Longest and shortest day in Durban
In Durban, South Africa, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 14h 4m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 10h 13m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 05:59 | 18:07 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:51 | 17:04 | 10h 13m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:45 | 17:52 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 04:51 | 18:56 | 14h 4m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:09 | 19:00 | 13h 51m |
| February | 05:36 | 18:43 | 13h 7m |
| March | 05:55 | 18:13 | 12h 17m |
| April | 06:14 | 17:37 | 11h 22m |
| May | 06:33 | 17:11 | 10h 38m |
| June | 06:49 | 17:03 | 10h 14m |
| July | 06:50 | 17:14 | 10h 24m |
| August | 06:29 | 17:31 | 11h 2m |
| September | 05:54 | 17:48 | 11h 54m |
| October | 05:18 | 18:05 | 12h 47m |
| November | 04:52 | 18:29 | 13h 37m |
| December | 04:49 | 18:52 | 14h 3m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Durban
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Durban 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 Durban sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Durban
When is the longest day in Durban?
The longest day in Durban falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 4m of daylight, sunrise at 04:51 and sunset at 18:56.
When is the shortest day in Durban?
The shortest day in Durban falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 13m of daylight, sunrise at 06:51 and sunset at 17:04.
How much does day length change through the year in Durban?
Between the longest and shortest day, Durban gains and loses about 3h 51m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Durban's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.