Longest and shortest day in Paris
In Paris, France, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 16h 11m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 8h 15m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:53 | 19:03 | 12h 10m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:46 | 21:57 | 16h 11m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:36 | 19:48 | 12h 12m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:41 | 16:56 | 8h 15m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:38 | 17:21 | 8h 42m |
| February | 07:59 | 18:10 | 10h 12m |
| March | 07:04 | 18:55 | 11h 51m |
| April | 07:00 | 20:41 | 13h 41m |
| May | 06:09 | 21:25 | 15h 16m |
| June | 05:46 | 21:55 | 16h 9m |
| July | 06:03 | 21:49 | 15h 46m |
| August | 06:43 | 21:06 | 14h 23m |
| September | 07:27 | 20:03 | 12h 37m |
| October | 08:10 | 19:01 | 10h 50m |
| November | 07:59 | 17:10 | 9h 11m |
| December | 08:37 | 16:54 | 8h 17m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Paris
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Paris 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 Paris sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Paris
When is the longest day in Paris?
The longest day in Paris falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 16h 11m of daylight, sunrise at 05:46 and sunset at 21:57.
When is the shortest day in Paris?
The shortest day in Paris falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 8h 15m of daylight, sunrise at 08:41 and sunset at 16:56.
How much does day length change through the year in Paris?
Between the longest and shortest day, Paris gains and loses about 7h 56m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Paris's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.