Golden hour
Golden Hour in Chicago, IL
The golden hour in Chicago is the warm, low-sun window just after sunrise and before sunset (sun roughly −4° to +6°). Below are today's morning and evening golden hours for Chicago, Illinois (41.88°, -87.63°), plus where on the horizon the sun rises and sets.
Chicago, IL
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Morning golden hour
4:51 AM – 5:57 AM
1h 6m
Evening golden hour
7:46 PM – 8:53 PM
1h 6m
Golden & blue hour
Morning golden hour4:51 AM – 5:57 AM1h 6m
Evening golden hour7:46 PM – 8:53 PM1h 6m
Morning blue hour4:40 AM – 4:51 AM10 min
Evening blue hour8:53 PM – 9:03 PM10 min
Sun
Sunrise5:15 AM57° ENE
Sunset8:29 PM303° WNW
Solar noon12:52 PM
Day length15h 14m
Dawn · civil4:40 AM
Dawn · nautical3:56 AM
Dawn · astronomical3:03 AM
Dusk · civil9:03 PM
Dusk · nautical9:47 PM
Dusk · astronomical10:41 PM
Moon
Waxing Crescent
38% illuminated
- Moonrise
- 11:36 AM83° E
- Moonset
- 12:05 AM281° W
Horizon directions
SunriseSunsetMoonriseMoonset
More for Chicago
Gear for the shot
- Graduated ND filter Balance a bright golden sky against a darker foreground.
- Circular polarizer Cut glare and deepen sky and foliage colour.
- ND filter kit Long exposures of moving water and clouds at sunset.
- Lens hood Tame flare when shooting toward a low sun.
As an Amazon Associate, Golden Hour Finder earns from qualifying purchases. Links may be affiliate links.
Golden hour in nearby cities
Chicago — frequently asked
- When is golden hour today in Chicago?
- Chicago's golden hour happens twice a day — in the morning around sunrise and again in the evening before sunset. The exact start and end times for today are shown in the planner above and update to your selected date.
- How long does golden hour last in Chicago?
- Golden hour in Chicago typically lasts 40–70 minutes, varying with the season and latitude (41.9°). It is longer near the solstices and around the summer months.
- Which direction does the light come from?
- During morning golden hour the sun is low in the east; in the evening it is low in the west. The compass in the planner shows the exact sunrise and sunset bearings for Chicago today.