Longest and shortest day in Boston
In Boston, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 17m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 5m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:47 | 18:56 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:07 | 20:24 | 15h 17m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:31 | 18:41 | 12h 10m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:10 | 16:14 | 9h 5m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:10 | 16:36 | 9h 26m |
| February | 06:40 | 17:16 | 10h 35m |
| March | 06:56 | 18:50 | 11h 54m |
| April | 06:03 | 19:25 | 13h 22m |
| May | 05:23 | 19:58 | 14h 36m |
| June | 05:06 | 20:22 | 15h 16m |
| July | 05:20 | 20:19 | 14h 58m |
| August | 05:51 | 19:45 | 13h 54m |
| September | 06:24 | 18:53 | 12h 30m |
| October | 06:57 | 18:02 | 11h 5m |
| November | 06:35 | 16:22 | 9h 47m |
| December | 07:06 | 16:12 | 9h 6m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Boston
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Boston leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Boston sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Boston
When is the longest day in Boston?
The longest day in Boston falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 17m of daylight, sunrise at 05:07 and sunset at 20:24.
When is the shortest day in Boston?
The shortest day in Boston falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 5m of daylight, sunrise at 07:10 and sunset at 16:14.
How much does day length change through the year in Boston?
Between the longest and shortest day, Boston gains and loses about 6h 12m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Boston's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.