Golden Hour Calculator

When the warm, low light starts and ends today — morning and evening.

Finding your city…

Golden hour

--:--

Calculating for your time zone…

Location Date

Enter latitude / longitude

Latitude Longitude Time zone

All sun times for this day

What is golden hour?

The golden hour is the time when the Sun is low — here, between the horizon and 6° above it — just after sunrise and before sunset. Sunlight passes through more atmosphere, which scatters blue light and leaves warm, soft, directional light with long shadows. Some photography apps extend it to 4° below the horizon; either way, it is rarely exactly an hour.

Golden hour photo tips

Arrive 20 minutes early — the best light can be brief, especially near the equator.
Shoot with the Sun behind your subject for rim light and flare, or beside it for texture.
Set white balance to daylight so the camera doesn't neutralise the warmth.
Far from the equator, golden hour lasts longer — in high-latitude summers it can last for hours, and in winter the Sun may stay low all day.

Frequently asked questions

How long is golden hour?

It depends on latitude and season. Near the equator the Sun climbs steeply and it lasts about 20–25 minutes; at mid-latitudes it is often 40–60 minutes, and much longer near the poles.

Is golden hour the same as magic hour?

Yes, mostly. Magic hour is the filmmakers' name for the same low-Sun light; some people include the blue hour too.

Is golden hour before or after sunset?

The evening golden hour ends at sunset. The morning golden hour begins at sunrise. The light just before sunrise and after sunset is the blue hour.

Study smarter with Stuon

Take your focus further.

Turn what you learn into lasting knowledge with active recall, spaced repetition, and simple study tracking.

Continue on Stuon