Longest and shortest day in Philadelphia
In Philadelphia, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 1m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 20m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:03 | 19:12 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:32 | 20:32 | 15h 1m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:48 | 18:57 | 12h 9m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:18 | 16:38 | 9h 20m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:20 | 16:59 | 9h 39m |
| February | 06:53 | 17:36 | 10h 43m |
| March | 07:12 | 19:07 | 11h 55m |
| April | 06:23 | 19:38 | 13h 16m |
| May | 05:45 | 20:08 | 14h 23m |
| June | 05:31 | 20:31 | 15h 0m |
| July | 05:44 | 20:28 | 14h 44m |
| August | 06:12 | 19:57 | 13h 45m |
| September | 06:41 | 19:09 | 12h 28m |
| October | 07:11 | 18:21 | 11h 10m |
| November | 06:45 | 16:44 | 9h 59m |
| December | 07:15 | 16:36 | 9h 21m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Philadelphia
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Philadelphia
When is the longest day in Philadelphia?
The longest day in Philadelphia falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 1m of daylight, sunrise at 05:32 and sunset at 20:32.
When is the shortest day in Philadelphia?
The shortest day in Philadelphia falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 20m of daylight, sunrise at 07:18 and sunset at 16:38.
How much does day length change through the year in Philadelphia?
Between the longest and shortest day, Philadelphia gains and loses about 5h 41m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Philadelphia's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.