Los Angeles sits at 34.05°N, and that latitude means sunsets stretch long in summer but pull an early curtain in December. On April 23, 2026, sunset hits 7:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time (time.now), giving you roughly 13 hours and 18 minutes of daylight to plan around. Whether you’re a photographer chasing the last light or just want to know when to close the blinds, here’s the full seasonal picture.

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Average Day Length: 13 Hours 18 Minutes · Sample Sunset Time: 7:30 PM · Sample Sunrise Time: 6:12 AM · Longest Day: June 20 · Transit Time: 12:51 PM

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Sunset April 23, 2026: 7:30 PM PDT (time.now)
  • Sunrise April 23, 2026: 6:12 AM PDT (time.now)
  • Day length: 13h 18m (time.now)
  • Civil twilight: ~30 minutes after sunset (Alpenglow)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact times for April 24 vary by source (some list 7:28 PM in Central LA vs 7:31 PM citywide)
  • Golden hour quality scores fluctuate daily and aren’t forecast reliably
3Timeline signal
  • June 23, 2026: Latest sunset at 8:09 PM (Alpenglow)
  • December: Earliest sunsets ~5:00 PM (Alpenglow)
  • Day length climbs to 13h 35m by May 2 (Meteogram)
4What’s next
  • May through July: Sunsets push past 7:45 PM (LA Almanac)
  • Winter brings 5 PM sunsets — plan outdoor shoots accordingly (LA Almanac)
  • Proposition 7 passed in California could eventually shift DST policy (LA Almanac)

Here’s the key data at a glance:

Label Value
Sample Sunset 7:30 PM WNW
Sunrise Sample 6:12 AM ENE
Day Length 13 Hours 18 Minutes
Solar Noon 12:51 PM
Longest Day June 20
Coordinates 34.052235°N, -118.243683°W

What Time in LA Does it Get Dark?

Most people equate “dark” with the end of civil twilight — that period when the sky still holds a blue glow but the sun has dipped below the horizon. In Los Angeles, civil twilight stretches roughly 30 minutes after sunset (Alpenglow), though Meteogram reports 26 minutes for late April. Either way, full darkness typically arrives between 8:00 and 8:05 PM in late spring.

Twilight Duration After Sunset

  • Civil twilight: 26–30 minutes (Meteogram, Alpenglow)
  • Nautical twilight: ~32 minutes (Meteogram)
  • Astronomical twilight: ~33 minutes (Meteogram)

Factors Affecting Darkness Onset

Your exact location within LA matters by a couple of minutes. Central LA, at slightly different coordinates, saw sunset at 7:28:30 PM on April 22 compared to 7:30–7:31 PM for the broader city area (maplogs.com). Coastal neighborhoods like Santa Monica may linger in twilight slightly longer due to the ocean horizon.

What this means: If you’re timing a photoshoot or an evening jog, add 30 minutes to the official sunset time for true dark. Anything more precise than that requires checking a live calculator for your specific neighborhood.

The catch

California stays on Pacific Daylight Time through April, which keeps sunsets an hour later than standard time would. Once standard time returns in November, that 7:30 PM sunset becomes a 6:30 PM sunset — plan your outdoor schedule accordingly.

What Time is Sunset in LA Today?

Sunset times shift daily by a minute or two, so the most reliable answer comes from live calculators. For April 23, 2026, cross-referenced data shows sunset at 7:30 PM PDT (time.now) with sunrise at 6:12 AM (time.now). Another source lists 7:31:54 PM PDT for the same date (sunrise-sunset.org) — a 1-2 minute difference that traces back to rounding at the coordinate level.

Today and Tomorrow Times

  • April 23, 2026: ~7:30 PM PDT (time.now)
  • April 22, 2026: 7:29 PM PDT (Alpenglow)

Saturday Sunset Schedule

Saturday, April 25 will see sunset approximately 1–2 minutes later than Thursday, landing near 7:32 PM. By the following Saturday, May 2, day length reaches 13 hours 35 minutes, with sunset pushing toward 7:40 PM (Meteogram).

The pattern: sunsets advance about 1–2 minutes per day through late spring, then slow in June. The peak delay hits June 23 at 8:09 PM (Alpenglow) — roughly 40 minutes later than late April.

What to watch

The LA Almanac data lists sunrise around 5:45 AM for similar dates, which conflicts with time.now’s 6:12 AM — a discrepancy that likely stems from whether the source accounts for elevation, atmospheric refraction, or the specific coordinate used. Always match your calculator to your exact address for photography work.

How Long After Sunset Does it Get Dark in California?

California’s mid-latitude position means twilight phases run fairly short compared to higher latitudes, but not instant. Here’s the breakdown for late April Los Angeles:

  • Civil twilight ends ~30 minutes post-sunset — enough light to read without a flashlight (Alpenglow)
  • Nautical twilight (32 minutes) marks when the horizon becomes hard to distinguish at sea
  • Astronomical twilight (33 minutes) is when the sky technically reaches full darkness (Meteogram)

Twilight Phases

For photographers, civil twilight is often the sweet spot — the “blue hour” that follows golden hour. In Los Angeles, blue hour arrives roughly 30–40 minutes after sunset, depending on atmospheric clarity and cloud cover. Sources cite evening golden hour starting between 6:27 PM (Alpenglow) and 7:24 PM (sunrisesunsettime.org), a range that reflects different definitions of when golden hour ends.

Regional Variations

Northern LA County neighborhoods at slightly higher elevation may see the sun drop a fraction earlier. Coastal areas face an unobstructed ocean horizon, which can make sunsets appear to last longer visually. These variations rarely exceed 3 minutes.

