Sunset & Sunrise Today in San Mateo, California
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in San Mateo: sunrise 6:01 AM, sunset 8:29 PM.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the sun sets over San Mateo at 8:29 PM, having risen at 6:00 AM. That works out to 14h 29m of daylight today. The sun reaches its high point above San Mateo at 1:15 PM.
Because San Mateo is at 37.56° (the mid-latitudes), daylight swings noticeably between the long days of summer and the short days of winter. Each day is currently getting about 1 minute shorter and 13 seconds. As summer progresses, sunrise and sunset in San Mateo move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
Golden hour in San Mateo this evening is roughly 7:52 PM–8:49 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 8:49 PM to 9:00 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in San Mateo is at 8:29 PM and sunrise at 6:01 AM — about 1m 14s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in San Mateo drift across the whole year.
This is high summer in San Mateo, the season of long evenings. Over the course of the year, sunset in San Mateo ranges from as early as 4:50 PM (around December 1) to as late as 8:34 PM (around June 23). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 45m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 33m.
Moon in San Mateo today
Sunset today: San Mateo vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo | 6:00 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 29m |
| Redwood City | 6:00 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 29m |
| South San Francisco | 6:00 AM | 8:30 PM | 14h 30m |
| Daly City | 6:00 AM | 8:30 PM | 14h 30m |
| Palo Alto | 6:00 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 28m |
San Mateo sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 45m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 33m
- Latest sunset 8:34 PM (around June 23)
- Earliest sunset 4:50 PM (around December 1)
- Earliest sunrise 5:47 AM (around June 9)
- Latest sunrise 7:33 AM (around October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in San Mateo (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:12 AM | 7:21 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:48 AM | 8:33 PM | 14h 45m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:05 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:20 AM | 4:54 PM | 9h 33m |
San Mateo sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 | 6:00 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 29m | — |
| Thu Jul 16 | 6:01 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 28m | −1m 14s |
| Fri Jul 17 | 6:01 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 26m | −1m 18s |
| Sat Jul 18 | 6:02 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 25m | −1m 19s |
| Sun Jul 19 | 6:03 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 24m | −1m 23s |
| Mon Jul 20 | 6:04 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 22m | −1m 24s |
| Tue Jul 21 | 6:04 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 21m | −1m 27s |
| Wed Jul 22 | 6:05 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 19m | −1m 28s |
| Thu Jul 23 | 6:06 AM | 8:24 PM | 14h 18m | −1m 32s |
| Fri Jul 24 | 6:07 AM | 8:24 PM | 14h 16m | −1m 33s |
| Sat Jul 25 | 6:07 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 15m | −1m 35s |
| Sun Jul 26 | 6:08 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 13m | −1m 37s |
| Mon Jul 27 | 6:09 AM | 8:21 PM | 14h 12m | −1m 39s |
| Tue Jul 28 | 6:10 AM | 8:20 PM | 14h 10m | −1m 41s |
Twilight times in San Mateo today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 4:10 AM | 10:19 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 4:52 AM | 9:38 PM |
| Civil twilight | 5:29 AM | 9:00 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 5:41 AM | 6:37 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 7:52 PM | 8:49 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon — useful for photographers, sailors and stargazers in San Mateo.
Sunrise & sunset in San Mateo by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:24 AM | 5:01 PM | 9h 37m |
| February | 7:12 AM | 5:33 PM | 10h 20m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 6:03 PM | 11h 22m |
| April | 6:54 AM | 7:32 PM | 12h 37m |
| May | 6:13 AM | 7:59 PM | 13h 45m |
| June | 5:49 AM | 8:24 PM | 14h 35m |
| July | 5:52 AM | 8:34 PM | 14h 42m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 8:17 PM | 14h 03m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:37 PM | 12h 57m |
| October | 7:05 AM | 6:51 PM | 11h 46m |
| November | 6:34 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 35m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 4:50 PM | 9h 45m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time in San Mateo.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for San Mateo
What time is sunset in San Mateo today?
Sunset in San Mateo, California is at 8:29 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in San Mateo today?
Sunrise in San Mateo is at 6:00 AM today, with 14h 29m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in San Mateo tomorrow?
Sunrise in San Mateo tomorrow is at 6:01 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 8:29 PM.
What time is sunset in San Mateo tomorrow?
Sunset in San Mateo tomorrow is at 8:29 PM.
How long is the day in San Mateo today?
San Mateo gets 14h 29m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:00 AM and sunset at 8:29 PM.
When is golden hour in San Mateo?
The evening golden hour in San Mateo is about 7:52 PM to 8:49 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in San Mateo?
The evening blue hour in San Mateo runs from about 8:49 PM to 9:00 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in San Mateo?
After sunset at 8:29 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in San Mateo at around 9:00 PM today.
When is solar noon in San Mateo?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over San Mateo — is at 1:15 PM today.
Sunset times in cities near San Mateo
- Redwood CityCA
- South San FranciscoCA
- Daly CityCA
- Palo AltoCA
- San LeandroCA
- AlamedaCA
- HaywardCA
- San FranciscoCA
Sunrise & sunset times in more California cities
Sunset card for San Mateo
Learn more about sunset, sunrise & twilight
- 🌇 What is golden hour?Golden hour is the warm, soft light just after sunrise and before sunset. Learn what it is, when it happens, how long it lasts, and how to use it.
- 🌆 What is blue hour?Discover what blue hour is, when it happens, how it differs from golden hour, and expert tips for photographing the soft blue twilight. Check exact blue.
- 🌌 Twilight explained: civil, nautical & astronomicalLearn the three phases of twilight—civil, nautical, astronomical—and what they mean for photographers, stargazers, and sunset lovers.
- 🌅 Why are sunsets red and orange?Discover the science behind red and orange sunsets, from Rayleigh scattering to air quality. Learn when and where to see the most vivid colors.
- 📸 The best time to photograph a sunsetDiscover the best time to photograph a sunset, from golden hour to blue hour. Learn exact timing, camera settings, and composition tips for stunning shots.
- ☀️ What is solar noon?Solar noon is when the sun reaches its highest point. Learn why it rarely matches 12:00 PM and how to find your exact solar noon.
- 📈 Why days get longer and shorter through the yearEarth's axial tilt drives seasonal day-length changes. Learn how solstices, equinoxes, and latitude affect daylight where you live.
- 🌞 The summer solstice explainedWhat causes the summer solstice, when it happens, and how it affects sunset times. Discover the science and beauty of the year's longest day.