Sunset & Sunrise Today in Wilmington, North Carolina
Sunrise & Sunset Tomorrow in Wilmington: sunrise 7:18 AM, sunset 6:35 PM.
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, the sun sets over Wilmington at 6:37 PM, having risen at 7:17 AM. That works out to 11h 19m of daylight today. Local solar noon in Wilmington falls at 12:57 PM.
Because Wilmington is at 34.24° (the lower mid-latitudes), daylight varies moderately between summer and winter. Each day is currently getting about 2 minutes shorter and 4 seconds. As autumn progresses, sunrise and sunset in Wilmington move a little each day rather than staying fixed.
Golden hour in Wilmington this evening is roughly 6:04 PM–6:53 PM, the best window for warm, soft photos. The blue hour follows, roughly 6:53 PM to 7:02 PM, as twilight deepens.
Tomorrow, sunset in Wilmington is at 6:35 PM and sunrise at 7:18 AM — about 2m 2s less daylight than today. The table below shows how sunrise and sunset in Wilmington drift across the whole year.
It's autumn in Wilmington, when sunset creeps earlier each week. 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 | 7:17 AM | 6:37 PM | 11h 19m |
| Jacksonville | 7:15 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 18m |
| Fayetteville | 7:21 AM | 6:40 PM | 11h 18m |
| Goldsboro | 7:18 AM | 6:36 PM | 11h 17m |
| Greenville | 7:16 AM | 6:33 PM | 11h 17m |
Wilmington sun facts for 2026
- Longest day June 20 — 14h 26m of daylight
- Shortest day December 21 — 9h 51m
- Latest sunset 8:27 PM (June 23)
- Earliest sunset 5:01 PM (November 29)
- Earliest sunrise 5:59 AM (June 7)
- Latest sunrise 7:31 AM (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 15 | 7:17 AM | 6:37 PM | 11h 19m | — |
| Fri Oct 16 | 7:18 AM | 6:35 PM | 11h 17m | −2m 02s |
| Sat Oct 17 | 7:18 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 15m | −2m 03s |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:19 AM | 6:33 PM | 11h 13m | −2m 02s |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:20 AM | 6:32 PM | 11h 11m | −2m 01s |
| Tue Oct 20 | 7:21 AM | 6:31 PM | 11h 09m | −2m 01s |
| Wed Oct 21 | 7:22 AM | 6:29 PM | 11h 07m | −2m 00s |
| Thu Oct 22 | 7:23 AM | 6:28 PM | 11h 05m | −2m 00s |
| Fri Oct 23 | 7:23 AM | 6:27 PM | 11h 03m | −1m 59s |
| Sat Oct 24 | 7:24 AM | 6:26 PM | 11h 01m | −1m 58s |
| Sun Oct 25 | 7:25 AM | 6:25 PM | 10h 59m | −1m 58s |
| Mon Oct 26 | 7:26 AM | 6:24 PM | 10h 57m | −1m 57s |
| Tue Oct 27 | 7:27 AM | 6:23 PM | 10h 55m | −1m 56s |
| Wed Oct 28 | 7:28 AM | 6:22 PM | 10h 53m | −1m 56s |
Twilight times in Wilmington today
| Phase | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical twilight | 5:53 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Nautical twilight | 6:22 AM | 7:31 PM |
| Civil twilight | 6:51 AM | 7:02 PM |
| Morning golden hour | 7:01 AM | 7:50 AM |
| Evening golden hour | 6:04 PM | 6:53 PM |
Civil, nautical and astronomical twilight describe how far the sun is below the horizon.
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.
Sunset & sunrise FAQ for Wilmington
What time is sunset in Wilmington today?
Sunset in Wilmington, North Carolina is at 6:37 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 7:17 AM today, with 11h 19m of daylight to follow.
What time is sunrise in Wilmington tomorrow?
Sunrise in Wilmington tomorrow is at 7:18 AM, and sunset tomorrow is at 6:35 PM.
What time is sunset in Wilmington tomorrow?
Sunset in Wilmington tomorrow is at 6:35 PM.
How long is the day in Wilmington today?
Wilmington gets 11h 19m of daylight today, between sunrise at 7:17 AM and sunset at 6:37 PM.
When is golden hour in Wilmington?
The evening golden hour in Wilmington is about 6:04 PM to 6:53 PM today — the warm, soft light ideal for photos.
When is blue hour in Wilmington?
The evening blue hour in Wilmington runs from about 6:53 PM to 7:02 PM today, just after sunset.
What time does it get dark in Wilmington?
After sunset at 6:37 PM, full darkness (the end of twilight) arrives in Wilmington at around 7:02 PM today.
When is solar noon in Wilmington?
Solar noon — when the sun is highest in the sky over Wilmington — is at 12:57 PM today.
Nearest cities to Wilmington
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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.