The implication: If you’re driving from downtown LA to the beach, sunset hits the coast a few minutes after the hills — timing your arrival accordingly means more light to spare.

The trade-off

Pacific Daylight Time in April adds an hour to sunset compared to standard time, but it also means darker mornings. Early risers for photography should factor in that sunrise doesn’t crack 6:00 AM until late summer — and plan shoots accordingly.

What is the Golden Hour in Los Angeles?

Golden hour describes the period when the sun sits below 6° altitude, scattering light in a warm, diffuse way that flatters skin tones and architectural details (Trevan Hiersche). In Los Angeles during late April, evening golden hour typically spans from around 6:30 PM to 7:05 PM, with morning golden hour running roughly 30–33 minutes post-sunrise (Meteogram).

Definition and Timing

Technically, golden hour isn’t an hour — it’s when the sun’s angle creates that characteristic warm glow. Duration varies with season and latitude. In summer, golden hour stretches longer because the sun moves more slowly near the horizon at high solar angles. In April, you typically get 30–40 minutes of usable golden light (Meteogram).

Photography Applications

For landscape and portrait photographers, the “3 finger rule” is a field estimation technique: hold your hand at arm’s length and count how many fingers fit between the sun and the horizon. Each finger width approximates roughly 15 minutes of light remaining. It’s imprecise but useful when you’re without a phone.

What this means: On April 23, with sunset at 7:30 PM, golden hour runs from approximately 6:30–7:05 PM. Arrive at your location by 6:15 PM to scout and set up. The light quality drops sharply after civil twilight ends around 8:00 PM.

The upshot

Late October in LA often sees temperatures over 90°F even as sunsets shift earlier, around 6:15 PM. The heat delays evening outdoor activity, but photographers benefit from a longer “golden” window as haze diffuses the light — plan shoots for this window if you can handle the warmth.

What Time Does it Get Dark in LA During Winter?

Winter flips the script. By December, Los Angeles sunsets happen around 4:45–5:00 PM, with civil twilight concluding by 5:30 PM. Daylight Saving Time ends in early November, pulling sunset times an hour earlier overnight. The shortest day of the year brings just under 10 hours of daylight, with sunrise near 6:45 AM.

December 2026 Times

Based on astronomical patterns, December 21, 2026 (winter solstice) would show sunset near 4:50 PM and sunrise near 6:55 AM in Los Angeles. This is roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes earlier evening light than the June peak (LA Almanac).

Seasonal Shifts

  • June 23: Sunset 8:09 PM, day length 14h 26m (Alpenglow)
  • December: Sunset ~5:00 PM, day length ~9h 50m
  • April 23: Sunset 7:30 PM, day length 13h 18m

The trade-off: Winter’s early sunsets mean worse rush hour visibility for commuters but easier timing for photographers who want to catch golden hour without staying up past their bedtime.

“Technically speaking, the golden hour happens when the sun is below 6° in the sky.”

— Trevan Hiersche (Photographer)

“After sunset in Los Angeles, civil twilight lasts roughly 30 minutes, during which the sky fades but remains somewhat bright.”

— Alpenglow (Astronomy App)

Related reading: Chelsea F.C. vs LAFC · Liverpool F.C. vs Atlético Madrid Stats

Additional sources

sunrisetime.co, sunsethue.com, suntoday.org

Los Angeles sees sunsets around 7:30 PM PDT this season, while precise sunset time tools deliver exact times for any location based on coordinates and elevation.

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Frequently asked questions

What time is sunset in LA tomorrow?

Sunset shifts by 1–2 minutes daily. On April 24, 2026, expect sunset around 7:31–7:32 PM PDT. Check a live calculator like time.now for precise neighborhood-level times.

What time is sunset in California?

Sunset times vary by city and season. In Los Angeles during late April, it’s approximately 7:30 PM. San Francisco at the same latitude sees slightly earlier sunsets due to fog and coastal positioning, while San Diego runs a few minutes later.

What time is sunrise in LA?

On April 23, 2026, sunrise was at 6:12 AM PDT (time.now). By June, sunrise occurs around 5:41 AM, giving early risers extended morning light.

What is the 3 finger rule for sunset?

A field estimation technique: hold your hand at arm’s length and count how many fingers fit between the sun and the horizon. Each finger width roughly equals 15 minutes of remaining light.

Why is it so hot in LA in late October?

Late October often brings offshore Santa Ana winds and high-pressure systems that trap heat, pushing temperatures above 90°F even as sunsets shift earlier to around 6:15 PM. This creates extended evening warmth but shorter photography windows.

What is the longest day in California?

June 20 or 21 is the summer solstice. In 2026, the latest sunset hits June 23 at 8:09 PM (Alpenglow), giving Los Angeles roughly 14 hours and 26 minutes of daylight.

What time is sunrise in California?

California spans nearly 10° of latitude, so sunrise varies. In late April, Los Angeles sees sunrise around 6:12 AM, while Crescent City in the north waits until after 6:30 AM.

For photographers timing golden hour, the takeaway is concrete: arrive 45 minutes before sunset, stay 30 minutes after, and always verify your neighborhood’s exact times. The difference between downtown and the beach is only a few minutes, but that’s the difference between catching the last light on the skyscrapers and watching it spill into the Pacific.

Bottom line: Los Angeles sunsets range from 5:00 PM in December to 8:09 PM in late June. On April 23, 2026, you get 13 hours and 18 minutes of daylight with sunset at 7:30 PM. Photographers who arrive by 6:15 PM capture the best light; commuters should expect winter darkness by 5:30 PM and adjust their routes accordingly.