Question 1

How many hours of daylight does Boston get today?

Accepted Answer

Boston currently gets approximately 10 hours and 42 minutes of daylight today. This varies throughout the year — days are longest around the summer solstice (June in the Northern Hemisphere, December in the Southern Hemisphere) and shortest around the winter solstice. At 42.4° latitude, Boston sees moderate variation, with summer days noticeably longer than winter days. Our calculations use the SunCalc astronomical library for accuracy within 1–2 minutes.

Question 2

What time does the sun rise in Boston?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise times in Boston change throughout the year based on the Earth's axial tilt and the city's position at 42.4° latitude. Use the table above to see today's exact sunrise time, as well as dawn (civil twilight) and other twilight phases. The earliest sunrise typically occurs around the summer solstice, while the latest sunrise happens near the winter solstice. The difference between earliest and latest sunrise can be over two hours. All sunrise calculations are based on NOAA solar position algorithms via the SunCalc library.

Question 3

What time does the sun set in Boston?

Accepted Answer

Sunset times in Boston vary by season due to the Earth's orbital mechanics and the city's latitude of 42.4°. Check the table above for today's exact sunset time, including dusk and twilight phases. The latest sunset typically occurs a few days after the summer solstice, while the earliest sunset happens a few days before the winter solstice. At mid-latitudes, you can expect sunset to vary by 2–3 hours across the seasons.

Question 4

How does day length change throughout the year in Boston?

Accepted Answer

Boston at 42.4° latitude experiences moderate seasonal day length variation. Summer days are noticeably longer than winter days, with daylight typically ranging from about 8 to 16 hours depending on the time of year. The rate of change is fastest around the equinoxes (March and September), when day length changes by several minutes each day. Around the solstices, the rate of change slows as day length approaches its maximum or minimum. This makes spring and autumn the seasons with the most noticeable daily changes in sunrise and sunset times.

Question 5

What is civil twilight in Boston?

Accepted Answer

Civil twilight in Boston is the period when the sun is between 0° and 6° below the horizon. During civil twilight, there is enough natural light for most outdoor activities without artificial lighting. It occurs just before sunrise (dawn) and just after sunset (dusk). At mid-latitudes, civil twilight typically lasts about 25–35 minutes. The exact duration for Boston is shown in the twilight data table above.

Question 6

What are the different twilight phases?

Accepted Answer

There are three twilight phases, each defined by the sun's angle below the horizon. Civil twilight (0°–6°) is the brightest phase, with enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting. Nautical twilight (6°–12°) is dimmer but still allows sailors to see the horizon for celestial navigation. Astronomical twilight (12°–18°) is nearly dark, with only the faintest glow on the horizon, and most stars become visible. Below 18° is considered full astronomical night. The duration of each phase varies by latitude and season — our data table above shows all twilight phases for Boston.

Question 7

When is the longest day in Boston?

Accepted Answer

The longest day in Boston occurs around the summer solstice. For Boston in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day is around June 20–21. On this date, Boston experiences its earliest sunrise and near-latest sunset of the year. At 42.4° latitude, the longest day is typically 14–16 hours of daylight. The shortest day (winter solstice) occurs approximately six months later.

Question 8

Does daylight saving time affect sunrise and sunset times in Boston?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when Boston transitions to daylight saving time, clock-based sunrise and sunset times shift by one hour. However, the actual amount of daylight doesn't change — DST simply moves an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. This means sunrise appears one hour "later" on the clock during DST, and sunset appears one hour "later" as well. The transition typically causes a noticeable jump in the sunrise/sunset table around the spring and fall changeover dates. Check our DST change calendar for exact transition dates in Boston.

