What time does it get dark in Charleston, SC?
In Charleston, sunset ranges from about 5:14 PM around December 4 to about 8:33 PM around June 29. The shortest day (December 22) has 9h 59m of daylight and the longest (June 21) has 14h 19m. When daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, sunset jumps from about 6:31 PM to 5:30 PM overnight.
Working out today's sunset…
Sunset and last light in Charleston, month by month
Times for the 15th of each month in 2026, local time. "Start by" is the latest start for a 30 or 60 minute run, ride or walk that finishes by sunset. Last light is when civil twilight ends and it becomes too dark to see without a light.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Last light | Daylight | 30-min start by | 60-min start by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:23 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 14m | 5:07 PM | 4:37 PM |
| February | 7:04 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:31 PM | 11h 02m | 5:36 PM | 5:06 PM |
| March | 7:31 AM | 7:28 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 57m | 6:58 PM | 6:28 PM |
| April | 6:51 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 59m | 7:20 PM | 6:50 PM |
| May | 6:22 AM | 8:12 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 50m | 7:42 PM | 7:12 PM |
| June | 6:12 AM | 8:30 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 18m | 8:00 PM | 7:30 PM |
| July | 6:23 AM | 8:29 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 06m | 7:59 PM | 7:29 PM |
| August | 6:44 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 22m | 7:36 PM | 7:06 PM |
| September | 7:04 AM | 7:28 PM | 7:52 PM | 12h 23m | 6:58 PM | 6:28 PM |
| October | 7:24 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:13 PM | 11h 24m | 6:18 PM | 5:48 PM |
| November | 6:51 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:46 PM | 10h 29m | 4:50 PM | 4:20 PM |
| December | 7:16 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:43 PM | 10h 00m | 4:46 PM | 4:16 PM |
Heading out near dark in Charleston
From late fall through winter it is dark in Charleston before 6 p.m., so after-work runs and walks happen in the dark for months. If you head out close to sunset, be seen and be findable: wear a light and something reflective on the parts of you that move, pick a route with streetlights and other people, and send someone a live location link with a return time before you go. Our guide to running in the dark after the clocks change covers the rest.
Questions people ask
What time does it get dark in Charleston in winter?
In mid-December the sun sets around 5:16 PM in Charleston and last light (the end of civil twilight) is around 5:43 PM. The earliest sunset of 2026 is about 5:14 PM, around December 4.
When is the latest sunset in Charleston?
The latest sunset of 2026 in Charleston is about 8:33 PM, around June 29. In mid-June, usable light lasts until roughly 8:59 PM.
How much earlier does it get dark in Charleston after daylight saving time ends?
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Sunset in Charleston moves from about 6:31 PM on October 31 to about 5:30 PM on November 1, so an after-work run that finished in daylight the week before can finish in the dark.
What time should I start a run in Charleston to finish before dark?
Subtract your run time from sunset. A 60-minute run in Charleston should start by about 4:16 PM in mid-December and by about 7:30 PM in mid-June. The table on this page lists the latest start for 30 and 60 minute runs in every month, and the calculator at the top gives today's times.
Keep reading
Calculated from Charleston's coordinates (32.78, -79.93) with the standard solar position formulas used by NOAA. Times can differ by a minute or two from other sources, and hills or buildings bring darkness sooner.