Golden Hour Duration Estimator
Estimate golden hour and blue hour duration based on your latitude and time of year.
Plan the best times for photography.
Golden Hour is the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when sunlight travels through more atmosphere, producing warm, diffused light that is ideal for photography.
What defines golden hour: The sun is between 0° and 6° above the horizon. This typically lasts 20-40 minutes but varies significantly by latitude and season.
Blue hour occurs when the sun is between 4° and 6° below the horizon. The sky takes on a deep blue color, creating dramatic contrast with warm artificial lights. Blue hour typically lasts 20-30 minutes.
How latitude affects duration:
- Near the equator (0-15°): golden hour is shorter (about 20-25 minutes) because the sun rises and sets nearly vertically
- Mid-latitudes (30-50°): golden hour lasts 30-45 minutes as the sun sets at an angle
- High latitudes (50-70°): golden hour can last over an hour in summer, with very long, gradual sunsets
- Near the Arctic/Antarctic (65°+): during summer solstice, golden hour can last for hours
Seasonal variation:
- Summer solstice: longest golden hours at high latitudes, shortest near equator
- Winter solstice: more equal duration across latitudes
- Equinoxes: moderate golden hour duration everywhere
The approximate formula:
Golden hour duration depends on the angle at which the sun crosses the horizon.
Duration ≈ 6° / (cos(latitude) × 0.25°/minute)
This is simplified. The actual calculation involves solar declination angle, which changes throughout the year.
Photography tips during golden hour:
- Shoot with the sun behind you for warm, even lighting on subjects
- Shoot into the sun for dramatic silhouettes and lens flares
- Use a wide aperture (f/2.8-f/5.6) to capture the soft bokeh of golden light
- White balance set to “daylight” preserves the warm tones; “shade” intensifies them