Columbus, IN: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Columbus
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:00 am and sets at 5:24 pm: 9h 24m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 14h 56m, so the swing is 5h 31m.
When it gets better in Columbus
- Earliest sunset: 5:21 pm on Dec 7, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:03 am on Jan 4.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 26.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.4 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 173 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 33. 33 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 39.2°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 Columbus
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 134 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Aug 19 to Apr 19, so set it up before Aug 19.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 33 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 16 to Dec 30: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 16.
Daylight in Columbus, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 24m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6:35 am | 9:05 pm | 14h 31m |
| August 2026 | 7:02 am | 8:31 pm | 13h 28m |
| September 2026 | 7:31 am | 7:42 pm | 12h 12m |
| October 2026 | 8:00 am | 6:56 pm | 10h 57m |
| November 2026 | 7:34 am | 5:25 pm | 9h 51m |
| December 2026 | 8:00 am | 5:24 pm | 9h 24m |
| January 2027 | 7:59 am | 5:52 pm | 9h 53m |
| February 2027 | 7:28 am | 6:27 pm | 11h 00m |
| March 2027 | 7:46 am | 7:57 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:59 am | 8:27 pm | 13h 28m |
| May 2027 | 6:26 am | 8:55 pm | 14h 30m |
| June 2027 | 6:18 am | 9:13 pm | 14h 56m |
Columbus against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Columbus (9h 24m, sunset 5:24 pm):
- Seymour, IN, 18 mi away: 9h 26m of daylight (+2 min), sunset 5:25 pm (+1 min).
- Franklin, IN, 21 mi away: 9h 23m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).
- Greensburg, IN, 25 mi away: 9h 24m of daylight (0 min), sunset 5:22 pm (-2 min).
- Shelbyville, IN, 25 mi away: 9h 22m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 5:23 pm (-1 min).
- Bargersville, IN, 28 mi away: 9h 22m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 5:24 pm (0 min).