Longest and shortest day in Leeds
In Leeds, United Kingdom, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 17h 6m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 7h 25m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:08 | 18:19 | 12h 11m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:34 | 21:41 | 17h 6m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:51 | 19:05 | 12h 13m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:21 | 15:46 | 7h 25m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:15 | 16:15 | 8h 0m |
| February | 07:26 | 17:15 | 9h 49m |
| March | 06:21 | 18:09 | 11h 48m |
| April | 06:06 | 20:07 | 14h 1m |
| May | 05:04 | 21:01 | 15h 56m |
| June | 04:34 | 21:38 | 17h 4m |
| July | 04:54 | 21:29 | 16h 35m |
| August | 05:44 | 20:35 | 14h 51m |
| September | 06:39 | 19:22 | 12h 43m |
| October | 07:33 | 18:09 | 10h 36m |
| November | 07:32 | 16:07 | 8h 35m |
| December | 08:17 | 15:44 | 7h 27m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Leeds
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Leeds 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 Leeds sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Leeds
When is the longest day in Leeds?
The longest day in Leeds falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 17h 6m of daylight, sunrise at 04:34 and sunset at 21:41.
When is the shortest day in Leeds?
The shortest day in Leeds falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 7h 25m of daylight, sunrise at 08:21 and sunset at 15:46.
How much does day length change through the year in Leeds?
Between the longest and shortest day, Leeds gains and loses about 9h 41m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Leeds's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.