How Good Will
Tonight's Sunset Be?

What is a sunset calculator?

A sunset calculator tells you the exact sunset (and sunrise) time for any location on any day, factoring in your precise coordinates, time zone, and daylight saving. This tool goes a step further than a basic time calculator by also predicting how visually good the sunset will actually look, using real weather data.

What time is sunset today?

Sunset time depends entirely on your location and the date, since it shifts throughout the year and varies by latitude and longitude. Enter your city, address, or coordinates above and the exact sunset time for today (and the next several days) will be calculated for your local time zone automatically.

How is the sunset score calculated?

It's based on the same general principles meteorologists and sunset-forecasting services use: a moderate amount of high and mid-level cloud (roughly 30-70% coverage) catches and reflects light beautifully, while thick low cloud near the horizon blocks the sun's light path almost entirely before it can color the sky. Low humidity and good visibility (clean, dry air) keep colors vivid rather than washed out, and active rain is treated as a near-total blocker.

Why isn't a totally clear sky rated as the best?

A perfectly clear sky produces a simple, fairly plain color gradient — there's nothing up there to actually catch and reflect the sunset light. The most dramatic, colorful sunsets almost always have some cloud in the sky, just not so much (or so low) that it blocks the sun entirely.

What is golden hour and when does it start?

Golden hour is the period when the sun is low in the sky (roughly between 6° and -4° above the horizon) and produces warm, soft, low-contrast light that's ideal for photography. Click "View Details" on any day in the forecast to see the exact golden hour start time and duration calculated for your location.

Does this tool also work for sunrise?

Yes — use the Calculate Sunrise / Calculate Sunset switch near the top of the page to flip the entire forecast, including the color-quality scoring and the day-by-day detail panels, over to sunrise.

How many days ahead can this predict?

Tonight plus the next five days — six days total. Like any weather forecast, accuracy is highest for tonight and tomorrow and gets less certain the further out you look, so it's worth checking back as your date gets closer.

Are the sunset times exact?

Yes — sunset times and the forecast data are both pulled for your location's real local time zone, including daylight saving, directly from the weather data for the exact coordinates you search.

Is Sunset Predictor free?

Yes, completely free, with no account or signup required. Everything is calculated right in your browser.

• Arrive early and stay 20-30 minutes after the sun dips below the horizon — the most dramatic color often comes after sunset, during the afterglow.
• Look for high, wispy clouds rather than a heavy overcast — that's what actually catches and reflects the color.
• Shoot in RAW so you can recover detail across the big dynamic range between a bright sky and a darker foreground.
• Bracket your exposures, or use a graduated ND filter, to hold detail in both the sky and the land.
• A polarizing filter can help cut haze, but use it carefully — at some angles it can mute rather than enhance sunset color.
• Include a strong foreground subject — silhouettes, water reflections, and interesting horizon lines are what turn a colorful sky into a compelling photo.
• A wide-angle lens (roughly 16-35mm) captures the full sweep of color across the sky.
• Set your white balance manually rather than on auto, so the camera doesn't neutralize the warm color you're trying to capture.
• Keep shooting for 20-40 minutes after "sunset" — the blue hour that follows often produces its own, completely different kind of beautiful light.
• If today's forecast is poor, check back — cloud conditions can change significantly day to day.