Longest and shortest day in Houston
In Houston, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 14h 4m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 10h 14m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:25 | 19:33 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:21 | 20:25 | 14h 4m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:09 | 19:17 | 12h 8m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:12 | 17:26 | 10h 14m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:17 | 17:44 | 10h 27m |
| February | 07:01 | 18:10 | 11h 9m |
| March | 07:31 | 19:29 | 11h 58m |
| April | 06:55 | 19:48 | 12h 53m |
| May | 06:28 | 20:07 | 13h 39m |
| June | 06:20 | 20:23 | 14h 3m |
| July | 06:31 | 20:23 | 13h 52m |
| August | 06:49 | 20:02 | 13h 13m |
| September | 07:06 | 19:26 | 12h 20m |
| October | 07:23 | 18:50 | 11h 27m |
| November | 06:46 | 17:25 | 10h 39m |
| December | 07:09 | 17:24 | 10h 15m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Houston
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Houston 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 Houston sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Houston
When is the longest day in Houston?
The longest day in Houston falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 4m of daylight, sunrise at 06:21 and sunset at 20:25.
When is the shortest day in Houston?
The shortest day in Houston falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 14m of daylight, sunrise at 07:12 and sunset at 17:26.
How much does day length change through the year in Houston?
Between the longest and shortest day, Houston gains and loses about 3h 50m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Houston's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.