Golden Hour Calculator
Exact golden hour and blue hour windows for any date and location — computed in your browser with the NOAA solar algorithm.
Times are shown in your local timezone.
40.7128°N, 74.0060°W on 2026-10-08
Photography quick tips
- Arrive 20–30 minutes before the morning golden window to set up while light is still blue.
- Golden hour flatters portraits and front-lit landscapes; backlight through the window gives rim light and flare.
- Blue hour is best for cityscapes — shoot when artificial lights and sky brightness balance.
- Clouds diffuse the sun: on overcast days the golden windows soften into long, even light.
- Plan tomorrow's shoot: change the date above to scout any future day.
Quick Answer
Golden hour happens when the sun sits between about 6° above and 4° below the horizon, giving soft warm light. Blue hour is the window from −6° to −4°, when the sky turns deep blue. This calculator computes both windows — morning and evening — for any date and location using the NOAA solar algorithm, entirely in your browser.
How It Works
Enter your location — search a place name, type coordinates, or tap Use My Location
Pick a date; today is preselected and results update instantly
Read the morning and evening golden hour and blue hour windows in your timezone
Plan arrivals 20–30 minutes ahead of the window for setup
Key Facts
- Morning and evening golden hour windows (sun +6° to −4°)
- Morning and evening blue hour windows (sun −6° to −4°)
- Sunrise, solar noon, and sunset included for context
- Search by place name or use one-tap device location
- NOAA solar algorithm — typically accurate to within a couple of minutes
- Polar day and polar night handled explicitly
- 100% client-side: nothing uploaded, no accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is golden hour today?
Golden hour depends on your latitude, season, and the weather-free geometry of the sun. Enter your location above (or tap Use My Location) and today's morning and evening golden hour windows appear instantly. Near the equator golden hour is short — often under 40 minutes — while at high latitudes in summer it can last for hours.
What is blue hour?
Blue hour is the twilight window when the sun is between roughly 6° and 4° below the horizon. The sky takes on a deep, even blue that photographers use for cityscapes, architecture, and landscapes with artificial lights — the balance of sky brightness and lit windows is at its best. Blue hour occurs just before civil dawn and just after civil dusk.
How long does golden hour last?
It depends on latitude and season. At the equator the sun drops through the golden band quickly, so golden hour can be as short as 30–40 minutes. In mid-latitudes it typically runs 50–90 minutes. Above the Arctic Circle in summer, the sun can stay inside the golden band for hours — or all night.
Is golden hour the same as sunrise?
No. Golden hour starts before sunrise (while the sun is just below the horizon) and continues after it crests it, and mirrors that around sunset. The light is golden because low-angle sunlight travels through more atmosphere, scattering blue wavelengths and passing warm reds and oranges. The calculator shows sunrise and sunset alongside the golden windows so you can plan the whole shoot.