Sunset & Sunrise Today in Elgin, Illinois
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Elgin: sunrise 5:31 AM, sunset 8:26 PM.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the sun sets over Elgin at 8:26 PM, having risen at 5:31 AM. That works out to 14h 55m of daylight today. The sun reaches its high point above Elgin at 12:59 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 1 minute shorter and 26 seconds. As summer 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 7:46 PM to 8:47 PM. The blue hour follows, roughly 8:47 PM to 9:00 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Elgin is at 8:26 PM and sunrise at 5:31 AM — about 1m 29s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Elgin drift across the whole year.
This is high summer in Elgin, the season of long evenings. 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 | 5:31 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 55m |
| Schaumburg | 5:30 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 55m |
| Palatine | 5:29 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 56m |
| Arlington Heights | 5:29 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 55m |
| Arlington Heights | 5:29 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 55m |
Elgin sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 15h 14m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 06m
- Latest sunset 8:32 PM (around June 21)
- Earliest sunset 4:21 PM (around December 2)
- Earliest sunrise 5:17 AM (around June 8)
- Latest sunrise 7:24 AM (around 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 | 5:31 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 55m | — |
| Thu Jul 16 | 5:31 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 54m | −1m 29s |
| Fri Jul 17 | 5:32 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 52m | −1m 32s |
| Sat Jul 18 | 5:33 AM | 8:24 PM | 14h 51m | −1m 35s |
| Sun Jul 19 | 5:34 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 49m | −1m 38s |
| Mon Jul 20 | 5:35 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 47m | −1m 40s |
| Tue Jul 21 | 5:36 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 46m | −1m 44s |
| Wed Jul 22 | 5:37 AM | 8:21 PM | 14h 44m | −1m 45s |
| Thu Jul 23 | 5:38 AM | 8:20 PM | 14h 42m | −1m 49s |
| Fri Jul 24 | 5:39 AM | 8:19 PM | 14h 40m | −1m 50s |
| Sat Jul 25 | 5:40 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 38m | −1m 54s |
| Sun Jul 26 | 5:40 AM | 8:17 PM | 14h 36m | −1m 55s |
| Mon Jul 27 | 5:41 AM | 8:16 PM | 14h 34m | −1m 58s |
| Tue Jul 28 | 5:42 AM | 8:15 PM | 14h 32m | −2m 00s |
Twilight times in Elgin today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 3:25 AM | 10:31 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 4:14 AM | 9:42 PM |
| Civil twilight | 4:57 AM | 9:00 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 5:10 AM | 6:11 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 7:46 PM | 8:47 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon — useful for photographers, sailors and stargazers in Elgin.
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 in Elgin.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Elgin
What time is sunset in Elgin today?
Sunset in Elgin, Illinois is at 8:26 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 5:31 AM today, with 14h 55m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Elgin tomorrow?
Sunrise in Elgin tomorrow is at 5:31 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 8:26 PM.
What time is sunset in Elgin tomorrow?
Sunset in Elgin tomorrow is at 8:26 PM.
How long is the day in Elgin today?
Elgin gets 14h 55m of daylight today, between sunrise at 5:31 AM and sunset at 8:26 PM.
When is golden hour in Elgin?
The evening golden hour in Elgin is about 7:46 PM to 8:47 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Elgin?
The evening blue hour in Elgin runs from about 8:47 PM to 9:00 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Elgin?
After sunset at 8:26 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Elgin at around 9:00 PM today.
When is solar noon in Elgin?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Elgin — is at 12:59 PM today.
Sunset times in cities near Elgin
- SchaumburgIL
- PalatineIL
- Arlington HeightsIL
- Arlington HeightsIL
- NapervilleIL
- AuroraIL
- BolingbrookIL
- Belmont CraginIL
Sunrise & sunset times in more Illinois cities
Sunset card for Elgin
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.