Raleigh Sunrise & Sunset: April 2026
Day-by-day sunrise and sunset times with golden hour data
In Raleigh in April, sunrise averages 06:41 and sunset averages 19:49. Days are getting longer through April at Raleigh's latitude of 35.8°. Golden hour lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise and before sunset. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.
Avg Sunrise
06:41
Avg Sunset
19:49
Avg Daylight
13h 06m
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Monthly Sunrise & Sunset Table: Raleigh
| Date | Day | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/01 | Wed | 07:02 | 19:36 | 12h 35m |
| 04/02 | Thu | 07:00 | 19:37 | 12h 37m |
| 04/03 | Fri | 06:59 | 19:38 | 12h 39m |
| 04/04 | Sat | 06:57 | 19:39 | 12h 41m |
| 04/05 | Sun | 06:56 | 19:40 | 12h 44m |
| 04/06 | Mon | 06:55 | 19:40 | 12h 46m |
| 04/07 | Tue | 06:53 | 19:41 | 12h 48m |
| 04/08 | Wed | 06:52 | 19:42 | 12h 50m |
| 04/09 | Thu | 06:50 | 19:43 | 12h 52m |
| 04/10 | Fri | 06:49 | 19:44 | 12h 55m |
| 04/11 | Sat | 06:48 | 19:45 | 12h 57m |
| 04/12 | Sun | 06:46 | 19:45 | 12h 59m |
| 04/13 | Mon | 06:45 | 19:46 | 13h 01m |
| 04/14 | Tue | 06:44 | 19:47 | 13h 03m |
| 04/15 | Wed | 06:42 | 19:48 | 13h 06m |
| 04/16 | Thu | 06:41 | 19:49 | 13h 08m |
| 04/17 | Fri | 06:40 | 19:50 | 13h 10m |
| 04/18 | Sat | 06:39 | 19:50 | 13h 12m |
| 04/19 | Sun | 06:37 | 19:51 | 13h 14m |
| 04/20 | Mon | 06:36 | 19:52 | 13h 16m |
| 04/21 | Tue | 06:35 | 19:53 | 13h 18m |
| 04/22 | Wed | 06:34 | 19:54 | 13h 20m |
| 04/23 | Thu | 06:32 | 19:55 | 13h 22m |
| 04/24 | Fri | 06:31 | 19:56 | 13h 24m |
| 04/25 | Sat | 06:30 | 19:56 | 13h 27m |
| 04/26 | Sun | 06:29 | 19:57 | 13h 29m |
| 04/27 | Mon | 06:28 | 19:58 | 13h 31m |
| 04/28 | Tue | 06:26 | 19:59 | 13h 33m |
| 04/29 | Wed | 06:25 | 20:00 | 13h 34m |
| 04/30 | Thu | 06:24 | 20:01 | 13h 36m |
Daylight Hours Throughout the Year
April Sunrise & Sunset in Raleigh: Complete Monthly Guide
In April 2026, Raleigh has an average of 13h 06m of daylight per day. Sunrise times range from 07:02 at the start of the month to 06:24 at the end, while sunset shifts from 19:36 to 20:01.
April in Raleigh brings lengthening spring days. Average sunrise in April is 06:41 and average sunset is 19:49. The daily table above shows the exact sunrise and sunset time for each day of the month.
Day Length Variation in April
Day length in Raleigh in April changes throughout the month. Near the solstices (June 21 for the northern hemisphere, December 21 for the southern hemisphere), day length changes very slowly, less than 1 minute per day. Near the equinoxes (March 20 and September 22), day length changes rapidly, gaining or losing 2 to 4 minutes per day depending on latitude.
At Raleigh's latitude of 35.8°, the rate of day length change in April is approximately 2 to 3 minutes per day during the weeks furthest from the solstices. This means that sunrise in Raleigh shifts by approximately 40 to 60 minutes over the course of April.
Golden Hour in Raleigh in April
Golden hour in Raleigh in April occurs twice each day: in the morning shortly after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset. The duration depends on the sun's angle of elevation above the horizon, which varies with latitude and month. In Aprilat Raleigh's latitude of 35.8°, golden hour lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes.
