Longest and shortest day in San Jose
In San Jose, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 14h 44m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 35m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:10 | 19:19 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:47 | 20:31 | 14h 44m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:55 | 19:04 | 12h 9m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:18 | 16:53 | 9h 35m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:20 | 17:13 | 9h 53m |
| February | 06:56 | 17:47 | 10h 51m |
| March | 07:18 | 19:14 | 11h 56m |
| April | 06:33 | 19:42 | 13h 10m |
| May | 05:58 | 20:09 | 14h 11m |
| June | 05:46 | 20:29 | 14h 43m |
| July | 05:59 | 20:27 | 14h 29m |
| August | 06:24 | 19:59 | 13h 35m |
| September | 06:49 | 19:14 | 12h 25m |
| October | 07:15 | 18:30 | 11h 15m |
| November | 06:47 | 16:56 | 10h 10m |
| December | 07:14 | 16:51 | 9h 36m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in San Jose
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, San Jose 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 Jose 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 Jose
When is the longest day in San Jose?
The longest day in San Jose falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 44m of daylight, sunrise at 05:47 and sunset at 20:31.
When is the shortest day in San Jose?
The shortest day in San Jose falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 35m of daylight, sunrise at 07:18 and sunset at 16:53.
How much does day length change through the year in San Jose?
Between the longest and shortest day, San Jose gains and loses about 5h 9m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from San Jose's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.