Today in San Francisco, USA, the sun rises at 5:55 AM and sets at 8:35 PM, giving the city exactly 14h 40m of daylight. That is 0 minutes longer than yesterday—approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice. With 167 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, San Francisco is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in San Francisco
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in San Francisco runs from N/A to 6:34 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 7:56 PM and lasts until 8:35 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. San Francisco sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in San Francisco falls exactly at 1:15 PM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of -9.75 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces a relatively low UV exposure day for San Francisco, typical of its Summer season.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in San Francisco?
At San Francisco's latitude of 37.7879363°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 231.20° (SW). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for San Francisco are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 37.7879363, -122.4075201. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in San Francisco (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 San Francisco versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:55 AM | 8:35 PM | 14h 40m |
| 2025 | 5:55 AM | 8:35 PM | 14h 39m |
| 2021 | 5:55 AM | 8:35 PM | 14h 39m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in San Francisco today?
In San Francisco, the sun rises at exactly 5:55 AM and sets at 8:35 PM today. This gives the city a total of 14h 40m of daylight.
When is golden hour in San Francisco today?
Today, morning golden hour in San Francisco runs from N/A to 6:34 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 7:56 PM and lasts until 8:32 PM.
Why does sunrise in San Francisco shift every day?
At San Francisco's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 231.20° (SW). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is approaching the solar plateau near the Winter Solstice until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in San Francisco at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 1:15 PM when the sun reaches -9.75. This produces a relatively low UV exposure day for San Francisco, typical of its Summer season.
Has the sunrise time in San Francisco 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 5:55 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:55 AM.