In December 2026, sunrise in San Diego moves from 6:34 AM on December 1 to 6:51 AM on December 31, and sunset from 4:43 PM to 4:53 PM. Daylight changes from 10h 10m to 10h 02m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
6:34 AM → 6:51 AM
Sunset range
4:43 PM → 4:53 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 4:27 PM
New moon
Dec 8
best for stars
Day-by-day sun & moon times — December 2026
| Date | Sunrise | Morning golden hour | Evening golden hour | Sunset | Blue hour | Daylight | Moon | Moonrise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 | 6:34 AM | 6:17 AM–7:11 AM | 4:07 PM–5:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:00 PM–5:10 PM | 10h 10m | 45% | — |
| Wed 2 | 6:35 AM | 6:18 AM–7:12 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:00 PM–5:10 PM | 10h 09m | 34% | 12:31 AM |
| Thu 3 | 6:36 AM | 6:19 AM–7:13 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:00 PM–5:10 PM | 10h 08m | 24% | 1:34 AM |
| Fri 4 | 6:36 AM | 6:20 AM–7:13 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:00 PM–5:10 PM | 10h 07m | 16% | 2:37 AM |
| Sat 5 | 6:37 AM | 6:21 AM–7:14 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:00 PM–5:10 PM | 10h 06m | 9% | 3:38 AM |
| Sun 6 | 6:38 AM | 6:21 AM–7:15 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:00 PM–5:10 PM | 10h 05m | 4% | 4:39 AM |
| Mon 7 | 6:39 AM | 6:22 AM–7:16 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:00 PM–5:11 PM | 10h 05m | 1% | 5:40 AM |
| Tue 8 | 6:40 AM | 6:23 AM–7:17 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:00 PM–5:11 PM | 10h 04m | 0% | 6:37 AM |
| Wed 9 | 6:40 AM | 6:24 AM–7:18 AM | 4:06 PM–5:00 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:00 PM–5:11 PM | 10h 03m | 1% | 7:30 AM |
| Thu 10 | 6:41 AM | 6:24 AM–7:18 AM | 4:06 PM–5:01 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:01 PM–5:11 PM | 10h 03m | 3% | 8:18 AM |
| Fri 11 | 6:42 AM | 6:25 AM–7:19 AM | 4:07 PM–5:01 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:01 PM–5:11 PM | 10h 02m | 7% | 9:00 AM |
| Sat 12 | 6:42 AM | 6:26 AM–7:20 AM | 4:07 PM–5:01 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:01 PM–5:11 PM | 10h 02m | 13% | 9:37 AM |
| Sun 13 | 6:43 AM | 6:26 AM–7:21 AM | 4:07 PM–5:01 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:01 PM–5:12 PM | 10h 01m | 20% | 10:09 AM |
| Mon 14 | 6:44 AM | 6:27 AM–7:21 AM | 4:07 PM–5:02 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:02 PM–5:12 PM | 10h 01m | 28% | 10:39 AM |
| Tue 15 | 6:44 AM | 6:28 AM–7:22 AM | 4:07 PM–5:02 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:02 PM–5:12 PM | 10h 01m | 37% | 11:05 AM |
| Wed 16 | 6:45 AM | 6:28 AM–7:23 AM | 4:08 PM–5:02 PM | 4:45 PM | 5:02 PM–5:13 PM | 10h 00m | 47% | 11:33 AM |
| Thu 17 | 6:46 AM | 6:29 AM–7:23 AM | 4:08 PM–5:03 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:03 PM–5:13 PM | 10h 00m | 58% | 12:00 PM |
| Fri 18 | 6:46 AM | 6:29 AM–7:24 AM | 4:08 PM–5:03 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:03 PM–5:13 PM | 10h 00m | 68% | 12:30 PM |
| Sat 19 | 6:47 AM | 6:30 AM–7:24 AM | 4:09 PM–5:03 PM | 4:46 PM | 5:03 PM–5:14 PM | 10h 00m | 78% | 1:02 PM |
| Sun 20 | 6:47 AM | 6:30 AM–7:25 AM | 4:09 PM–5:04 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:04 PM–5:14 PM | 10h 00m | 86% | 1:42 PM |
| Mon 21 | 6:48 AM | 6:31 AM–7:25 AM | 4:10 PM–5:04 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:04 PM–5:15 PM | 10h 00m | 93% | 2:28 PM |
| Tue 22 | 6:48 AM | 6:31 AM–7:26 AM | 4:10 PM–5:05 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:05 PM–5:15 PM | 10h 00m | 98% | 3:22 PM |
| Wed 23 | 6:49 AM | 6:32 AM–7:26 AM | 4:11 PM–5:05 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:05 PM–5:16 PM | 10h 00m | 100% | 4:27 PM |
| Thu 24 | 6:49 AM | 6:32 AM–7:27 AM | 4:11 PM–5:06 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:06 PM–5:16 PM | 10h 00m | 99% | 5:37 PM |
| Fri 25 | 6:50 AM | 6:33 AM–7:27 AM | 4:12 PM–5:06 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 10h 00m | 96% | 6:50 PM |
| Sat 26 | 6:50 AM | 6:33 AM–7:27 AM | 4:12 PM–5:07 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:07 PM–5:17 PM | 10h 00m | 90% | 8:01 PM |
| Sun 27 | 6:50 AM | 6:33 AM–7:28 AM | 4:13 PM–5:07 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:07 PM–5:18 PM | 10h 00m | 82% | 9:10 PM |
| Mon 28 | 6:51 AM | 6:34 AM–7:28 AM | 4:14 PM–5:08 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:08 PM–5:18 PM | 10h 01m | 72% | 10:17 PM |
| Tue 29 | 6:51 AM | 6:34 AM–7:28 AM | 4:14 PM–5:09 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:09 PM–5:19 PM | 10h 01m | 61% | 11:21 PM |
| Wed 30 | 6:51 AM | 6:34 AM–7:29 AM | 4:15 PM–5:09 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:09 PM–5:20 PM | 10h 01m | 51% | — |
| Thu 31 | 6:51 AM | 6:35 AM–7:29 AM | 4:16 PM–5:10 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:10 PM–5:20 PM | 10h 02m | 40% | 12:24 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/Los Angeles) and computed for San Diego city center.
Photo planning tips for December
- The December solstice brings the earliest sunsets and the most southerly sunrise and sunset.
- Long nights are ideal for star trails and winter constellations.
- The Geminids peak around December 13–14 — the year's richest shower.
Other months
JanuarySan DiegoFebruarySan DiegoMarchSan DiegoAprilSan DiegoMaySan DiegoJuneSan DiegoJulySan DiegoAugustSan DiegoSeptemberSan DiegoOctoberSan DiegoNovemberSan DiegoDecemberSan Diego
FAQ
What time is sunset in San Diego in December?
Between 4:43 PM (on December 1) and 4:53 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in San Diego in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 4:07 PM–5:02 PM and the morning golden hour is 6:28 AM–7:22 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 4:27 PM in San Diego. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.