Question 1

How many hours of daylight does Houston get today?

Accepted Answer

Houston currently gets approximately 12 hours and 32 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 29.8° latitude, Houston 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 Houston?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise times in Houston change throughout the year based on the Earth's axial tilt and the city's position at 29.8° 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 Houston?

Accepted Answer

Sunset times in Houston vary by season due to the Earth's orbital mechanics and the city's latitude of 29.8°. 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 Houston?

Accepted Answer

Houston at 29.8° 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 Houston?

Accepted Answer

Civil twilight in Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston.

Question 7

When is the longest day in Houston?

Accepted Answer

The longest day in Houston occurs around the summer solstice. For Houston in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day is around June 20–21. On this date, Houston experiences its earliest sunrise and near-latest sunset of the year. At 29.8° 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 Houston?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when Houston 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 Houston.

Astronomical Dawn	5:48:46 AM
Nautical Dawn	6:17:27 AM
Civil Dawn	6:45:40 AM
Sunrise	7:09:43 AM
Golden Hour End	7:41:19 AM
Solar Noon	1:25:52 PM
Golden Hour Start	7:10:25 PM
Sunset	7:42:01 PM
Civil Dusk	8:06:04 PM
Nautical Dusk	8:34:17 PM
Astronomical Dusk	9:02:58 PM
Day Length	12h 32m

Moonrise	8:39:10 PM
Moonset	7:52:56 AM
Moon Phase	🌕 Full Moon
Illumination	97%

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Day Length	Moonrise	Moonset	Phase
Apr 1, Wed	7:12 AM	7:40 PM	12h 29m	—	6:55 AM	🌕
Apr 2, Thu	7:10 AM	7:41 PM	12h 31m	7:42 PM	7:23 AM	🌕
Apr 3, Fri	7:09 AM	7:42 PM	12h 32m	8:39 PM	7:52 AM	🌕
Apr 4, Sat	7:08 AM	7:42 PM	12h 34m	9:35 PM	8:23 AM	🌖
Apr 5, Sun	7:07 AM	7:43 PM	12h 36m	10:32 PM	9:00 AM	🌖
Apr 6, Mon	7:06 AM	7:43 PM	12h 38m	11:29 PM	9:40 AM	🌖
Apr 7, Tue	7:05 AM	7:44 PM	12h 39m	12:24 AM	10:26 AM	🌖
Apr 8, Wed	7:03 AM	7:44 PM	12h 41m	1:16 AM	11:17 AM	🌗
Apr 9, Thu	7:02 AM	7:45 PM	12h 43m	2:04 AM	12:13 PM	🌗
Apr 10, Fri	7:01 AM	7:46 PM	12h 45m	2:48 AM	1:12 PM	🌗
Apr 11, Sat	7:00 AM	7:46 PM	12h 46m	3:27 AM	2:12 PM	🌗
Apr 12, Sun	6:59 AM	7:47 PM	12h 48m	4:01 AM	3:12 PM	🌘
Apr 13, Mon	6:58 AM	7:47 PM	12h 50m	4:33 AM	4:12 PM	🌘
Apr 14, Tue	6:57 AM	7:48 PM	12h 52m	5:03 AM	5:12 PM	🌘
Apr 15, Wed	6:55 AM	7:49 PM	12h 53m	5:34 AM	6:14 PM	🌘
Apr 16, Thu	6:54 AM	7:49 PM	12h 55m	6:05 AM	—	🌑
Apr 17, Fri	6:53 AM	7:50 PM	12h 57m	6:40 AM	7:18 PM	🌑
Apr 18, Sat	6:52 AM	7:51 PM	12h 58m	7:18 AM	8:25 PM	🌑
Apr 19, Sun	6:51 AM	7:51 PM	13h 0m	8:03 AM	9:36 PM	🌒
Apr 20, Mon	6:50 AM	7:52 PM	13h 2m	8:56 AM	10:47 PM	🌒
Apr 21, Tue	6:49 AM	7:52 PM	13h 3m	9:57 AM	11:57 PM	🌒
Apr 22, Wed	6:48 AM	7:53 PM	13h 5m	11:05 AM	1:01 AM	🌓
Apr 23, Thu	6:47 AM	7:54 PM	13h 7m	12:15 PM	1:57 AM	🌓
Apr 24, Fri	6:46 AM	7:54 PM	13h 8m	1:25 PM	2:43 AM	🌓
Apr 25, Sat	6:45 AM	7:55 PM	13h 10m	2:31 PM	3:22 AM	🌓
Apr 26, Sun	6:44 AM	7:56 PM	13h 11m	3:34 PM	3:57 AM	🌔
Apr 27, Mon	6:43 AM	7:56 PM	13h 13m	4:34 PM	4:27 AM	🌔
Apr 28, Tue	6:42 AM	7:57 PM	13h 14m	5:32 PM	4:56 AM	🌔
Apr 29, Wed	6:41 AM	7:58 PM	13h 16m	6:29 PM	5:24 AM	🌕
Apr 30, Thu	6:41 AM	7:58 PM	13h 18m	—	5:53 AM	🌕

Sunrise & Sunset in Houston, United States

Sun Times

Moon

Monthly Summary — April 2026

Twilight Phases in Houston

Holidays in United States

Explore Houston

Frequently Asked Questions about Sunrise & Sunset in Houston

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