizon — cool, even light that's excellent for cityscapes and portraits.
What is the difference between sunset and dusk?
Sunset is the moment the sun's upper edge disappears below the horizon. Dusk comes later: civil dusk (sun 6° down) ends the usable daylight, nautical dusk (12°) darkens the sea horizon, and astronomical dusk (18°) marks true night when the faintest stars appear.
Do I need to share my location?
No. Tap 'Use my location' for precise local times, or pick from a list of world cities or enter exact coordinates. Nothing is sent to a server — all calculations run in your browser and work offline.