Boston's Sunset Hits 4:37 p.m. When the Clocks Go Back

Boston’s sunset is at 6:47 p.m. on Sept 19, 2026, and 4:37 p.m. on Nov 1, the day daylight saving time ends. Those times come from the U.S. Naval Observatory’s sun data for Boston, and the gap matters if you have outdoor work to finish or a listing to photograph.

The equinox

The Naval Observatory puts the 2026 fall equinox at 8:05 p.m. Eastern time on Sept 22. Sunset in Boston that day is 6:41 p.m.

How fast the evenings shrink

Sunset in Boston, per the Naval Observatory: 6:47 p.m. on Sept 19, 6:41 p.m. on Sept 22, 5:56 p.m. on Oct 19 and 5:39 p.m. on Oct 31. In between, it slips a little earlier every evening.

When the clocks go back

Under 15 U.S.C. § 260a, daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on a set day in early November, which in 2026 is Nov 1. The Naval Observatory’s Boston data switches to standard time that day and shows sunset at 4:37 p.m. The clock change adds the hour to the morning and takes it from the evening.

For owners

If your outdoor lights run on a clock timer that doesn’t adjust itself for daylight saving, it’ll be an hour off after Nov 1, so reset it. And if you want to look over gutters, front steps and railings after work, the evenings before Nov 1 are the easiest time this fall to do it.

For sellers

If you’re listing this fall, schedule photos while the sun is well up. A late-afternoon shoot that works in September runs into dusk by November. Want to talk through timing? Ask me. Diana Kim, REALTOR®, eXp Realty.