Longest and shortest day in Seattle
In Seattle, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 59m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 8h 26m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:11 | 19:22 | 12h 11m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:11 | 21:10 | 15h 59m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:56 | 19:06 | 12h 10m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:54 | 16:20 | 8h 26m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:52 | 16:45 | 8h 52m |
| February | 07:14 | 17:32 | 10h 18m |
| March | 07:22 | 19:14 | 11h 52m |
| April | 06:20 | 19:59 | 13h 38m |
| May | 05:32 | 20:40 | 15h 8m |
| June | 05:11 | 21:08 | 15h 58m |
| July | 05:27 | 21:02 | 15h 35m |
| August | 06:05 | 20:21 | 14h 16m |
| September | 06:46 | 19:21 | 12h 34m |
| October | 07:28 | 18:20 | 10h 52m |
| November | 07:14 | 16:32 | 9h 18m |
| December | 07:50 | 16:18 | 8h 27m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Seattle
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Seattle 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 Seattle sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Seattle
When is the longest day in Seattle?
The longest day in Seattle falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 59m of daylight, sunrise at 05:11 and sunset at 21:10.
When is the shortest day in Seattle?
The shortest day in Seattle falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 8h 26m of daylight, sunrise at 07:54 and sunset at 16:20.
How much does day length change through the year in Seattle?
Between the longest and shortest day, Seattle gains and loses about 7h 33m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Seattle's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.