Golden hour is the window when the sun is low enough that its light travels through more atmosphere — softening shadows, warming color temperature, and turning flat scenes into something worth shooting. The exact window shifts by several minutes every day and varies by location.
But knowing the time isn't enough. A golden hour window on a completely overcast night produces nothing. The sky quality score above factors in live weather data — cloud layers, humidity, visibility — and tells you whether tonight's window will actually deliver. A score above 65 means the conditions are worth heading out for. Below 40, the sky probably won't cooperate regardless of the timing.
Blue hour, the 20–30 minutes after sunset when the sky turns deep blue, is equally valuable — especially for cityscapes and architecture where artificial lighting balances with ambient sky. Both windows are shown above.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Golden hour begins roughly 1 hour before sunset and ends at sunset. The exact timing changes daily based on your location and time of year. Enter your city above to get today's precise golden hour window.
Typically 45–90 minutes depending on your latitude and season. At high latitudes in summer, golden hour can stretch well over an hour. In winter or near the equator, it can compress to 20–30 minutes. The duration shown above is calculated for your exact location and today's date.
Blue hour is the 20–30 minutes just after sunset when the sky turns a rich, even blue. It's particularly good for cityscapes and architecture because the ambient sky light balances well with artificial lighting. The same window also occurs before sunrise. Both are shown in the result above.
No — the timing is predictable but quality depends on atmospheric conditions. A completely clear sky actually produces flat, uninspiring light. What you want is high, thin cloud structure with a clear horizon and dry air. The sky quality score shown above tells you whether tonight's conditions will produce spectacular light or a dull sky. Read: The science behind golden hour →
Sunset is the exact moment the sun dips below the horizon. Golden hour is the window leading up to that moment — the final hour when the sun is low enough to produce warm, directional light. The best photography light often occurs in the 20–30 minutes before the sun actually sets.
Yes — the same window applies in the morning, starting at sunrise and lasting roughly the first hour afterward. Sunrise golden hour is often less crowded and can produce equally vivid light. Toggle "Tomorrow's sunrise golden hour" above to see those times.