United States · North America

Longest and shortest day in Denver

In Denver, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 14h 59m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 21m.

Denver sunrise, sunset and day length on the 2026 solstices and equinoxes, in local time
Turning pointDateSunriseSunsetDay length
March equinoxFriday, 20 March 202607:0319:1212h 9m
June solsticeSunday, 21 June 202605:3220:3114h 59m
September equinoxTuesday, 22 September 202606:4718:5612h 9m
December solsticeMonday, 21 December 202607:1716:389h 21m
Denver day length month by month (around the 15th)
MonthSunriseSunsetDay length
January07:1916:599h 41m
February06:5217:3610h 44m
March07:1119:0611h 55m
April06:2219:3813h 15m
May05:4520:0714h 22m
June05:3120:2914h 58m
July05:4420:2614h 42m
August06:1219:5513h 44m
September06:4119:0812h 27m
October07:1018:2011h 10m
November06:4416:449h 59m
December07:1316:369h 22m

Why the day gets longer and shorter in Denver

Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Denver 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 Denver sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.

Frequently asked questions about day length in Denver

When is the longest day in Denver?

The longest day in Denver falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 59m of daylight, sunrise at 05:32 and sunset at 20:31.

When is the shortest day in Denver?

The shortest day in Denver falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 21m of daylight, sunrise at 07:17 and sunset at 16:38.

How much does day length change through the year in Denver?

Between the longest and shortest day, Denver gains and loses about 5h 38m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.

Every figure is computed from Denver's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.

Day length in nearby cities

More light in Denver