The sun, month by month
Sunrise and sunset in Edinburgh in February
On February 1 in Edinburgh the sun rises at 08:11 and sets at 16:42; on day 28 it rises at 07:12 and sets at 17:40. Over the month the day grows 117 minutes longer.
In Edinburgh (56.0° latitude), February 2026 has 28 days whose sun rises at 08:11 and sets at 16:42 on the 1st, and at 07:12 and 17:40 on the 28th. Mid-month the day lasts 9 h 29 min and the sun reaches 21° above the horizon. Even so, the UV index never reaches 3 at any point in the month: at this latitude and time of year, the ozone layer absorbs UVB before enough of it reaches the ground. So in February there is no vitamin D synthesis in Edinburgh at any hour of the day, however long you stay out.
Where does the sun rise and set in Edinburgh in February?
Mid-February in Edinburgh: the sun rises in the southeast — a bearing of 113°, measured from true north — and sets in the southwest, at 247°. That is 23° south of due east at sunrise, and the same 23° south of due west at sunset. From the 1st to the last day of the month both points shift 17° north.
Approximate bearings: they can be a couple of degrees out. They are measured from true north, not the north a phone compass points to.
Day by day
All times are local to Edinburgh. Dawn and dusk mark civil twilight.
| Day | Dawn | Sunrise | Sunset | Dusk | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 07:29 | 08:11 | 16:42 | 17:24 | 8 h 31 min |
| 2 | 07:28 | 08:09 | 16:44 | 17:25 | 8 h 35 min |
| 3 | 07:26 | 08:07 | 16:46 | 17:27 | 8 h 39 min |
| 4 | 07:24 | 08:05 | 16:48 | 17:29 | 8 h 43 min |
| 5 | 07:23 | 08:03 | 16:51 | 17:31 | 8 h 47 min |
| 6 | 07:21 | 08:01 | 16:53 | 17:33 | 8 h 51 min |
| 7 | 07:19 | 07:59 | 16:55 | 17:35 | 8 h 55 min |
| 8 | 07:17 | 07:57 | 16:57 | 17:37 | 9 h 00 min |
| 9 | 07:15 | 07:55 | 16:59 | 17:39 | 9 h 04 min |
| 10 | 07:14 | 07:53 | 17:01 | 17:41 | 9 h 08 min |
| 11 | 07:12 | 07:51 | 17:03 | 17:43 | 9 h 12 min |
| 12 | 07:10 | 07:49 | 17:06 | 17:45 | 9 h 16 min |
| 13 | 07:08 | 07:47 | 17:08 | 17:47 | 9 h 21 min |
| 14 | 07:06 | 07:45 | 17:10 | 17:49 | 9 h 25 min |
| 15 | 07:04 | 07:43 | 17:12 | 17:51 | 9 h 29 min |
| 16 | 07:02 | 07:40 | 17:14 | 17:53 | 9 h 34 min |
| 17 | 06:59 | 07:38 | 17:16 | 17:55 | 9 h 38 min |
| 18 | 06:57 | 07:36 | 17:19 | 17:57 | 9 h 43 min |
| 19 | 06:55 | 07:34 | 17:21 | 17:59 | 9 h 47 min |
| 20 | 06:53 | 07:31 | 17:23 | 18:01 | 9 h 52 min |
| 21 | 06:51 | 07:29 | 17:25 | 18:03 | 9 h 56 min |
| 22 | 06:48 | 07:27 | 17:27 | 18:05 | 10 h 01 min |
| 23 | 06:46 | 07:24 | 17:29 | 18:07 | 10 h 05 min |
| 24 | 06:44 | 07:22 | 17:31 | 18:09 | 10 h 10 min |
| 25 | 06:42 | 07:19 | 17:34 | 18:11 | 10 h 14 min |
| 26 | 06:39 | 07:17 | 17:36 | 18:13 | 10 h 19 min |
| 27 | 06:37 | 07:14 | 17:38 | 18:16 | 10 h 23 min |
| 28 | 06:34 | 07:12 | 17:40 | 18:18 | 10 h 28 min |
Approximate astronomical values: they can shift a minute or two from year to year.
What about vitamin D in February?
In February the sun doesn't climb high enough in Edinburgh for vitamin D synthesis: the season to mind your diet or consider supplementation.
See the Edinburgh vitamin D guideCommon questions about the sun in Edinburgh in February
- Where does the sun set in Edinburgh in February?
- Mid-February in Edinburgh: the sun sets in the southwest, a bearing of 247° measured from true north, which is 23° south of due west. It rises in the southeast, at 113°. Over the month both points shift 17° north.
- How much daylight does Edinburgh gain in February?
- Over February the day gets 117 minutes longer in Edinburgh: on February 1 the sun rises at 08:11 and sets at 16:42, and on day 28 it rises at 07:12 and sets at 17:40.
- How many hours of daylight does Edinburgh get in February?
- In mid-February the day lasts 9 h 29 min in Edinburgh, from sunrise at 07:43 to sunset at 17:12. The table has the day length for each of the 28 days of the month.
- What time does it start to get light in Edinburgh in February?
- In mid-February the sky starts to get light at 07:04 in Edinburgh, when the sun is 6° below the horizon, and the sun itself does not rise until 07:43. The “Dawn” column of the table gives that time for every day of the month.
- What time does it get dark in Edinburgh in February?
- It's not the same time as sunset. In mid-February in Edinburgh the sun sets at 17:12, but there is still light: civil twilight does not end until 17:51, when the sun reaches 6° below the horizon and usable outdoor light runs out. The “Dusk” column of the table gives that time day by day.
- What time of day can you make vitamin D in Edinburgh in February?
- At no time of day. Not even at midday on February 15 does the UV index reach 3 in Edinburgh, and below that minimum the skin makes no vitamin D, however long you stay out. In February it is the season to mind your diet or consider supplementation.