Sunset & Sunrise Today in Santa Monica, California
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Santa Monica: sunrise 6:59 AM, sunset 6:19 PM.
Santa Monica, California sees the sun come up at 6:58 AM and go down at 6:20 PM on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — 11h 22m of daylight from sunrise to sunset. Solar noon, when the sun is highest over Santa Monica, is at 12:40 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 and 2 seconds. This is autumn 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 5:47 PM to 6:36 PM. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:36 PM to 6:46 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Santa Monica is at 6:19 PM and sunrise at 6:59 AM — about 2m 2s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Santa Monica drift across the whole year.
Autumn has arrived in Santa Monica, and the days are drawing in. 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 | 6:58 AM | 6:20 PM | 11h 22m |
| Brentwood | 6:58 AM | 6:20 PM | 11h 21m |
| Sawtelle | 6:58 AM | 6:20 PM | 11h 21m |
| Venice | 6:58 AM | 6:20 PM | 11h 22m |
| Culver City | 6:58 AM | 6:20 PM | 11h 22m |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 14 | 6:58 AM | 6:20 PM | 11h 22m | — |
| Thu Oct 15 | 6:59 AM | 6:19 PM | 11h 19m | −2m 02s |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:00 AM | 6:18 PM | 11h 17m | −2m 02s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:01 AM | 6:16 PM | 11h 15m | −2m 01s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:01 AM | 6:15 PM | 11h 13m | −2m 01s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:02 AM | 6:14 PM | 11h 11m | −2m 01s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:03 AM | 6:13 PM | 11h 09m | −1m 59s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:04 AM | 6:12 PM | 11h 07m | −2m 00s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:05 AM | 6:11 PM | 11h 05m | −1m 58s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:05 AM | 6:09 PM | 11h 03m | −1m 58s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:06 AM | 6:08 PM | 11h 02m | −1m 58s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:07 AM | 6:07 PM | 11h 00m | −1m 56s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:08 AM | 6:06 PM | 10h 58m | −1m 56s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:09 AM | 6:05 PM | 10h 56m | −1m 55s |
Twilight times in Santa Monica today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:35 AM | 7:44 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:04 AM | 7:15 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:32 AM | 6:46 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:42 AM | 7:31 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:47 PM | 6:36 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 6:20 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 6:58 AM today, with 11h 22m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Santa Monica tomorrow?
Sunrise in Santa Monica tomorrow is at 6:59 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:19 PM.
What time is sunset in Santa Monica tomorrow?
Sunset in Santa Monica tomorrow is at 6:19 PM.
How long is the day in Santa Monica today?
Santa Monica gets 11h 22m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:58 AM and sunset at 6:20 PM.
When is golden hour in Santa Monica?
The evening golden hour in Santa Monica is about 5:47 PM to 6:36 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 6:36 PM to 6:46 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Santa Monica?
After sunset at 6:20 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Santa Monica at around 6:46 PM today.
When is solar noon in Santa Monica?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Santa Monica — is at 12:40 PM today.
Nearest cities to Santa Monica
- BrentwoodCA
- SawtelleCA
- VeniceCA
- Culver CityCA
- Beverly HillsCA
- Mid-CityCA
- InglewoodCA
- West HollywoodCA
More cities in California
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.