Sunset & Sunrise Today in Durham, North Carolina
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Durham: sunrise 6:11 AM, sunset 8:31 PM.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the sun sets over Durham at 8:32 PM, having risen at 6:10 AM. That works out to 14h 21m of daylight today. The sun reaches its high point above Durham at 1:21 PM.
Sitting at 35.99° latitude puts Durham 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 8 seconds. This is summer in Durham, so the daily sun times are still on the move.
For photographers, the evening golden hour in Durham runs from about 7:55 PM to 8:50 PM — that warm, low, flattering light just before sunset. The blue hour follows, roughly 8:50 PM to 9:02 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Durham is at 8:31 PM and sunrise at 6:11 AM — about 1m 10s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Durham drift across the whole year.
This is high summer in Durham, the season of long evenings. Over the course of the year, sunset in Durham ranges from as early as 5:00 PM (around December 4) to as late as 8:36 PM (around June 25). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 35m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 42m.
Moon in Durham today
Sunset today: Durham vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | 6:10 AM | 8:32 PM | 14h 21m |
| Cary | 6:10 AM | 8:31 PM | 14h 20m |
| West Raleigh | 6:10 AM | 8:30 PM | 14h 20m |
| Raleigh | 6:10 AM | 8:30 PM | 14h 20m |
| Greensboro | 6:14 AM | 8:35 PM | 14h 21m |
Durham sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 35m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 42m
- Latest sunset 8:36 PM (around June 25)
- Earliest sunset 5:00 PM (around December 4)
- Earliest sunrise 5:58 AM (around June 8)
- Latest sunrise 7:37 AM (around October 31)
Solstices & equinoxes in Durham (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:19 AM | 7:27 PM | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 5:59 AM | 8:35 PM | 14h 35m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 7:03 AM | 7:12 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:22 AM | 5:04 PM | 9h 42m |
Durham sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 | 6:10 AM | 8:32 PM | 14h 21m | — |
| Thu Jul 16 | 6:11 AM | 8:31 PM | 14h 20m | −1m 10s |
| Fri Jul 17 | 6:12 AM | 8:31 PM | 14h 19m | −1m 12s |
| Sat Jul 18 | 6:12 AM | 8:30 PM | 14h 17m | −1m 15s |
| Sun Jul 19 | 6:13 AM | 8:30 PM | 14h 16m | −1m 17s |
| Mon Jul 20 | 6:14 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 15m | −1m 19s |
| Tue Jul 21 | 6:14 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 13m | −1m 21s |
| Wed Jul 22 | 6:15 AM | 8:28 PM | 14h 12m | −1m 23s |
| Thu Jul 23 | 6:16 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 11m | −1m 26s |
| Fri Jul 24 | 6:17 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 09m | −1m 27s |
| Sat Jul 25 | 6:17 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 08m | −1m 29s |
| Sun Jul 26 | 6:18 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 06m | −1m 31s |
| Mon Jul 27 | 6:19 AM | 8:24 PM | 14h 05m | −1m 33s |
| Tue Jul 28 | 6:20 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 03m | −1m 35s |
Twilight times in Durham today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 4:24 AM | 10:17 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 5:04 AM | 9:38 PM |
| Civil twilight | 5:40 AM | 9:02 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 5:52 AM | 6:47 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 7:55 PM | 8:50 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon — useful for photographers, sailors and stargazers in Durham.
Sunrise & sunset in Durham by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:26 AM | 5:12 PM | 9h 45m |
| February | 7:16 AM | 5:42 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 6:45 AM | 6:10 PM | 11h 24m |
| April | 7:01 AM | 7:37 PM | 12h 35m |
| May | 6:23 AM | 8:02 PM | 13h 39m |
| June | 6:00 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 26m |
| July | 6:02 AM | 8:36 PM | 14h 33m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 8:20 PM | 13h 56m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:42 PM | 12h 55m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 6:58 PM | 11h 47m |
| November | 6:38 AM | 5:19 PM | 10h 41m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 5:01 PM | 9h 53m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time in Durham.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Durham
What time is sunset in Durham today?
Sunset in Durham, North Carolina is at 8:32 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Durham today?
Sunrise in Durham is at 6:10 AM today, with 14h 21m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Durham tomorrow?
Sunrise in Durham tomorrow is at 6:11 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 8:31 PM.
What time is sunset in Durham tomorrow?
Sunset in Durham tomorrow is at 8:31 PM.
How long is the day in Durham today?
Durham gets 14h 21m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:10 AM and sunset at 8:32 PM.
When is golden hour in Durham?
The evening golden hour in Durham is about 7:55 PM to 8:50 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Durham?
The evening blue hour in Durham runs from about 8:50 PM to 9:02 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Durham?
After sunset at 8:32 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Durham at around 9:02 PM today.
When is solar noon in Durham?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Durham — is at 1:21 PM today.
Sunset times in cities near Durham
- CaryNC
- West RaleighNC
- RaleighNC
- GreensboroNC
- High PointNC
- FayettevilleNC
- Winston-SalemNC
- LynchburgVA
Sunrise & sunset times in more North Carolina cities
Sunset card for Durham
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.