Sunset Time in Washington DC Today

Sunset & Daylight Patterns Specific to Washington DC

Washington DC sits at 38.9° N in the temperate zone. It is autumn there now, and the sun currently spends 11.6 hours above the horizon each day.

Sunsets are latest in June around the summer solstice and earliest in December. Near the solstices, the sunset time barely shifts day to day; near the equinoxes (March, September), it moves up to 2 minutes per day. Washington DC runs from 9.4 to 14.9 hours of daylight across the year, a 5.5-hour swing. Today's 11.6 hours set how much room you have to move plans around.

Golden hour in Washington DC lasts about 52 minutes today, with civil twilight adding a further 27 minutes of usable blue-hour light after sunset.

The most photogenic sunset conditions in Washington DC come in September, October, November, when the atmosphere is clearest and high-pressure systems push cloud layers away from the western horizon. Washington DC's cherry blossom peak bloom date has shifted earlier by about a week over the past century due to climate change.

Civil twilight at Washington DC's latitude lasts approximately 27 minutes after the sun drops below the horizon — this is the "blue hour" window of soft, diffused light that photographers prize above all others. At 38.9°, this window is brief, making precise timing critical — the sky transitions from golden to dark in under half an hour.

Sun & Moon Times in Washington DC

Sunset timing in Washington DC is driven by latitude and season. We apply atmospheric refraction corrections for accuracy within one minute. Golden hour begins roughly 60 minutes before sunset — the most valuable window for photography, outdoor dining, and evening walks.

Sunset in Washington DC shifts by several minutes each week. Summer evenings are longest, winter sunsets arrive earliest. Cloud cover near the horizon does not change the sunset time itself, though it can hide the sun a few minutes early and often produces the most dramatic color displays.

For the best sunset experience, arrive at your viewing spot 30 minutes before the listed time. Conditions can shift — check again on the day itself.

What Determines Sunset Time?

Sunset time in Washington DC is determined by the city's latitude, longitude, and the time of year. During summer, the Earth's axial tilt causes the sun to take a longer path across the sky, resulting in later sunsets. In winter, the opposite occurs — shorter days mean earlier sunsets. Near the equinoxes (March and September), sunset times change most rapidly, shifting by 2–3 minutes per day. At Washington DC's latitude, the difference between the earliest and latest sunset can be several hours across the year. Our daily calculations use precise astronomical data to give you the exact sunset time accurate to the minute.