For photographers planning shoots in Raleigh in April: plan to arrive at your location 30 to 40 minutes before the listed sunrise time to capture blue hour before golden hour begins. The transition from blue hour to golden hour creates the most dramatic color sequences. Evening golden hour in April begins about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and produces warmer, more orange tones than the morning session.
Blue Hour and Twilight in Raleigh in April
Civil twilight in Raleigh in April begins before sunrise and ends after sunset, creating windows of usable natural light even outside the official sunrise-to-sunset window. Civil twilight occurs when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. Nautical twilight spans 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. Astronomical twilight spans 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon.
The total twilight window in Raleigh in April extends the usable light day by approximately 45 to 70 minutes beyond the sunrise-to-sunset window. This extended twilight is valuable for photographers who want to shoot in soft, diffused light without harsh shadows.
Photography Tips for April in Raleigh
Shooting in Raleigh in April requires adapting to the season's specific light quality and timing. Camera settings for sunrise photography in April:
- Blue hour: ISO 800 to 1,600; aperture f/8; shutter speed 10 to 30 seconds on tripod.
- Golden hour: ISO 100 to 400; aperture f/8 to f/16 for landscapes, or f/1.8 to f/2.8 for portraits; shutter speed 1/250 to 1/1,000s handheld.
- Post-sunrise (30 minutes after): ISO 100; aperture f/11; shutter speed 1/500 to 1/2,000s.
In April, Raleigh's weather patterns affect photography conditions. Check cloud cover forecasts the evening before a planned shoot: a thin layer of clouds above the horizon creates more dramatic golden and orange tones than a clear sky. Fully overcast conditions produce flat, diffused light that is good for portraits but lacks the dramatic quality of golden hour. Partly cloudy skies create the most dramatic conditions.
About This Monthly Sunrise Data
All sunrise and sunset times in this April table for Raleigh are calculated using Jean Meeus astronomical algorithms, implemented via the SunCalc library. Calculations use the coordinates of Raleigh (35.7796°, -78.6382°) and the local timezone (America/New_York). Times are accurate to within 1 minute and account for atmospheric refraction.
The times shown are for the center of the sun crossing the horizon. Sunrise is defined as the moment when the upper limb of the sun first appears above the mathematical horizon. Sunset is when the upper limb disappears below the horizon. Both definitions account for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent position of the sun by approximately 0.5 to 1 degree near the horizon.
Frequently Asked Questions: April Sunrise & Sunset in Raleigh
What is the average sunrise time in Raleigh in April?
The average sunrise time in Raleigh in April 2026 is approximately 06:41. This is based on the mid-month calculation for Raleigh at latitude 35.78° and longitude -78.64°. Actual daily sunrise times vary from 07:02 on the first of the month to 06:24 on the last day. See the full daily table above for exact times.
How many hours of daylight does Raleigh get in April?
Raleigh receives an average of 13h 06m of daylight per day in April 2026. This is calculated as the difference between sunrise and sunset and does not include twilight periods. Day length varies from 12h 35m on the first of the month to 13h 36m on the last day.
What is the earliest sunrise in Raleigh in April?
The earliest sunrise in Raleigh in April 2026 occurs on 2026-04-30 at 06:24. The latest sunrise in the month occurs on 2026-04-01 at 07:02.
What time is golden hour in Raleigh in April?
Golden hour in Raleigh in April occurs twice daily. Morning golden hour begins at sunrise (06:41 at mid-month) and lasts approximately 40 to 65 minutes. Evening golden hour begins approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunset (19:49 at mid-month). The precise start of golden hour is when the sun's altitude drops below 6 degrees above the horizon.
Is April a good time to photograph sunrise in Raleigh?
Yes. April is an excellent month for sunrise photography in Raleigh. Spring light is clean and warm, days are lengthening rapidly, and temperatures are generally comfortable for outdoor shoots. Sunrise at around 06:41 is a reasonable wake-up time for most photographers.
When does civil twilight start in Raleigh in April?
Civil twilight in Raleigh in April begins approximately 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At Raleigh's latitude of 35.8°, civil twilight in April starts around 06:16 in the morning. Civil twilight provides enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting and is considered the beginning of the usable photography window each day.