Golden Hour & Blue Hour Calculator
Find the exact golden hour and blue hour times for any location and date. Photographers use this to plan outdoor shoots when warm, directional light is at its best.
About this calculator
Golden hour occurs when the sun sits just above the horizon, typically within 6° of it, bathing scenes in warm, low-angle light. Blue hour follows just after sunset (or precedes sunrise) when the sun is between −4° and −6° below the horizon. The calculator derives solar noon using the formula: solarNoon = 12 + timezone + (arccos(−tan(lat) × tan(declination)) × 180/π / 15), where solar declination is 23.45° × sin(2π × dayOfYear / 365). Golden hour start or end is then found by subtracting (sunAngle / 15) from solar noon. Latitude and day of year together determine how long and how intense each lighting window will be — locations near the poles enjoy extended golden hours in summer.
How to use
Suppose you're shooting in New York (latitude 40.7°) on day 180 (late June), timezone offset −4, and a sun angle of 6°. Solar declination ≈ 23.45 × sin(2π × 180/365) ≈ 23.3°. Solar noon ≈ 12 + (−4) + (arccos(−tan(40.7°) × tan(23.3°)) × 180/π / 15) ≈ 12 − 4 + 6.1 ≈ 14.1 (about 2:06 PM). Subtract 6/15 = 0.4 hr: golden hour starts around 1:42 PM. Enter your own latitude, date, and target sun angle to get precise times.
Frequently asked questions
What sun angle should I use for golden hour photography?
Golden hour is generally defined as the period when the sun is between 0° and 6° above the horizon. For the warmest, most dramatic light, aim for sun angles between 1° and 4°. Blue hour occurs when the sun is between −4° and −6°, producing cool, even, twilight tones. Entering different sun angles lets you preview the full range of lighting transitions.
Why does golden hour last longer at higher latitudes?
At higher latitudes the sun travels along a shallower path relative to the horizon, so it takes longer to move through each degree of altitude. Near the equator the sun rises almost vertically, compressing golden hour to as little as 20–30 minutes. In Scandinavia or Alaska during summer, golden hour can stretch for over an hour. This calculator accounts for that effect through the latitude and day-of-year inputs.
How does day of year affect golden hour timing?
Day of year controls the sun's declination — its angular distance north or south of the equator. In summer the sun rises earlier and reaches a higher peak, shifting golden hour to the early morning and late afternoon. In winter the entire arc is lower and shorter, meaning golden hour occupies a larger fraction of the day. Plugging in different days lets you compare lighting windows across seasons before committing to a shoot date.