Free tool · by Daylume
Golden hour calculator
Morning and evening golden hour, blue hour, sunrise and sunset for any date. Pick a city — nothing about you is used, stored or sent.
On this date the Sun does not rise or does not set here (polar day or night), so some times do not exist.
Golden hour on your wrist
Daylume puts these times on Apple Watch: a countdown to the next golden or blue hour, a live compass with where the Sun and Moon sit on the horizon, the Moon's phase, and a photo plan for your next shoot. It computes everything on the watch, so it works offline on a hike.
Free download for Apple Watch. Optional Daylume Pro subscription for the compass and Moon screens.
What is golden hour?
Golden hour is the time when the Sun is low — between about 6° above and 4° below the horizon. Sunlight crosses more atmosphere, so it turns warm and soft, shadows grow long and faces are lit from the side instead of from above. Photographers plan portraits, landscapes and architecture around it.
What is blue hour?
Blue hour is the deeper twilight when the Sun is 4° to 6° below the horizon. The sky turns an even, saturated blue and street lights balance with the sky, which is why it suits cityscapes and long exposures. In the morning it comes before golden hour; in the evening, after it.
How long does golden hour last?
Near the equator the Sun drops steeply, so golden hour can be 20–30 minutes. At higher latitudes, and in winter, the Sun moves at a shallow angle and golden hour stretches much longer; in the far north in midwinter the Sun may never rise above 6°, so the whole short day is golden.
Tips for shooting in golden hour
- Arrive 20 minutes before the window opens; the best light often comes in the last few minutes before sunset.
- Put the Sun behind or beside your subject for rim light; expose for the face, not the sky.
- Stay after sunset — blue hour starts right after golden hour ends.
- Check which direction the Sun sets; a compass that shows the Sun's azimuth saves a wasted trip.
How the times are calculated
Solar position from the NOAA / Meeus formulas, the same thresholds as the Daylume app: blue hour −6° to −4°, golden hour −4° to +6°, sunrise and sunset at −0.833° (refraction and the Sun's radius). Times are for the city centre at sea level and are typically within a minute; hills and buildings change what you actually see.