Longest and shortest day in Washington
In Washington, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 14h 54m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 26m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:11 | 19:20 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:43 | 20:37 | 14h 54m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:55 | 19:05 | 12h 9m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:23 | 16:49 | 9h 26m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:25 | 17:10 | 9h 45m |
| February | 06:59 | 17:45 | 10h 46m |
| March | 07:19 | 19:15 | 11h 55m |
| April | 06:31 | 19:45 | 13h 13m |
| May | 05:55 | 20:13 | 14h 18m |
| June | 05:42 | 20:35 | 14h 53m |
| July | 05:55 | 20:32 | 14h 38m |
| August | 06:21 | 20:02 | 13h 41m |
| September | 06:49 | 19:16 | 12h 27m |
| October | 07:17 | 18:29 | 11h 12m |
| November | 06:50 | 16:54 | 10h 3m |
| December | 07:19 | 16:47 | 9h 27m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Washington
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Washington 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 Washington sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Washington
When is the longest day in Washington?
The longest day in Washington falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 54m of daylight, sunrise at 05:43 and sunset at 20:37.
When is the shortest day in Washington?
The shortest day in Washington falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 26m of daylight, sunrise at 07:23 and sunset at 16:49.
How much does day length change through the year in Washington?
Between the longest and shortest day, Washington gains and loses about 5h 28m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Washington's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.