Daylight Gained

Daylight Gained › Washington, DC

How much daylight has Washington, DC gained since the solstice?

Washington, DC's shortest day this winter is Monday, December 21, with 9 hours, 26 minutes of daylight. That is 11 minutes more than New York gets on its shortest day. By January 31 it has gained 47 minutes.

Hours of daylight over 12 months
Show as a table
DateDaylightSunriseSunset
Pick another date

Washington, DC daylight dates, winter 2026–27

Earliest sunsetMonday, December 7, 4:46 pm
Shortest dayMonday, December 21, 9 h 26 min (sunrise 7:23 am, sunset 4:49 pm)
Latest sunriseTuesday, January 5, 7:27 am
First sunset after 5 pmWednesday, January 6 (5:01 pm)
10 hours of daylightMonday, January 25
11 hours of daylightSunday, February 21
12 hours of daylightWednesday, March 17
13 hours of daylightSaturday, April 10
Longest dayMonday, June 21, 14 h 54 min

The December solstice is at 3:50 pm on December 21, Washington, DC time. With daylight saving time the October 31 sunrise is later on the clock (7:34 am).

Daylight gained in Washington, DC, by date

DateSince solsticeDaylightThat daySunriseSunset
Jan 1+3 min 40 sec9 h 30 min+38 sec7:27 am4:57 pm
Jan 15+19 min9 h 45 min+1 min 24 sec7:25 am5:10 pm
Feb 1+49 min10 h 15 min+2 min 2 sec7:15 am5:29 pm
Feb 15+1 h 20 min10 h 46 min+2 min 20 sec7:00 am5:45 pm
Mar 1+1 h 54 min11 h 20 min+2 min 30 sec6:41 am6:01 pm
Mar 15+2 h 29 min11 h 55 min+2 min 33 sec7:20 am7:15 pm
Apr 1+3 h 12 min12 h 39 min+2 min 31 sec6:53 am7:32 pm

Washington, DC: questions people ask

Why is the latest sunrise in Washington, DC in October?

Because of daylight saving time. On Saturday, October 31, the last day before the clocks go back, the sun rises at 7:34 am. The next morning it is 6:35 am. On standard time the latest sunrise is 7:27 am on January 5, 7 minutes earlier.

When is the earliest sunset in Washington, DC?

December 7, 2026, at 4:46 pm. That is 14 days before the shortest day, because solar noon drifts later through December. The evenings are already a little lighter by the solstice.

When do the clocks go forward in Washington, DC, and what happens to sunset?

On Sunday, March 14, 2027. Sunset jumps from 6:13 pm the day before to 7:14 pm, and sunrise from 6:23 am to 7:21 am. The day itself is about 2 minutes, 33 seconds longer.

Does Washington, DC get more winter daylight than New York?

Yes. Washington, DC's shortest day is 9 h 26 min, 11 minutes longer than New York's (9 h 15 min). Summer is the other way round: on the longest day Washington, DC gets 14 h 54 min, 12 minutes less than New York.

Shortest day in nearby cities

More cities

United States

Canada

UK and Ireland

Europe

Australia and New Zealand

Sun times use NOAA's solar equations, checked against U.S. Naval Observatory tables. City data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).