Sun times in Chicago on 23 September 2026
| Sunrise | 06:40 | rises toward E (89°) |
|---|---|---|
| Solar noon | 12:44 | sun 48.0° above the horizon |
| Sunset | 18:48 | sets toward W (271°) |
| Day length | 12 h 08 min | |
| Civil dawn | 06:12 | first usable light |
| Civil dusk | 19:16 | last usable light |
| Golden hour, morning | 06:40–07:17 | warm low light |
| Golden hour, evening | 18:12–18:48 | warm low light |
| Shadow at noon | 0.9 m | per metre of height |
Times are computed for 41.8781°, -87.6298° and refreshed every day. For any other date, an exact azimuth or a shadow drawn on the map, open the interactive sun position map for Chicago.
The sun through the year in Chicago
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Noon altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:17 | 16:45 | 9 h 28 min | 27.0° |
| February | 06:48 | 17:24 | 10 h 37 min | 35.5° |
| March | 07:04 | 18:58 | 11 h 54 min | 46.0° |
| April | 06:11 | 19:32 | 13 h 20 min | 57.9° |
| May | 05:32 | 20:05 | 14 h 33 min | 67.0° |
| June | 05:16 | 20:29 | 15 h 12 min | 71.4° |
| July | 05:30 | 20:25 | 14 h 56 min | 69.6° |
| August | 06:00 | 19:53 | 13 h 53 min | 62.1° |
| September | 06:32 | 19:02 | 12 h 30 min | 51.1° |
| October | 07:04 | 18:11 | 11 h 07 min | 39.6° |
| November | 06:41 | 16:32 | 9 h 50 min | 29.6° |
| December | 07:12 | 16:22 | 9 h 09 min | 24.9° |
At the June solstice the midday sun reaches 71.6° above the horizon in Chicago and the day lasts 15 h 14 min. At the December solstice the sun climbs only to 24.7° and the day shrinks to 9 h 08 min. That difference is what decides whether a garden, a window or a solar array sees the sun in winter.
Planning around the sun in Chicago
Solar panels
At this latitude a fixed array facing the equator collects the most over a year at a tilt of about 35°. Use the solar panel angle calculator with the coordinates 41.8781°, -87.6298° for the exact optimum, the seasonal optima and the loss from an east or west facing roof.
Buying a flat or a plot
In December the noon sun in Chicago sits 24.7° above the horizon, so every obstacle casts a shadow 2.2 times its own height at midday. Check what stands to the south before you commit: place the building on the map and read the shaded hours for 21 December.
Photography
Golden hour runs 06:40–07:17 in the morning and 18:12–18:48 in the evening today, and the sun sets toward sets toward W (271°). The golden hour calculator gives the same windows for any date, and the map's alignment finder shows the days when the setting sun lines up with a street.