Longest and shortest day in Cologne
In Cologne, Germany, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 16h 32m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 7h 55m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:35 | 18:45 | 12h 10m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:17 | 21:50 | 16h 32m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:18 | 19:30 | 12h 12m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:32 | 16:27 | 7h 55m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:28 | 16:54 | 8h 26m |
| February | 07:45 | 17:47 | 10h 3m |
| March | 06:46 | 18:36 | 11h 50m |
| April | 06:38 | 20:27 | 13h 49m |
| May | 05:43 | 21:14 | 15h 32m |
| June | 05:17 | 21:47 | 16h 30m |
| July | 05:35 | 21:40 | 16h 5m |
| August | 06:19 | 20:53 | 14h 34m |
| September | 07:07 | 19:46 | 12h 39m |
| October | 07:55 | 18:39 | 10h 45m |
| November | 07:48 | 16:44 | 8h 57m |
| December | 08:28 | 16:25 | 7h 58m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Cologne
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Cologne 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 Cologne sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Cologne
When is the longest day in Cologne?
The longest day in Cologne falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 16h 32m of daylight, sunrise at 05:17 and sunset at 21:50.
When is the shortest day in Cologne?
The shortest day in Cologne falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 7h 55m of daylight, sunrise at 08:32 and sunset at 16:27.
How much does day length change through the year in Cologne?
Between the longest and shortest day, Cologne gains and loses about 8h 37m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Cologne's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.