Sunset & Sunrise Today in Wilmington, North Carolina
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Wilmington: sunrise 6:12 AM, sunset 8:23 PM.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the sun sets over Wilmington at 8:23 PM, having risen at 6:11 AM. That works out to 14h 12m of daylight today. Local solar noon in Wilmington falls at 1:17 PM.
Because Wilmington is at 34.24° (the lower mid-latitudes), daylight varies moderately between summer and winter. Each day is currently getting about 1 minute shorter and 3 seconds. As summer progresses, sunrise and sunset in Wilmington move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
Golden hour in Wilmington this evening is roughly 7:48 PM–8:42 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 8:42 PM to 8:53 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Wilmington is at 8:23 PM and sunrise at 6:12 AM — about 1m 6s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Wilmington drift across the whole year.
It's summer in Wilmington right now, when daylight is at its most generous. Over the course of the year, sunset in Wilmington ranges from as early as 5:01 PM (around November 29) to as late as 8:27 PM (around June 23). Its longest day lands on June 20 with 14h 26m of daylight, and its shortest on December 21 with just 9h 51m.
Moon in Wilmington today
Sunset today: Wilmington vs nearby cities
| City | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 6:11 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 12m |
| Jacksonville | 6:08 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 15m |
| Fayetteville | 6:13 AM | 8:29 PM | 14h 16m |
| Greenville | 6:05 AM | 8:25 PM | 14h 19m |
Wilmington sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 26m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 51m
- Latest sunset 8:27 PM (around June 23)
- Earliest sunset 5:01 PM (around November 29)
- Earliest sunrise 5:59 AM (around June 7)
- Latest sunrise 7:31 AM (around March 8)
Solstices & equinoxes in Wilmington (2026)
| Event | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Mar 20, 2026 | 7:15 AM | 7:23 PM | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (longest day) | Jun 21, 2026 | 6:00 AM | 8:26 PM | 14h 26m |
| September equinox | Sep 22, 2026 | 7:00 AM | 7:08 PM | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (shortest day) | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:14 AM | 5:05 PM | 9h 51m |
Wilmington sunrise & sunset — next 14 days
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Jul 15 | 6:11 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 12m | — |
| Thu Jul 16 | 6:12 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 11m | −1m 06s |
| Fri Jul 17 | 6:12 AM | 8:23 PM | 14h 10m | −1m 07s |
| Sat Jul 18 | 6:13 AM | 8:22 PM | 14h 09m | −1m 10s |
| Sun Jul 19 | 6:13 AM | 8:21 PM | 14h 08m | −1m 11s |
| Mon Jul 20 | 6:14 AM | 8:21 PM | 14h 06m | −1m 14s |
| Tue Jul 21 | 6:15 AM | 8:20 PM | 14h 05m | −1m 16s |
| Wed Jul 22 | 6:15 AM | 8:20 PM | 14h 04m | −1m 17s |
| Thu Jul 23 | 6:16 AM | 8:19 PM | 14h 02m | −1m 20s |
| Fri Jul 24 | 6:17 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 01m | −1m 21s |
| Sat Jul 25 | 6:18 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 00m | −1m 24s |
| Sun Jul 26 | 6:18 AM | 8:17 PM | 13h 58m | −1m 25s |
| Mon Jul 27 | 6:19 AM | 8:16 PM | 13h 57m | −1m 26s |
| Tue Jul 28 | 6:20 AM | 8:16 PM | 13h 55m | −1m 29s |
Twilight times in Wilmington today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 4:29 AM | 10:05 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 5:07 AM | 9:27 PM |
| Civil twilight | 5:42 AM | 8:53 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 5:53 AM | 6:46 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 7:48 PM | 8:42 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon — useful for photographers, sailors and stargazers in Wilmington.
Sunrise & sunset in Wilmington by month
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 AM | 5:12 PM | 9h 54m |
| February | 7:09 AM | 5:41 PM | 10h 32m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 6:07 PM | 11h 27m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:32 PM | 12h 33m |
| May | 6:22 AM | 7:55 PM | 13h 33m |
| June | 6:01 AM | 8:18 PM | 14h 17m |
| July | 6:03 AM | 8:27 PM | 14h 23m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 8:12 PM | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:45 AM | 7:37 PM | 12h 51m |
| October | 7:06 AM | 6:55 PM | 11h 49m |
| November | 6:31 AM | 5:18 PM | 10h 46m |
| December | 6:59 AM | 5:01 PM | 10h 01m |
Times shown for the 1st of each month, local time in Wilmington.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Wilmington
What time is sunset in Wilmington today?
Sunset in Wilmington, North Carolina is at 8:23 PM today. It shifts by a minute or two each day as the seasons change.
What time is sunrise in Wilmington today?
Sunrise in Wilmington is at 6:11 AM today, with 14h 12m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Wilmington tomorrow?
Sunrise in Wilmington tomorrow is at 6:12 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 8:23 PM.
What time is sunset in Wilmington tomorrow?
Sunset in Wilmington tomorrow is at 8:23 PM.
How long is the day in Wilmington today?
Wilmington gets 14h 12m of daylight today, between sunrise at 6:11 AM and sunset at 8:23 PM.
When is golden hour in Wilmington?
The evening golden hour in Wilmington is about 7:48 PM to 8:42 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Wilmington?
The evening blue hour in Wilmington runs from about 8:42 PM to 8:53 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Wilmington?
After sunset at 8:23 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Wilmington at around 8:53 PM today.
When is solar noon in Wilmington?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Wilmington — is at 1:17 PM today.
Sunset times in cities near Wilmington
Sunrise & sunset times in more North Carolina cities
Sunset card for Wilmington
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.