Solar almanac · 2026-11-01 · United States

Golden hour in Seattle, United States

47.6062° N
122.3321° W
America/Los_Angeles

Times shown in local time for Seattle (America/Los_Angeles).

Golden hour & blue hour

WindowStartsEnds
Blue hour (morning)05:4506:21
Golden hour (morning)06:5307:38
Golden hour (evening)16:0616:51
Blue hour (evening)17:2318:00

Light profile · calculated

Golden hour in Seattle through the year

Midsummer
48 min
Equinox
41 min
Midwinter
53 min

Length of the evening golden-hour window.

Seattle lies at 47.61° N, in the upper mid-latitudes, with long, slanted evening light in summer. Its longest measured day falls on Thu 18 June 2026 with 15h 59m of daylight, and its shortest on Fri 18 December 2026 with 8h 26m — a difference of 7h 33m between the two extremes.

Evening golden hour in Seattle runs for roughly 48 minutes at the height of summer, 41 minutes around the March equinox and 53 minutes at midwinter. The warm window is actually widest in the colder months, which makes winter evenings unusually forgiving here.

The sun sets toward 307° NW in late June and toward 235° SW in late December, a shift of about 72° in where the last light lands — worth checking before committing to a west-facing viewpoint. In Seattle, the sky reaches full darkness between evening and morning twilight year-round.

Field notes for photographers

Where to shoot golden hour in Seattle

Seattle’s water, hills and mountain backdrop make atmosphere central to golden-hour photography. Clear conditions reveal distant Rainier and the Olympics; cloud layers can instead turn the sky into the main subject.

  1. 01

    Kerry Park

    Best for sunrise

    A longer lens tightens the Space Needle, downtown and mountain backdrop into one layer.

    Sun rises
    111° ESE
    Sun sets
    249° WSW
  2. 02

    Gas Works Park

    Best for sunset

    Use Kite Hill for open water foreground and the industrial structures for contrast.

    Sun rises
    111° ESE
    Sun sets
    249° WSW
  3. 03

    Pike Place Market Overlook

    Best for sunset

    Wait for a ferry to cross the open band of Elliott Bay beneath the Olympic skyline.

    Sun rises
    111° ESE
    Sun sets
    249° WSW

Seasonal light. Northern latitude creates long summer evenings and short winter days, while cloud cover can soften or delay visible color in every season.

Today’s solar record

−3 min/day

Sunrise
06:53

rises at 111° ESE

Sunset
16:51

sets at 249° WSW

Solar noon
11:52
Day length
9h 58m

Evening golden hour starts at 16:06

Add to calendar

Solar trajectory

Maximum 28°
06:5328° at 11:5216:51
East · sunriseHighest point of the sun today: 28° above the horizon. The shaded band near the horizon is golden-hour light.West · sunset

Twenty-four hours of light

06:53Sunrise11:52Solar noon16:51Sunset
NightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Next 7 days

DateSunriseSunsetDay length
2026-11-0106:5316:519h 58m
2026-11-0206:5516:499h 55m
2026-11-0306:5616:489h 52m
2026-11-0406:5816:469h 49m
2026-11-0506:5916:459h 46m
2026-11-0607:0116:449h 43m
2026-11-0707:0216:429h 40m

Annual light rhythm · Seattle

8h 27m—15h 58m
JFMAMJJASOND
Longest days in June (15h 58m), shortest in December (8h 27m).

Questions

When is golden hour in Seattle today?
Evening golden hour in Seattle starts at 16:06 and ends at sunset, 16:51. Morning golden hour runs from sunrise, 06:53, until 07:38 local time (America/Los_Angeles).
How long does golden hour last in Seattle?
Evening golden hour in Seattle runs from 16:06 to 16:51, and morning golden hour from 06:53 to 07:38.
When is blue hour in Seattle?
Morning blue hour in Seattle begins at 05:45, before sunrise. Evening blue hour begins at 17:23, just after sunset.
What time is sunrise in Seattle today?
Sunrise in Seattle is at 06:53 local time (America/Los_Angeles), rising toward 111° ESE.
What time is sunset in Seattle today?
Sunset in Seattle is at 16:51 local time (America/Los_Angeles), setting toward 249° WSW.
How long is the day in Seattle?
Seattle has 9h 58m of daylight today.

Other views for Seattle

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