In December 2026, sunrise in Chicago moves from 7:00 AM on December 1 to 7:19 AM on December 31, and sunset from 4:22 PM to 4:30 PM. Daylight changes from 9h 22m to 9h 11m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
7:00 AM → 7:19 AM
Sunset range
4:22 PM → 4:30 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 3:48 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 | 7:00 AM | 6:40 AM–7:43 AM | 3:38 PM–4:41 PM | 4:22 PM | 4:41 PM–4:53 PM | 9h 22m | 46% | — |
| Wed 2 | 7:01 AM | 6:41 AM–7:44 AM | 3:38 PM–4:41 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:41 PM–4:53 PM | 9h 21m | 35% | 12:26 AM |
| Thu 3 | 7:02 AM | 6:42 AM–7:45 AM | 3:37 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 20m | 25% | 1:36 AM |
| Fri 4 | 7:03 AM | 6:43 AM–7:47 AM | 3:37 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 18m | 17% | 2:45 AM |
| Sat 5 | 7:04 AM | 6:44 AM–7:48 AM | 3:37 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 17m | 10% | 3:53 AM |
| Sun 6 | 7:05 AM | 6:45 AM–7:49 AM | 3:37 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 16m | 5% | 5:00 AM |
| Mon 7 | 7:05 AM | 6:46 AM–7:50 AM | 3:36 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 15m | 2% | 6:06 AM |
| Tue 8 | 7:06 AM | 6:47 AM–7:51 AM | 3:36 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 14m | 0% | 7:07 AM |
| Wed 9 | 7:07 AM | 6:48 AM–7:52 AM | 3:36 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 13m | 1% | 8:02 AM |
| Thu 10 | 7:08 AM | 6:49 AM–7:53 AM | 3:36 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 12m | 3% | 8:50 AM |
| Fri 11 | 7:09 AM | 6:49 AM–7:54 AM | 3:36 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 12m | 7% | 9:29 AM |
| Sat 12 | 7:10 AM | 6:50 AM–7:54 AM | 3:36 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 11m | 12% | 10:00 AM |
| Sun 13 | 7:11 AM | 6:51 AM–7:55 AM | 3:36 PM–4:40 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:40 PM–4:52 PM | 9h 10m | 19% | 10:28 AM |
| Mon 14 | 7:11 AM | 6:52 AM–7:56 AM | 3:36 PM–4:41 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:41 PM–4:53 PM | 9h 10m | 27% | 10:52 AM |
| Tue 15 | 7:12 AM | 6:52 AM–7:57 AM | 3:36 PM–4:41 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:41 PM–4:53 PM | 9h 09m | 37% | 11:13 AM |
| Wed 16 | 7:13 AM | 6:53 AM–7:58 AM | 3:37 PM–4:41 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:41 PM–4:53 PM | 9h 09m | 47% | 11:34 AM |
| Thu 17 | 7:13 AM | 6:54 AM–7:58 AM | 3:37 PM–4:41 PM | 4:22 PM | 4:41 PM–4:53 PM | 9h 08m | 57% | 11:55 AM |
| Fri 18 | 7:14 AM | 6:54 AM–7:59 AM | 3:37 PM–4:42 PM | 4:22 PM | 4:42 PM–4:54 PM | 9h 08m | 67% | 12:18 PM |
| Sat 19 | 7:15 AM | 6:55 AM–7:59 AM | 3:38 PM–4:42 PM | 4:22 PM | 4:42 PM–4:54 PM | 9h 08m | 77% | 12:44 PM |
| Sun 20 | 7:15 AM | 6:55 AM–8:00 AM | 3:38 PM–4:42 PM | 4:23 PM | 4:42 PM–4:55 PM | 9h 08m | 86% | 1:15 PM |
| Mon 21 | 7:16 AM | 6:56 AM–8:01 AM | 3:38 PM–4:43 PM | 4:23 PM | 4:43 PM–4:55 PM | 9h 08m | 93% | 1:55 PM |
| Tue 22 | 7:16 AM | 6:56 AM–8:01 AM | 3:39 PM–4:43 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:43 PM–4:55 PM | 9h 08m | 97% | 2:45 PM |
| Wed 23 | 7:17 AM | 6:57 AM–8:01 AM | 3:39 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 08m | 100% | 3:48 PM |
| Thu 24 | 7:17 AM | 6:57 AM–8:02 AM | 3:40 PM–4:44 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:44 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 08m | 99% | 5:00 PM |
| Fri 25 | 7:17 AM | 6:58 AM–8:02 AM | 3:41 PM–4:45 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:45 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 08m | 96% | 6:19 PM |
| Sat 26 | 7:18 AM | 6:58 AM–8:03 AM | 3:41 PM–4:46 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:46 PM–4:58 PM | 9h 08m | 90% | 7:39 PM |
| Sun 27 | 7:18 AM | 6:58 AM–8:03 AM | 3:42 PM–4:46 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:46 PM–4:58 PM | 9h 09m | 82% | 8:55 PM |
| Mon 28 | 7:18 AM | 6:59 AM–8:03 AM | 3:43 PM–4:47 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:47 PM–4:59 PM | 9h 09m | 73% | 10:09 PM |
| Tue 29 | 7:18 AM | 6:59 AM–8:03 AM | 3:43 PM–4:48 PM | 4:28 PM | 4:48 PM–5:00 PM | 9h 10m | 62% | 11:20 PM |
| Wed 30 | 7:19 AM | 6:59 AM–8:03 AM | 3:44 PM–4:48 PM | 4:29 PM | 4:48 PM–5:00 PM | 9h 10m | 52% | — |
| Thu 31 | 7:19 AM | 6:59 AM–8:03 AM | 3:45 PM–4:49 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:49 PM–5:01 PM | 9h 11m | 41% | 12:30 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/Chicago) and computed for Chicago 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
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FAQ
What time is sunset in Chicago in December?
Between 4:22 PM (on December 1) and 4:30 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Chicago in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 3:36 PM–4:41 PM and the morning golden hour is 6:52 AM–7:57 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 3:48 PM in Chicago. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.