Sunset & Sunrise Today in Santa Monica, California
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Santa Monica: sunrise 6:26 AM, sunset 7:21 PM.
Santa Monica, California sees the sun come up at 6:25 AM and go down at 7:23 PM on Saturday, August 29, 2026 — 12h 57m of daylight from sunrise to sunset. Solar noon, when the sun is highest over Santa Monica, is at 12:55 PM.
Sitting at 34.02° latitude puts Santa Monica in the lower mid-latitudes — daylight varies moderately between summer and winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter. This is summer in Santa Monica, so the daily sun times are still on the move.
If you're shooting at sunset, aim for Santa Monica's golden hour, about 6:50 PM to 7:39 PM. The blue hour follows, roughly 7:39 PM to 7:49 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Santa Monica is at 7:21 PM and sunrise at 6:26 AM — about 2m 0s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Santa Monica drift across the whole year.
This is high summer in Santa Monica, the season of long evenings. Over the course of the year, sunset in Santa Monica ranges from as early as 4:44 PM (around November 28) to as late as 8:09 PM (around June 26). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 24m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 52m.
Moon in Santa Monica today
Sunset today: Santa Monica vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica | 6:25 AM | 7:23 PM | 12h 57m |
| Mid-City | 6:25 AM | 7:22 PM | 12h 57m |
| Inglewood | 6:25 AM | 7:22 PM | 12h 57m |
| Sherman Oaks | 6:25 AM | 7:23 PM | 12h 57m |
| Encino | 6:25 AM | 7:23 PM | 12h 57m |
Santa Monica sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 24m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 52m
- Latest sunset 8:09 PM (June 26)
- Earliest sunset 4:44 PM (November 28)
- Earliest sunrise 5:42 AM (June 5)
- Latest sunrise 7:13 AM (March 8)
Solstices & equinoxes in Santa Monica (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 6:57 AM | 7:05 PM | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:43 AM | 8:08 PM | 14h 24m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:42 AM | 6:50 PM | 12h 07m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 6:55 AM | 4:48 PM | 9h 52m |
Santa Monica sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Aug 29 | 6:25 AM | 7:23 PM | 12h 57m | — |
| Sun Aug 30 | 6:26 AM | 7:21 PM | 12h 55m | −2m 00s |
| Mon Aug 31 | 6:27 AM | 7:20 PM | 12h 53m | −2m 01s |
| Tue Sep 1 | 6:27 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 51m | −2m 01s |
| Wed Sep 2 | 6:28 AM | 7:17 PM | 12h 49m | −2m 02s |
| Thu Sep 3 | 6:29 AM | 7:16 PM | 12h 47m | −2m 02s |
| Fri Sep 4 | 6:30 AM | 7:15 PM | 12h 45m | −2m 03s |
| Sat Sep 5 | 6:30 AM | 7:13 PM | 12h 43m | −2m 03s |
| Sun Sep 6 | 6:31 AM | 7:12 PM | 12h 41m | −2m 03s |
| Mon Sep 7 | 6:32 AM | 7:11 PM | 12h 39m | −2m 03s |
| Tue Sep 8 | 6:32 AM | 7:09 PM | 12h 37m | −2m 04s |
| Wed Sep 9 | 6:33 AM | 7:08 PM | 12h 34m | −2m 04s |
| Thu Sep 10 | 6:34 AM | 7:07 PM | 12h 32m | −2m 04s |
| Fri Sep 11 | 6:34 AM | 7:05 PM | 12h 30m | −2m 05s |
Twilight times in Santa Monica today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 4:58 AM | 8:50 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 5:29 AM | 8:19 PM |
| Civil twilight | 5:59 AM | 7:49 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:09 AM | 6:58 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 6:50 PM | 7:39 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Santa Monica by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:59 AM | 4:55 PM | 9h 55m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 5:24 PM | 10h 33m |
| March | 6:22 AM | 5:50 PM | 11h 27m |
| April | 6:41 AM | 7:14 PM | 12h 33m |
| May | 6:04 AM | 7:37 PM | 13h 32m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 8:00 PM | 14h 16m |
| July | 5:46 AM | 8:09 PM | 14h 22m |
| August | 6:05 AM | 7:54 PM | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:27 AM | 7:19 PM | 12h 51m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 6:37 PM | 11h 48m |
| November | 6:13 AM | 5:00 PM | 10h 46m |
| December | 6:41 AM | 4:44 PM | 10h 02m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Santa Monica
What time is sunset in Santa Monica today?
Sunset in Santa Monica, California is at 7:23 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Santa Monica today?
Sunrise in Santa Monica is at 6:25 AM today, with 12h 57m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Santa Monica tomorrow?
Sunrise in Santa Monica tomorrow is at 6:26 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 7:21 PM.
What time is sunset in Santa Monica tomorrow?
Sunset in Santa Monica tomorrow is at 7:21 PM.
How long is the day in Santa Monica today?
Santa Monica gets 12h 57m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:25 AM and sunset at 7:23 PM.
When is golden hour in Santa Monica?
The evening golden hour in Santa Monica is about 6:50 PM to 7:39 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Santa Monica?
The evening blue hour in Santa Monica runs from about 7:39 PM to 7:49 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Santa Monica?
After sunset at 7:23 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Santa Monica at around 7:49 PM today.
When is solar noon in Santa Monica?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Santa Monica — is at 12:55 PM today.
Nearest cities to Santa Monica
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Learn more about the sunset
- 🌇 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.