Shabbat Candle Lighting Time Calculator

Shabbat candle lighting time is traditionally 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evening. Lighting candles marks the beginning of Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath). The 18-minute buffer allows time to complete the blessing and prepare before Shabbat officially begins at sunset. Different communities may observe slightly different customs—some light 20, 30, or even 40 minutes before sunset.

Havdalah marks the end of Shabbat on Saturday night. The most common calculation in American communities is 42 minutes after sunset (corresponding to the sun being approximately 8.5° below the horizon). Some communities follow Rabbeinu Tam's opinion of 72 minutes after sunset. In Israel and many Sephardic communities, the time is calculated based on the sun reaching a specific angular depression below the horizon. Our tool supports multiple traditions so you can select the one that matches your community's custom.

Our calculator uses precise astronomical algorithms (via the SunCalc library) to determine sunset times based on your exact geographic coordinates. The sunset calculation is accurate to within ±1 minute for any location worldwide. We factor in latitude, longitude, and the date to account for seasonal variations. For the most accurate results, we recommend searching by ZIP code or using your device's GPS location. Note that local topography (hills, mountains on the horizon) may slightly affect visible sunset times.

Yes! Our calculator works globally. You can search by:

• ZIP/Postal code — works for US, Canada, UK, Israel, and many other countries
• City name — e.g., "London, UK", "Tel Aviv", "Paris, France"
• Full address — for more precise results
• GPS coordinates — manually enter latitude and longitude
• Current location — using your device's GPS

For locations near the Arctic Circle where the sun may not set during summer months, please consult your local rabbinical authority for guidance.

All times are displayed in the local time zone of the searched location, not your browser's time zone. We estimate the local time zone based on the location's longitude and apply standard daylight saving time rules. For the most precise time zone information, we recommend verifying against a local Jewish calendar or synagogue schedule, especially near time zone boundaries or during DST transitions.

Sunset times change throughout the year due to the Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere:

• Winter (December) — earliest sunsets, Shabbat begins as early as 4:00–4:30 PM
• Summer (June) — latest sunsets, Shabbat may begin as late as 8:00–9:00 PM
• Spring & Fall — transitional periods with rapidly changing times

Our calculator automatically accounts for these seasonal variations based on your location and the selected date. Use the weekly table view to plan ahead for upcoming Shabbatot.

This tool calculates the standard weekly Shabbat candle lighting times. For Jewish holidays (Yom Tov) such as Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur, candle lighting times may follow different rules. For example, on Yom Kippur, candles are lit before the fast begins. During holidays that coincide with Shabbat, special blessings are recited. We recommend consulting a comprehensive Jewish calendar or your local synagogue for holiday-specific times and customs.

Simply type your 5-digit US ZIP code into the location search box and click "Search." The tool will geocode your ZIP code to its geographic center, calculate the precise sunset time using astronomical data, and display the candle lighting time (default: 18 minutes before sunset). For large ZIP code areas, the time is calculated for the geographic center. If you live near the edge of a ZIP code, times may vary by 1–2 minutes. In such cases, using your full address or GPS coordinates will yield more precise results.

When traveling, you should observe Shabbat according to the local time of your current location. Enter the city, address, or coordinates of your travel destination into the calculator to get the correct local candle lighting time. If you're unsure which custom to follow while traveling, consult your rabbi or the local Jewish community. Our tool makes it easy to check times for any destination worldwide before your trip.

Currently, this tool is available as a standalone web page. For synagogue websites, many Jewish organizations offer embeddable widgets (such as Hebcal or Chabad.org) that display weekly Shabbat times. Our tool is designed to be fast, free, and user-friendly for individual use. If you need a custom integration for your community website, feel free to reach out to discuss potential solutions.