Longest and shortest day in Chennai
In Chennai, India, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 12h 54m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 11h 21m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:13 | 18:19 | 12h 6m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:43 | 18:37 | 12h 54m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:58 | 18:05 | 12h 7m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 06:26 | 17:47 | 11h 21m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:35 | 18:01 | 11h 26m |
| February | 06:31 | 18:14 | 11h 43m |
| March | 06:16 | 18:19 | 12h 3m |
| April | 05:56 | 18:21 | 12h 25m |
| May | 05:43 | 18:27 | 12h 44m |
| June | 05:42 | 18:36 | 12h 54m |
| July | 05:50 | 18:39 | 12h 49m |
| August | 05:56 | 18:30 | 12h 34m |
| September | 05:58 | 18:10 | 12h 12m |
| October | 05:59 | 17:50 | 11h 51m |
| November | 06:07 | 17:39 | 11h 32m |
| December | 06:23 | 17:44 | 11h 22m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Chennai
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Chennai 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 Chennai sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Chennai
When is the longest day in Chennai?
The longest day in Chennai falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 12h 54m of daylight, sunrise at 05:43 and sunset at 18:37.
When is the shortest day in Chennai?
The shortest day in Chennai falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 11h 21m of daylight, sunrise at 06:26 and sunset at 17:47.
How much does day length change through the year in Chennai?
Between the longest and shortest day, Chennai gains and loses about 1h 33m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Chennai's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.