Sunset & Sunrise Today in Elgin, Illinois
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Elgin: sunrise 7:07 AM, sunset 6:09 PM.
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the sun sets over Elgin at 6:11 PM, having risen at 7:05 AM. That works out to 11h 05m of daylight today. The sun reaches its high point above Elgin at 12:38 PM.
Sitting at 42.04° latitude puts Elgin in the mid-latitudes — daylight swings noticeably between the long days of summer and the short days of winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter and 44 seconds. As autumn progresses, sunrise and sunset in Elgin move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
If you're shooting at sunset, aim for Elgin's golden hour, about 5:34 PM to 6:29 PM. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:29 PM to 6:39 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Elgin is at 6:09 PM and sunrise at 7:07 AM — about 2m 43s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Elgin drift across the whole year.
Autumn has arrived in Elgin, and the days are drawing in. Over the course of the year, sunset in Elgin ranges from as early as 4:21 PM (around December 2) to as late as 8:32 PM (around June 21). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 15h 14m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 06m.
Moon in Elgin today
Sunset today: Elgin vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elgin | 7:05 AM | 6:11 PM | 11h 05m |
| Streamwood | 7:05 AM | 6:10 PM | 11h 05m |
| Bartlett | 7:05 AM | 6:10 PM | 11h 05m |
| Carpentersville | 7:05 AM | 6:10 PM | 11h 04m |
| Hanover Park | 7:05 AM | 6:10 PM | 11h 05m |
Elgin sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 15h 14m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 06m
- Latest sunset 8:32 PM (June 21)
- Earliest sunset 4:21 PM (December 2)
- Earliest sunrise 5:17 AM (June 8)
- Latest sunrise 7:24 AM (October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Elgin (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 6:56 AM | 7:05 PM | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:17 AM | 8:32 PM | 15h 14m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 6:40 AM | 6:49 PM | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:18 AM | 4:24 PM | 9h 06m |
Elgin sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:05 AM | 6:11 PM | 11h 05m | — |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:07 AM | 6:09 PM | 11h 02m | −2m 43s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:08 AM | 6:07 PM | 10h 59m | −2m 43s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:09 AM | 6:06 PM | 10h 56m | −2m 43s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:10 AM | 6:04 PM | 10h 54m | −2m 41s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:11 AM | 6:03 PM | 10h 51m | −2m 42s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:12 AM | 6:01 PM | 10h 48m | −2m 40s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:14 AM | 6:00 PM | 10h 46m | −2m 40s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:15 AM | 5:58 PM | 10h 43m | −2m 39s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:16 AM | 5:57 PM | 10h 40m | −2m 38s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:17 AM | 5:55 PM | 10h 38m | −2m 37s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:18 AM | 5:54 PM | 10h 35m | −2m 37s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:20 AM | 5:53 PM | 10h 33m | −2m 35s |
| Wed Oct 28 | 7:21 AM | 5:51 PM | 10h 30m | −2m 35s |
Twilight times in Elgin today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:32 AM | 7:44 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:05 AM | 7:11 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:37 AM | 6:39 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 6:47 AM | 7:42 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 5:34 PM | 6:29 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
Sunrise & sunset in Elgin by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:21 AM | 4:32 PM | 9h 10m |
| February | 7:06 AM | 5:07 PM | 10h 01m |
| March | 6:28 AM | 5:43 PM | 11h 14m |
| April | 6:35 AM | 7:18 PM | 12h 42m |
| May | 5:49 AM | 7:51 PM | 14h 02m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 8:22 PM | 15h 02m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 8:32 PM | 15h 10m |
| August | 5:46 AM | 8:11 PM | 14h 24m |
| September | 6:19 AM | 7:26 PM | 13h 07m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 43m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 4:46 PM | 10h 20m |
| December | 7:02 AM | 4:22 PM | 9h 20m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Elgin
What time is sunset in Elgin today?
Sunset in Elgin, Illinois is at 6:11 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Elgin today?
Sunrise in Elgin is at 7:05 AM today, with 11h 05m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Elgin tomorrow?
Sunrise in Elgin tomorrow is at 7:07 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:09 PM.
What time is sunset in Elgin tomorrow?
Sunset in Elgin tomorrow is at 6:09 PM.
How long is the day in Elgin today?
Elgin gets 11h 05m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:05 AM and sunset at 6:11 PM.
When is golden hour in Elgin?
The evening golden hour in Elgin is about 5:34 PM to 6:29 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Elgin?
The evening blue hour in Elgin runs from about 6:29 PM to 6:39 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Elgin?
After sunset at 6:11 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Elgin at around 6:39 PM today.
When is solar noon in Elgin?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Elgin — is at 12:38 PM today.
Nearest cities to Elgin
- StreamwoodIL
- BartlettIL
- CarpentersvilleIL
- Hanover ParkIL
- St. CharlesIL
- SchaumburgIL
- Hoffman EstatesIL
- Carol StreamIL
More cities in Illinois
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.