Case 1
- Which date?
- 20625
- Latitude
- 40.7128°
- Longitude
- -74.006°
- UTC offset on that date
- -4h
- Which edge of the golden hour?
- Evening, begins (sun at +6°)
19.84h
Open with these valuesGolden Hour Calculator
18.93h
Result: 18.93 hThe golden hour lasts while the sun stands between 6° above and 4° below the horizon. In New York on 21 June 2026 the evening one starts at 19.84 h — 19:50 local time — and ends at 20.86 h. The date field opens on today, so check it before you plan.
The numbers at a glance
Held fixed: Which date? 2026-08-30, Latitude 40.7128 °, Longitude -74.0060 °, Which edge of the golden hour? Evening, begins (sun at +6°).
| UTC offset on that date (h) | Result (h) |
|---|---|
| -8.00 | 14.93 |
| -7.00 | 15.93 |
| -6.00 | 16.93 |
| -5.00 | 17.93 |
| -4.00Your value | 18.93 |
| -3.00 | 19.93 |
| -2.00 | 20.93 |
| -1.00 | 21.93 |
| 0.00 | 22.93 |
Worked examples
Case 2
- Which date?
- 20532
- Latitude
- 52.52°
- Longitude
- 13.405°
- UTC offset on that date
- 1h
- Which edge of the golden hour?
- Morning, ends (sun at +6°)
6.89h
Open with these valuesCase 3
- Which date?
- 20808
- Latitude
- -33.8688°
- Longitude
- 151.2093°
- UTC offset on that date
- 11h
- Which edge of the golden hour?
- Evening, ends (sun at −4°)
20.39h
Open with these valuesHow it's calculated
local time at which the sun's apparent elevation reaches 6° or −4°
- StepTurn the date into a Julian day and read the sun's declination and the equation of time from it.
- StepWork out solar noon for your longitude and UTC offset.
- StepSearch the half-day before or after noon for the moment the apparent elevation hits 6° or −4°.
- ResultRead the answer as decimal hours: 19.84 h is 19:50.
Reference table
| Phase | Sun elevation | Local time | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning golden hour begins | −4° | 05:04 | 5.07 |
| Morning golden hour ends | +6° | 06:06 | 6.09 |
| Evening golden hour begins | +6° | 19:50 | 19.84 |
| Evening golden hour ends | −4° | 20:51 | 20.86 |
Questions
What exactly is the golden hour in photography?
It is the stretch right after sunrise and just before sunset, while the sun's elevation is between 6° above and 4° below the horizon. That position filters out the blue wavelengths and leaves soft, warm, strongly directional light. Check the weather as well — heavy cloud blocks the effect entirely.
Does the golden hour happen before or after sunset?
Both. The evening golden hour begins while the sun is still 6° up, carries on across the horizon line, and ends when the sun is 4° below it. Those crossing points shift a little every day and depend on your coordinates.
How long does the golden hour last?
It depends on latitude and season and is rarely exactly sixty minutes. Near the equator it can be a hurried forty minutes, at high latitudes in summer it can run for hours. Above about 66° the sun may never reach 4° below the horizon at all, and the calculator then returns the moment it sits lowest.
What is the difference between the blue hour and the golden hour?
The golden hour is the warm, reddish, directional light while the sun sits between 6° above and 4° below the horizon. The blue hour follows straight after, between 4° and 6° below during civil twilight, and gives cool, shadowless light.
Why did the golden hour not start at the calculated time?
The calculation assumes a flat horizon at sea level. Mountains, tall buildings or a deep valley act as an artificial horizon and cut the light short. Scout the spot beforehand if the terrain is not open.
Why is the answer a decimal hour?
Decimal hours write the minutes as a fraction of an hour, which is the form the solar formulas carry time in. A result of 19.84 h means 19:50, because 0.84 of an hour is 50 minutes. The conversion to the clock is yours to do — this page hands back a number.
Sources and last check
Information, not professional advice.