In December 2026, sunrise in Washington moves from 7:09 AM on December 1 to 7:27 AM on December 31, and sunset from 4:48 PM to 4:56 PM. Daylight changes from 9h 39m to 9h 29m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
7:09 AM → 7:27 AM
Sunset range
4:48 PM → 4:56 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 4:16 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 | 7:09 AM | 6:50 AM–7:50 AM | 4:07 PM–5:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 39m | 46% | — |
| Wed 2 | 7:10 AM | 6:51 AM–7:51 AM | 4:06 PM–5:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 38m | 35% | 12:42 AM |
| Thu 3 | 7:11 AM | 6:52 AM–7:52 AM | 4:06 PM–5:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 37m | 25% | 1:50 AM |
| Fri 4 | 7:12 AM | 6:53 AM–7:53 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 36m | 17% | 2:56 AM |
| Sat 5 | 7:12 AM | 6:54 AM–7:54 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 35m | 10% | 4:02 AM |
| Sun 6 | 7:13 AM | 6:55 AM–7:55 AM | 4:06 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 34m | 5% | 5:07 AM |
| Mon 7 | 7:14 AM | 6:56 AM–7:56 AM | 4:05 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 33m | 2% | 6:11 AM |
| Tue 8 | 7:15 AM | 6:57 AM–7:57 AM | 4:05 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 32m | 0% | 7:11 AM |
| Wed 9 | 7:16 AM | 6:57 AM–7:58 AM | 4:05 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 31m | 1% | 8:06 AM |
| Thu 10 | 7:17 AM | 6:58 AM–7:58 AM | 4:05 PM–5:05 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:05 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 30m | 3% | 8:54 AM |
| Fri 11 | 7:17 AM | 6:59 AM–7:59 AM | 4:05 PM–5:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 30m | 7% | 9:35 AM |
| Sat 12 | 7:18 AM | 7:00 AM–8:00 AM | 4:05 PM–5:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 29m | 12% | 10:08 AM |
| Sun 13 | 7:19 AM | 7:01 AM–8:01 AM | 4:06 PM–5:06 PM | 4:47 PM | 5:06 PM–5:17 PM | 9h 28m | 19% | 10:38 AM |
| Mon 14 | 7:20 AM | 7:01 AM–8:02 AM | 4:06 PM–5:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:06 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 28m | 27% | 11:03 AM |
| Tue 15 | 7:20 AM | 7:02 AM–8:02 AM | 4:06 PM–5:06 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:06 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 28m | 36% | 11:27 AM |
| Wed 16 | 7:21 AM | 7:03 AM–8:03 AM | 4:06 PM–5:07 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:07 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 27m | 46% | 11:50 AM |
| Thu 17 | 7:22 AM | 7:03 AM–8:04 AM | 4:06 PM–5:07 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:07 PM–5:18 PM | 9h 27m | 57% | 12:13 PM |
| Fri 18 | 7:22 AM | 7:04 AM–8:04 AM | 4:07 PM–5:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:07 PM–5:19 PM | 9h 27m | 67% | 12:39 PM |
| Sat 19 | 7:23 AM | 7:04 AM–8:05 AM | 4:07 PM–5:08 PM | 4:49 PM | 5:08 PM–5:19 PM | 9h 26m | 77% | 1:06 PM |
| Sun 20 | 7:23 AM | 7:05 AM–8:05 AM | 4:08 PM–5:08 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:08 PM–5:20 PM | 9h 26m | 85% | 1:41 PM |
| Mon 21 | 7:24 AM | 7:05 AM–8:06 AM | 4:08 PM–5:09 PM | 4:50 PM | 5:09 PM–5:20 PM | 9h 26m | 92% | 2:22 PM |
| Tue 22 | 7:24 AM | 7:06 AM–8:06 AM | 4:08 PM–5:09 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:09 PM–5:21 PM | 9h 26m | 97% | 3:13 PM |
| Wed 23 | 7:25 AM | 7:06 AM–8:07 AM | 4:09 PM–5:10 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:10 PM–5:21 PM | 9h 26m | 100% | 4:16 PM |
| Thu 24 | 7:25 AM | 7:07 AM–8:07 AM | 4:10 PM–5:10 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:10 PM–5:22 PM | 9h 26m | 99% | 5:28 PM |
| Fri 25 | 7:26 AM | 7:07 AM–8:08 AM | 4:10 PM–5:11 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:11 PM–5:22 PM | 9h 26m | 96% | 6:44 PM |
| Sat 26 | 7:26 AM | 7:08 AM–8:08 AM | 4:11 PM–5:11 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:11 PM–5:23 PM | 9h 27m | 90% | 8:00 PM |
| Sun 27 | 7:26 AM | 7:08 AM–8:08 AM | 4:11 PM–5:12 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:12 PM–5:23 PM | 9h 27m | 83% | 9:14 PM |
| Mon 28 | 7:27 AM | 7:08 AM–8:09 AM | 4:12 PM–5:13 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:13 PM–5:24 PM | 9h 27m | 73% | 10:26 PM |
| Tue 29 | 7:27 AM | 7:08 AM–8:09 AM | 4:13 PM–5:13 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:13 PM–5:25 PM | 9h 28m | 63% | 11:35 PM |
| Wed 30 | 7:27 AM | 7:09 AM–8:09 AM | 4:14 PM–5:14 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:14 PM–5:25 PM | 9h 28m | 52% | — |
| Thu 31 | 7:27 AM | 7:09 AM–8:09 AM | 4:14 PM–5:15 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:15 PM–5:26 PM | 9h 29m | 41% | 12:43 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/New York) and computed for Washington 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
JanuaryWashingtonFebruaryWashingtonMarchWashingtonAprilWashingtonMayWashingtonJuneWashingtonJulyWashingtonAugustWashingtonSeptemberWashingtonOctoberWashingtonNovemberWashingtonDecemberWashington
FAQ
What time is sunset in Washington in December?
Between 4:48 PM (on December 1) and 4:56 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Washington in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 4:06 PM–5:06 PM and the morning golden hour is 7:02 AM–8:02 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 4:16 PM in Washington. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.