Longest and shortest day in San Diego
In San Diego, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 14h 18m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 10h 0m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:52 | 19:00 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:41 | 19:59 | 14h 18m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:36 | 18:45 | 12h 8m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 06:46 | 16:46 | 10h 0m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:51 | 17:05 | 10h 14m |
| February | 06:31 | 17:34 | 11h 2m |
| March | 06:58 | 18:56 | 11h 58m |
| April | 06:19 | 19:18 | 12h 59m |
| May | 05:49 | 19:40 | 13h 51m |
| June | 05:40 | 19:58 | 14h 18m |
| July | 05:51 | 19:57 | 14h 6m |
| August | 06:12 | 19:33 | 13h 21m |
| September | 06:32 | 18:54 | 12h 22m |
| October | 06:52 | 18:15 | 11h 23m |
| November | 06:18 | 16:47 | 10h 29m |
| December | 06:43 | 16:44 | 10h 1m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in San Diego
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, San Diego 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 San Diego sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in San Diego
When is the longest day in San Diego?
The longest day in San Diego falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 18m of daylight, sunrise at 05:41 and sunset at 19:59.
When is the shortest day in San Diego?
The shortest day in San Diego falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 0m of daylight, sunrise at 06:46 and sunset at 16:46.
How much does day length change through the year in San Diego?
Between the longest and shortest day, San Diego gains and loses about 4h 18m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from San Diego's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.