Charleston, SC: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Charleston
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:18 am and sets at 5:18 pm: 9h 59m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 19m, so the swing is 4h 20m.
When it gets better in Charleston
- Earliest sunset: 5:13 pm on Dec 3, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:23 am on Jan 8.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Dec 27.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 1.9 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 116 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 49. 31 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 32.8°N this sits between Sarasota FL (27°N, 1.4%) and Nashua NH (43°N, 9.7%) in a 1990 survey of winter depression by latitude.
What to do about it in Charleston
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth considering if you get up at 7:00 am or earlier: 42 weekday mornings here are still properly dark at that hour, mostly between Sep 10 and Apr 7.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 31 weekdays start and end in the dark. If you notice winter low mood, ask a doctor whether one fits you.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Jan 7: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Charleston, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 59m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:26 am | 8:26 pm | 14h 00m |
| August 2026 | 6:47 am | 7:58 pm | 13h 11m |
| September 2026 | 7:07 am | 7:18 pm | 12h 10m |
| October 2026 | 7:29 am | 6:40 pm | 11h 11m |
| November 2026 | 6:56 am | 5:16 pm | 10h 20m |
| December 2026 | 7:18 am | 5:18 pm | 9h 59m |
| January 2027 | 7:21 am | 5:42 pm | 10h 21m |
| February 2027 | 6:57 am | 6:10 pm | 11h 13m |
| March 2027 | 7:23 am | 7:32 pm | 12h 10m |
| April 2027 | 6:43 am | 7:54 pm | 13h 11m |
| May 2027 | 6:17 am | 8:16 pm | 13h 59m |
| June 2027 | 6:12 am | 8:31 pm | 14h 19m |
Charleston against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Charleston (9h 59m, sunset 5:18 pm):
- Mount Pleasant, SC, 6 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:17 pm (-1 min).
- James Island, SC, 7 mi away: 10h 00m of daylight (+1 min), sunset 5:18 pm (0 min).
- Hanahan, SC, 7 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:18 pm (0 min).
- North Charleston, SC, 8 mi away: 9h 59m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:18 pm (0 min).
- Goose Creek, SC, 12 mi away: 9h 58m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:17 pm (-1 min).