Question 1

How many hours of daylight does Edinburgh get today?

Accepted Answer

Edinburgh currently gets approximately 16 hours and 34 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 56.0° latitude, Edinburgh experiences dramatic swings, from very short winter days to extremely long summer days. Our calculations use the SunCalc astronomical library for accuracy within 1–2 minutes.

Question 2

What time does the sun rise in Edinburgh?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise times in Edinburgh change throughout the year based on the Earth's axial tilt and the city's position at 56.0° 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 Edinburgh?

Accepted Answer

Sunset times in Edinburgh vary by season due to the Earth's orbital mechanics and the city's latitude of 56.0°. 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 high latitudes, sunset times can vary dramatically, with summer evenings lasting well past 9 or 10 PM.

Question 4

How does day length change throughout the year in Edinburgh?

Accepted Answer

Edinburgh is at a high latitude (56.0°), which means dramatic day length changes throughout the year. Summer days can be extremely long with extended twilight, while winter days are very short with the sun barely rising above the horizon. Near the solstices, the difference can be 10+ hours between the longest and shortest days. Extended twilight periods in summer can make it feel like the sun barely sets. These variations make sunrise and sunset times especially important to track throughout the year.

Question 5

What is civil twilight in Edinburgh?

Accepted Answer

Civil twilight in Edinburgh 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 high latitudes, civil twilight can last much longer, sometimes over an hour near the solstices. The exact duration for Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh.

Question 7

When is the longest day in Edinburgh?

Accepted Answer

The longest day in Edinburgh occurs around the summer solstice. For Edinburgh in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day is around June 20–21. On this date, Edinburgh experiences its earliest sunrise and near-latest sunset of the year. At 56.0° latitude, the longest day can exceed 18 hours, with extended twilight making it feel even longer. The shortest day (winter solstice) occurs approximately six months later.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Yes, when Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh.

Astronomical Dawn	1:00:00 AM
Nautical Dawn	2:46:16 AM
Civil Dawn	4:11:25 AM
Sunrise	5:03:15 AM
Golden Hour End	6:01:35 AM
Solar Noon	1:20:23 PM
Golden Hour Start	8:39:11 PM
Sunset	9:37:30 PM
Civil Dusk	10:29:20 PM
Nautical Dusk	11:54:29 PM
Astronomical Dusk	12:59:59 AM
Day Length	16h 34m

Moonrise	6:32:58 PM
Moonset	12:23:05 AM
Moon Phase	🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Illumination	77%

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length	Moonrise	Moonset	Phase
Jul 1, Wed	4:32 AM	10:02 PM	17h 30m	11:15 PM	5:24 AM	🌕
Jul 2, Thu	4:33 AM	10:02 PM	17h 29m	11:28 PM	6:47 AM	🌖
Jul 3, Fri	4:34 AM	10:01 PM	17h 28m	11:37 PM	8:10 AM	🌖
Jul 4, Sat	4:35 AM	10:01 PM	17h 26m	11:44 PM	9:33 AM	🌖
Jul 5, Sun	4:36 AM	10:00 PM	17h 24m	11:50 PM	10:58 AM	🌖
Jul 6, Mon	4:37 AM	9:59 PM	17h 23m	11:56 PM	12:22 PM	🌗
Jul 7, Tue	4:38 AM	9:59 PM	17h 21m	12:04 AM	1:51 PM	🌗
Jul 8, Wed	4:39 AM	9:58 PM	17h 19m	12:15 AM	3:22 PM	🌗
Jul 9, Thu	4:40 AM	9:57 PM	17h 17m	12:29 AM	5:00 PM	🌘
Jul 10, Fri	4:41 AM	9:56 PM	17h 15m	12:51 AM	6:38 PM	🌘
Jul 11, Sat	4:43 AM	9:55 PM	17h 12m	—	8:11 PM	🌘
Jul 12, Sun	4:44 AM	9:54 PM	17h 10m	1:31 AM	9:21 PM	🌘
Jul 13, Mon	4:45 AM	9:53 PM	17h 7m	2:34 AM	10:07 PM	🌑
Jul 14, Tue	4:47 AM	9:52 PM	17h 5m	4:01 AM	10:32 PM	🌑
Jul 15, Wed	4:48 AM	9:50 PM	17h 2m	5:40 AM	10:49 PM	🌑
Jul 16, Thu	4:50 AM	9:49 PM	16h 59m	7:18 AM	10:59 PM	🌒
Jul 17, Fri	4:51 AM	9:48 PM	16h 56m	8:51 AM	11:06 PM	🌒
Jul 18, Sat	4:53 AM	9:46 PM	16h 53m	10:20 AM	11:12 PM	🌒
Jul 19, Sun	4:54 AM	9:45 PM	16h 50m	11:45 AM	11:18 PM	🌒
Jul 20, Mon	4:56 AM	9:43 PM	16h 47m	1:08 PM	11:24 PM	🌓
Jul 21, Tue	4:58 AM	9:42 PM	16h 44m	2:32 PM	11:31 PM	🌓
Jul 22, Wed	4:59 AM	9:40 PM	16h 41m	3:54 PM	11:42 PM	🌓
Jul 23, Thu	5:01 AM	9:39 PM	16h 38m	5:16 PM	11:59 PM	🌓
Jul 24, Fri	5:03 AM	9:37 PM	16h 34m	6:32 PM	12:23 AM	🌔
Jul 25, Sat	5:05 AM	9:35 PM	16h 31m	7:38 PM	—	🌔
Jul 26, Sun	5:06 AM	9:34 PM	16h 27m	8:27 PM	1:03 AM	🌔
Jul 27, Mon	5:08 AM	9:32 PM	16h 24m	8:59 PM	1:59 AM	🌔
Jul 28, Tue	5:10 AM	9:30 PM	16h 20m	9:21 PM	3:09 AM	🌕
Jul 29, Wed	5:12 AM	9:28 PM	16h 16m	9:35 PM	4:28 AM	🌕
Jul 30, Thu	5:14 AM	9:26 PM	16h 13m	9:45 PM	5:52 AM	🌕
Jul 31, Fri	5:15 AM	9:24 PM	16h 9m	9:52 PM	7:14 AM	🌕

Sunrise & Sunset in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Sun Times

Moon

Monthly Summary — July 2026

Twilight Phases in Edinburgh

Holidays in United Kingdom

Explore Edinburgh

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunrise & Sunset in Edinburgh

Sunrise & Sunset in Other Cities