Longest and shortest day in Manchester
In Manchester, United Kingdom, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 17h 2m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 7h 28m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:11 | 18:22 | 12h 11m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:39 | 21:41 | 17h 2m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:54 | 19:07 | 12h 13m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:22 | 15:51 | 7h 28m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:17 | 16:19 | 8h 3m |
| February | 07:28 | 17:18 | 9h 51m |
| March | 06:24 | 18:12 | 11h 48m |
| April | 06:09 | 20:09 | 13h 59m |
| May | 05:09 | 21:02 | 15h 54m |
| June | 04:39 | 21:39 | 17h 0m |
| July | 04:59 | 21:30 | 16h 31m |
| August | 05:48 | 20:37 | 14h 49m |
| September | 06:42 | 19:24 | 12h 43m |
| October | 07:35 | 18:12 | 10h 37m |
| November | 07:34 | 16:12 | 8h 38m |
| December | 08:18 | 15:49 | 7h 31m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Manchester
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Manchester 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 Manchester sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Manchester
When is the longest day in Manchester?
The longest day in Manchester falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 17h 2m of daylight, sunrise at 04:39 and sunset at 21:41.
When is the shortest day in Manchester?
The shortest day in Manchester falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 7h 28m of daylight, sunrise at 08:22 and sunset at 15:51.
How much does day length change through the year in Manchester?
Between the longest and shortest day, Manchester gains and loses about 9h 34m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Manchester's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.