Astronomical Dawn	5:34:41 AM
Nautical Dawn	6:07:12 AM
Civil Dawn	6:40:00 AM
Sunrise	7:08:42 AM
Golden Hour End	7:47:44 AM
Solar Noon	12:29:36 PM
Golden Hour Start	5:11:27 PM
Sunset	5:50:30 PM
Civil Dusk	6:19:11 PM
Nautical Dusk	6:51:59 PM
Astronomical Dusk	7:24:30 PM
Day Length	10h 42m

Moonrise	4:41:55 PM
Moonset	5:19:06 AM
Moon Phase	🌕 Full Moon
Illumination	97%

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length	Moonrise	Moonset	Phase
Oct 1, Thu	6:42 AM	6:27 PM	11h 46m	8:19 PM	12:38 PM	🌖
Oct 2, Fri	6:43 AM	6:26 PM	11h 43m	9:11 PM	1:46 PM	🌗
Oct 3, Sat	6:44 AM	6:24 PM	11h 40m	10:16 PM	2:43 PM	🌗
Oct 4, Sun	6:45 AM	6:22 PM	11h 37m	11:30 PM	3:27 PM	🌗
Oct 5, Mon	6:46 AM	6:21 PM	11h 34m	12:49 AM	4:03 PM	🌘
Oct 6, Tue	6:47 AM	6:19 PM	11h 32m	2:08 AM	4:31 PM	🌘
Oct 7, Wed	6:48 AM	6:17 PM	11h 29m	3:24 AM	4:56 PM	🌘
Oct 8, Thu	6:50 AM	6:15 PM	11h 26m	4:38 AM	5:17 PM	🌘
Oct 9, Fri	6:51 AM	6:14 PM	11h 23m	5:48 AM	5:38 PM	🌑
Oct 10, Sat	6:52 AM	6:12 PM	11h 20m	6:56 AM	6:00 PM	🌑
Oct 11, Sun	6:53 AM	6:10 PM	11h 17m	8:04 AM	6:22 PM	🌑
Oct 12, Mon	6:54 AM	6:09 PM	11h 15m	9:12 AM	6:50 PM	🌒
Oct 13, Tue	6:55 AM	6:07 PM	11h 12m	10:18 AM	7:22 PM	🌒
Oct 14, Wed	6:56 AM	6:05 PM	11h 9m	11:21 AM	—	🌒
Oct 15, Thu	6:57 AM	6:04 PM	11h 6m	12:18 PM	8:02 PM	🌒
Oct 16, Fri	6:59 AM	6:02 PM	11h 4m	1:07 PM	8:49 PM	🌓
Oct 17, Sat	7:00 AM	6:01 PM	11h 1m	1:49 PM	9:43 PM	🌓
Oct 18, Sun	7:01 AM	5:59 PM	10h 58m	2:23 PM	10:43 PM	🌓
Oct 19, Mon	7:02 AM	5:58 PM	10h 55m	2:52 PM	11:47 PM	🌓
Oct 20, Tue	7:03 AM	5:56 PM	10h 53m	3:16 PM	12:52 AM	🌔
Oct 21, Wed	7:05 AM	5:54 PM	10h 50m	3:38 PM	1:58 AM	🌔
Oct 22, Thu	7:06 AM	5:53 PM	10h 47m	3:58 PM	3:04 AM	🌔
Oct 23, Fri	7:07 AM	5:51 PM	10h 44m	4:19 PM	4:10 AM	🌔
Oct 24, Sat	7:08 AM	5:50 PM	10h 42m	4:41 PM	5:19 AM	🌕
Oct 25, Sun	7:09 AM	5:49 PM	10h 39m	5:05 PM	6:30 AM	🌕
Oct 26, Mon	7:11 AM	5:47 PM	10h 36m	5:36 PM	7:45 AM	🌕
Oct 27, Tue	7:12 AM	5:46 PM	10h 34m	6:13 PM	9:03 AM	🌕
Oct 28, Wed	7:13 AM	5:44 PM	10h 31m	6:59 PM	10:19 AM	🌖
Oct 29, Thu	7:14 AM	5:43 PM	10h 29m	7:59 PM	11:30 AM	🌖
Oct 30, Fri	7:16 AM	5:42 PM	10h 26m	—	12:32 PM	🌖
Oct 31, Sat	7:17 AM	5:40 PM	10h 23m	9:10 PM	1:21 PM	🌗

Sunrise & Sunset in Boston, United States

Sun Times

Moon

Monthly Summary — October 2026

Twilight Phases in Boston

Holidays in United States

Explore Boston

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunrise & Sunset in Boston

Sunrise & Sunset in Other Cities