Dusk and last light in San Francisco
Last light (civil dusk) in San Francisco today fades at 20:50, about 29 minutes after the sun sets at 20:20. The sky is fully dark by astronomical dusk at 22:04. Times for Tuesday, 28 July 2026, in San Francisco's local time zone.
| Stage | What it means | Local time |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset | the sun dips below the horizon | 20:20 |
| Civil dusk (last light) | sun 6° below, usable light ends | 20:50 |
| Nautical dusk | sun 12° below, sea horizon gone | 21:26 |
| Astronomical dusk | sun 18° below, full night | 22:04 |
Dusk in San Francisco, stage by stage
Dusk in San Francisco runs the same three stages as dawn, in reverse. Once the sun sets, civil dusk, the last usable light, lingers until the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. Nautical dusk follows at 12 degrees, when the sea horizon disappears, and astronomical dusk at 18 degrees, after which the sky is fully dark and the faintest stars appear. How long dusk lasts depends on San Francisco's latitude: near the equator night falls fast, while at high latitudes dusk can stretch for hours or, in high summer, never fully darken. Every time here is computed for San Francisco's coordinates and shown in its local time zone.
Frequently asked questions about dusk in San Francisco
What time is last light in San Francisco today?
Last light (civil dusk) in San Francisco fades at 20:50 on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, about 29 minutes after sunset at 20:20. All times are in San Francisco's local time zone.
What is the difference between dusk and sunset in San Francisco?
Sunset is the instant the sun disappears below the horizon in San Francisco; dusk is the fading twilight that follows. Last light (civil dusk) ends the usable light after sunset.
When does it get fully dark in San Francisco?
San Francisco reaches full darkness at astronomical dusk, 22:04 on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, when the sun is 18 degrees below the horizon.
Every time on this page is computed from San Francisco's coordinates with SunCalc, not estimated or looked up from a table.