Golden Hour Calculator

Enter your latitude, longitude, and date to calculate your golden hour and blue hour times for photography. You'll get the exact morning golden hour, evening golden hour, morning blue hour, and evening blue hour windows — plus sunrise and sunset times — so you can plan your perfect shoot.

Enter your location's latitude (-90 to 90). Positive = North, Negative = South.

Enter your location's longitude (-180 to 180). Positive = East, Negative = West.

Select the date you want to calculate golden hour for.

Your timezone offset from UTC. E.g. -5 for New York, +1 for London (BST), +5.5 for India.

Results

Evening Golden Hour Starts

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Evening Golden Hour Ends (Sunset)

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Morning Golden Hour Starts (Sunrise)

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Morning Golden Hour Ends

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Morning Blue Hour Starts

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Morning Blue Hour Ends

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Evening Blue Hour Starts

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Evening Blue Hour Ends

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Sunrise

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Sunset

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Day Length

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Results Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What is golden hour in photography?

Golden hour is the period shortly after sunrise and shortly before sunset when the sun is low on the horizon. During this time, sunlight is softer, warmer, and more directional, producing beautiful golden tones and long shadows that are highly prized in photography and filmmaking.

What time is golden hour today?

Golden hour times vary by your location and the date. In general, morning golden hour begins at sunrise and lasts roughly 60 minutes afterward, while evening golden hour starts about 60 minutes before sunset. Use this calculator with your latitude, longitude, and today's date to get exact times for your location.

What is blue hour and how is it different from golden hour?

Blue hour occurs just before morning golden hour and just after evening golden hour — when the sun is between 4° and 6° below the horizon. The sky takes on a deep blue hue instead of golden tones. Both periods offer beautiful soft, diffused light for photography, but blue hour gives cooler, more ethereal results.

How long does golden hour actually last?

Despite its name, golden hour doesn't always last exactly 60 minutes. Its duration depends on your latitude and the time of year. Near the equator it can be as short as 20–30 minutes, while at higher latitudes in summer it can stretch well beyond an hour. This calculator shows you the precise window for your location and date.

How do I find the golden hour for my location?

Enter your latitude and longitude (you can find these on Google Maps by right-clicking your location), select your date, and set your UTC timezone offset. The calculator will compute sunrise, sunset, and both morning and evening golden hour and blue hour windows specific to your coordinates.

How to predict a great sunset for photography?

Check the evening golden hour start time — that's when warm light begins. The best colours typically appear in the final 20–30 minutes before sunset and continue a few minutes after. Look for partly cloudy skies, which reflect and amplify colour. Avoid completely overcast conditions. Scout your location beforehand so you're set up before the light peaks.

Does golden hour change throughout the year?

Yes, significantly. As seasons change, the sun's angle and the time of sunrise and sunset shift, altering both the timing and duration of golden hour. In winter, golden hour may last longer at high latitudes as the sun stays low on the horizon all day. In summer, it can be very brief. Always calculate for your specific date.

What UTC offset should I use?

Use the standard timezone offset for your location. For example: UTC+0 for the UK (winter), UTC+1 for Central Europe or UK Summer Time, UTC-5 for US Eastern Standard Time, UTC-8 for US Pacific Standard Time, UTC+5:30 for India. You can search 'UTC offset [your city]' to confirm the correct value.

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