How long is golden hour in Chicago?
In Chicago the evening golden hour lasts between 37 and 45 minutes in 2026: shortest around March (37 min) and longest around December (45 min). After sunset the film magic hour adds another 28 to 34 minutes of soft light without direct sun.
Golden hour, magic hour and blue hour in Chicago, month by month
| Date | Golden hour | Film magic hour | Blue hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | 43 min | 31 min | 12 min |
| Feb 15 | 39 min | 29 min | 11 min |
| Mar 15 | 37 min | 28 min | 11 min |
| Apr 15 | 37 min | 29 min | 11 min |
| May 15 | 40 min | 32 min | 13 min |
| Jun 15 | 42 min | 34 min | 14 min |
| Jul 15 | 41 min | 33 min | 13 min |
| Aug 15 | 38 min | 30 min | 12 min |
| Sep 15 | 37 min | 28 min | 11 min |
| Oct 15 | 38 min | 28 min | 11 min |
| Nov 15 | 42 min | 30 min | 11 min |
| Dec 15 | 45 min | 32 min | 12 min |
Chicago lies at 41.9° N, and the further a place is from the equator the more slowly the sun sinks at sunset, so the evening golden hour here runs from 37 minutes in March to 45 minutes in December, against 27 to 30 minutes all year at the equator.
Plan a specific day
The lengths above are for a flat horizon and a clear sky. Buildings or hills toward the sunset end the direct light earlier, and standing higher makes sunset a little later. The golden hour calculator takes any date, your obstruction and your height, and adds an exposure ladder for the minutes after sunset.
Questions
How long is golden hour in Chicago today?
Between 37 and 45 minutes, depending on the date. The table above gives the 15th of each month; for today’s exact start and end, see the Chicago sunset page or the golden hour calculator, which works for any date.
How long is blue hour in Chicago?
Under the PhotoPills definition (sun 4° to 6° below the horizon) it lasts 11 to 14 minutes. If you count the whole of civil twilight after sunset, which is what film crews call magic hour, it is 28 to 34 minutes.
When is golden hour longest in Chicago?
Around December, at 45 minutes. Near the solstices the sun sets at a shallower angle, so it takes longer to sink through the last 6°. It is shortest around the equinoxes, in March at 37 minutes.
Is the morning golden hour as long as the evening one?
Nearly. On any date the sun climbs through the same angles after sunrise at almost the same rate as it sinks before sunset, so the morning golden hour is within a minute or two of the evening one.