Longest and shortest day in New York
In New York, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 6m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 15m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:59 | 19:08 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:25 | 20:30 | 15h 6m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:43 | 18:53 | 12h 9m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:16 | 16:31 | 9h 15m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:18 | 16:53 | 9h 35m |
| February | 06:50 | 17:30 | 10h 41m |
| March | 07:07 | 19:02 | 11h 55m |
| April | 06:17 | 19:35 | 13h 18m |
| May | 05:39 | 20:06 | 14h 27m |
| June | 05:24 | 20:28 | 15h 5m |
| July | 05:37 | 20:25 | 14h 48m |
| August | 06:06 | 19:53 | 13h 47m |
| September | 06:36 | 19:04 | 12h 28m |
| October | 07:07 | 18:15 | 11h 8m |
| November | 06:42 | 16:37 | 9h 55m |
| December | 07:12 | 16:29 | 9h 17m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in New York
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, New York 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 New York sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in New York
When is the longest day in New York?
The longest day in New York falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 6m of daylight, sunrise at 05:25 and sunset at 20:30.
When is the shortest day in New York?
The shortest day in New York falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 15m of daylight, sunrise at 07:16 and sunset at 16:31.
How much does day length change through the year in New York?
Between the longest and shortest day, New York gains and loses about 5h 51m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from New York's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.