Longest and shortest day in Chicago
In Chicago, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 14m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 8m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:53 | 19:02 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:15 | 20:29 | 15h 14m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:38 | 18:47 | 12h 10m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:14 | 16:22 | 9h 8m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:15 | 16:44 | 9h 29m |
| February | 06:46 | 17:23 | 10h 37m |
| March | 07:02 | 18:56 | 11h 54m |
| April | 06:10 | 19:31 | 13h 21m |
| May | 05:30 | 20:03 | 14h 33m |
| June | 05:14 | 20:27 | 15h 13m |
| July | 05:28 | 20:23 | 14h 55m |
| August | 05:58 | 19:50 | 13h 52m |
| September | 06:30 | 18:59 | 12h 29m |
| October | 07:03 | 18:08 | 11h 6m |
| November | 06:40 | 16:29 | 9h 49m |
| December | 07:11 | 16:20 | 9h 9m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Chicago
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Chicago 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 Chicago sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Chicago
When is the longest day in Chicago?
The longest day in Chicago falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 14m of daylight, sunrise at 05:15 and sunset at 20:29.
When is the shortest day in Chicago?
The shortest day in Chicago falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 8m of daylight, sunrise at 07:14 and sunset at 16:22.
How much does day length change through the year in Chicago?
Between the longest and shortest day, Chicago gains and loses about 6h 6m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Chicago's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.