Sunrise and Sunset in Chicago

When the sun rises and sets in Chicago (Illinois) today, how long it stays light and when twilight begins – calculated for 41.8500° N, 87.6500° W, time zone America/Chicago, including daylight saving time.

Sunrise and sunset in Chicago to the end of 2027

Date	First light	Sunrise	Sunset	Last light	Day length
1 Oct 2026	06:19	06:47	18:32	18:59	11 h 44 min
15 Oct 2026	06:34	07:03	18:08	18:37	11 h 6 min
1 Nov 2026	05:54	06:23	16:44	17:13	10 h 22 min
15 Nov 2026	06:10	06:40	16:29	16:59	9 h 49 min
1 Dec 2026	06:27	06:58	16:20	16:51	9 h 22 min
15 Dec 2026	06:39	07:11	16:20	16:52	9 h 9 min
1 Jan 2027	06:46	07:18	16:30	17:01	9 h 12 min
15 Jan 2027	06:44	07:15	16:44	17:15	9 h 29 min
1 Feb 2027	06:33	07:03	17:05	17:35	10 h 3 min
15 Feb 2027	06:17	06:46	17:23	17:52	10 h 37 min
1 Mar 2027	05:57	06:25	17:40	18:08	11 h 15 min
15 Mar 2027	06:34	07:02	18:57	19:24	11 h 54 min
1 Apr 2027	06:05	06:33	19:15	19:44	12 h 42 min
15 Apr 2027	05:41	06:10	19:31	20:00	13 h 21 min
1 May 2027	05:16	05:47	19:49	20:19	14 h 2 min
15 May 2027	04:58	05:30	20:03	20:35	14 h 33 min
1 Jun 2027	04:44	05:18	20:19	20:52	15 h 1 min
15 Jun 2027	04:40	05:14	20:27	21:01	15 h 12 min
1 Jul 2027	04:45	05:19	20:29	21:03	15 h 10 min
15 Jul 2027	04:55	05:28	20:24	20:57	14 h 55 min
1 Aug 2027	05:12	05:44	20:08	20:40	14 h 25 min
15 Aug 2027	05:28	05:58	19:50	20:20	13 h 52 min
1 Sept 2027	05:47	06:16	19:24	19:52	13 h 8 min
15 Sept 2027	06:02	06:30	19:00	19:28	12 h 30 min
1 Oct 2027	06:19	06:47	18:32	19:00	11 h 45 min
15 Oct 2027	06:34	07:02	18:09	18:37	11 h 7 min
1 Nov 2027	06:53	07:22	17:44	18:13	10 h 22 min
15 Nov 2027	06:09	06:39	16:29	16:59	9 h 50 min
1 Dec 2027	06:27	06:58	16:20	16:51	9 h 22 min
15 Dec 2027	06:39	07:11	16:20	16:51	9 h 9 min

On the 1st and 15th of each month, local time including daylight saving time. Twilight = civil twilight (centre of the sun 6° below the horizon).

Chicago in 2027: longest and shortest day

Longest day: 21 June 2027 with 15 h 14 min of daylight.
Shortest day: 21 December 2027 with 9 h 8 min.
Earliest sunrise: 15 June 2027 at 05:14; latest: 6 November 2027 at 07:28.
Earliest sunset: 8 December 2027 at 16:19; latest: 27 June 2027 at 20:29.

Clock changes in 2027 in Chicago

14 March 2027: clocks go forward – sunrise 06:06 the day before, 07:04 on the day of the change.
7 November 2027: clocks go back – sunrise 07:28 the day before, 06:30 on the day of the change.

Sun position, sun path and shadow length for Chicago

How the times are calculated

Sunrise and sunset are the moments when the upper edge of the sun touches the horizon. Because the atmosphere bends the light, the centre of the sun is then 0.833° below the horizon. We use the method of the NOAA Solar Calculator (formulas by Jean Meeus) for the coordinates of central Chicago; our results match the U.S. Naval Observatory to the minute.

Civil twilight begins in the morning when the centre of the sun is 6° below the horizon and ends at 6° in the evening. During this time there is usually enough light outdoors to see without artificial light.

Limits: hills, tall buildings and the weather shift the visible sunrise by a few minutes, and refraction varies with temperature and air pressure. The times assume a clear horizon at sea level.

Frequently asked questions

What time is sunrise in Chicago today?

Today's time is shown above under “Today and tomorrow” and is calculated for the current date. For comparison: on 21 June 2027 the sun rises in Chicago at 05:15, on 21 December at 07:14.

When is the longest day in Chicago in 2027?

On 21 June 2027, with 15 h 14 min between sunrise and sunset. The shortest day is 21 December 2027 with 9 h 8 min.

Why is the earliest sunset not on the shortest day?

In Chicago the earliest sunset of 2027 is on 8 December 2027 and the latest sunrise only on 6 November 2027. The reason is the equation of time: the Earth moves on an ellipse with a tilted axis, so solar noon drifts by up to about a quarter of an hour over the year. Daylight saving time shifts the clock times by another hour.

How accurate are the sunrise and sunset times?

According to NOAA, to about one minute for places between 72° north and south. The calculation assumes a clear horizon at sea level; hills, buildings and unusual atmospheric layers can shift the visible sunrise and sunset by a few minutes.

What is civil twilight?

The period when the sun is up to 6° below the horizon. In the morning it starts before sunrise, in the evening it ends after sunset; there is usually still enough light for outdoor activities without lamps.

Sunrise and sunset near Chicago

Other countries

Sources

Last updated: 29 September 2026