Question 1

How many hours of daylight does Edinburgh get today?

Accepted Answer

Edinburgh currently gets approximately 9 hours and 54 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	5:56:34 AM
Nautical Dawn	6:39:30 AM
Civil Dawn	7:22:44 AM
Sunrise	8:01:03 AM
Golden Hour End	8:54:57 AM
Solar Noon	12:58:16 PM
Golden Hour Start	5:01:34 PM
Sunset	5:55:29 PM
Civil Dusk	6:33:47 PM
Nautical Dusk	7:17:01 PM
Astronomical Dusk	7:59:57 PM
Day Length	9h 54m

Moonrise	4:39:55 PM
Moonset	4:23:39 AM
Moon Phase	🌔 Waxing Gibbous
Illumination	91%

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

Sunrise & Sunset in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Sun Times

Moon

Monthly Summary — October 2026

Twilight Phases in Edinburgh

Holidays in United Kingdom

Explore Edinburgh

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunrise & Sunset in Edinburgh

Sunrise & Sunset in Other Cities