Welcome to our free Shabbat candle lighting times calculator. Select your location and preference settings to view exact Friday candle lighting times, astronomical sunset, Saturday night Havdalah times, and the weekly Torah portion (Parashat HaShavua). All calculations update automatically based on your local time zone and seasonal daylight changes.
How Shabbat Times Are Calculated
Shabbat candle lighting times depend directly on the astronomical position of the sun relative to your specific geographic location. Because the Jewish day begins at sunset rather than midnight, welcoming Shabbat requires precise calculations based on latitude, longitude, elevation, and time zone data.
Our calculation system combines audited astronomical algorithms with local community customs to deliver reliable times for thousands of cities worldwide:
- Astronomical Sunset: We determine exact local sunset using NOAA solar positioning formulas combined with IANA time zone rules and seasonal Daylight Saving Time adjustments.
- Candle-Lighting Offset: By long-standing tradition in Diaspora communities, candles are lit 18 minutes before astronomical sunset to ensure Shabbat is welcomed before twilight begins. In Jerusalem and select other Israel locations, a 40-minute offset is standard.
- Havdalah Nightfall: Shabbat ends when three medium stars become visible in the evening sky (tzeit hakochavim). The tool offers standard astronomical nightfall calculations alongside traditional time offsets, including 42 minutes, 50 minutes, and 72 minutes (Rabbeinu Tam).
For full details on our underlying algorithms, visit our calculation methodology page and view our open source data sources.
Important Considerations
While solar positioning provides exact mathematical times, several practical and geographic edge cases affect Shabbat observance:
High Latitude Summer and Winter
Cities located far north or south experience extreme variations in daylight throughout the year. During summer months in northern cities like London, Toronto, or Anchorage, sunset occurs very late in the evening. In extreme high latitude areas during midsummer, true astronomical sunset may not occur at all. When standard solar calculations are mathematically unavailable, our system notifies you rather than producing an arbitrary result. In these circumstances, halachic authorities recommend following specific local rabbinic guidance.
Elevation and Visual Horizons
Topography alters the precise moment the sun disappears below the horizon. A observer on a mountain ridge sees sunset later than someone in a valley. Standard calculations assume a smooth sea level horizon, though specific high elevation locations like Jerusalem incorporate local atmospheric and topographic factors into their traditional offsets.
Israel versus Diaspora Customs
Community customs vary by geographic region. While 18 minutes before sunset is the standard candle lighting offset across North America and Europe, Jerusalem traditionally lights candles 40 minutes before sunset. Additionally, festival durations and Torah readings differ between Israel and the Diaspora on major holidays, as detailed in our comprehensive Jewish calendar guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Shabbat times different in every city?
Shabbat candle lighting times depend on the exact geographic coordinates of your city. Because sunset occurs at different times depending on latitude, longitude, and local time zone, candle lighting times vary from city to city, even within the same state or time zone.
What time should I light Shabbat candles?
In most Diaspora communities, Shabbat candles should be lit 18 minutes before local sunset on Friday afternoon. Candles must be lit before sunset occurs, as lighting flames is prohibited once Shabbat begins.
Why do some communities light candles 40 minutes before sunset?
Jerusalem and several surrounding communities follow an ancient custom of lighting candles 40 minutes before sunset. Some families and communities outside Jerusalem also adopt this early offset to show additional honor to Shabbat and avoid any possibility of desecrating the holy day.
How is Havdalah time calculated?
Havdalah marks the conclusion of Shabbat on Saturday evening when nightfall arrives. Religiously, nightfall occurs when three medium sized stars are visible in the sky. Our calculator provides standard astronomical nightfall as well as fixed time options such as 42 minutes, 50 minutes, or 72 minutes after sunset.
Do I need to adjust times for Daylight Saving Time?
No. Our calculation engine uses the official IANA time zone database, which automatically applies Daylight Saving Time adjustments for every supported location worldwide.
What if I cannot find my specific city?
You can search by city name, postal code, or nearby major metro area. If your exact municipality is not listed, choosing the nearest city with similar coordinates will yield times accurate within a minute. For more details on Shabbat observance rules, read our dedicated Shabbat guide.
Explore Popular City Shabbat Times
Looking for quick times in major Jewish communities? Access preset calculations for popular cities:
- Shabbat times in New York
- Shabbat times in Los Angeles
- Shabbat times in Jerusalem
- Shabbat times in London
To align your weekend schedule with upcoming festival observances, check our full Jewish holidays calendar. Use the calculator above to find accurate Shabbat candle lighting times for your location today.