Today in Chicago, USA, the sun rises at 5:23 AM and sets at 8:29 PM, giving the city exactly 15h 5m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Chicago is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Chicago
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Chicago runs from N/A to 6:05 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 7:47 PM and lasts until 8:29 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Chicago sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Chicago falls exactly at 12:56 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 15.64 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Chicago, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Chicago?
At Chicago's latitude of 41.8755616°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 253.44° (WSW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Chicago are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 41.8755616, -87.6244212. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Chicago (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Chicago versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:23 AM | 8:29 PM | 15h 5m |
| 2025 | 5:23 AM | 8:29 PM | 15h 5m |
| 2021 | 5:23 AM | 8:29 PM | 15h 5m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Chicago today?
In Chicago, the sun rises at exactly 5:23 AM and sets at 8:29 PM today. This gives the city a total of 15h 5m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Chicago today?
Today, morning golden hour in Chicago runs from N/A to 6:05 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 7:47 PM and lasts until 8:25 PM.
Why does sunrise in Chicago shift every day?
At Chicago's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 253.44° (WSW). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Chicago at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 12:56 PM when the sun reaches 15.64. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for Chicago, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in Chicago changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 5:23 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:23 AM.