Film production in Mexico City
Between June and December, usable daylight in Mexico City moves by 2h 20min — from 13h 18min down to 10h 58min. An exterior day in December is a different day from one in June. This page carries sunrise, sunset and golden-hour times for all twelve months, the climate profile.
Light and shooting hours
On 15 June, the sun in Mexico City rises at 05:59 and sets at 19:17; the evening golden hour starts at 18:45 and runs for 32 minutes. By December that shifts to 07:04–18:02, with a 32-minute golden-hour window from 17:29.
In practice, a spread of 2h 20min means a schedule that works here in summer does not work in winter at the same location — with the same setup count, the hours simply are not there.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Golden hour (evening, from) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:14 | 18:19 | 11h 05min | 17:47 |
| February | 07:06 | 18:37 | 11h 31min | 18:07 |
| March | 06:46 | 18:47 | 12h 01min | 18:18 |
| April | 06:20 | 18:55 | 12h 35min | 18:25 |
| May | 06:02 | 19:05 | 13h 03min | 18:35 |
| June | 05:59 | 19:17 | 13h 18min | 18:45 |
| July | 06:07 | 19:19 | 13h 12min | 18:48 |
| August | 06:18 | 19:06 | 12h 48min | 18:36 |
| September | 06:25 | 18:40 | 12h 16min | 18:11 |
| October | 06:32 | 18:14 | 11h 43min | 17:45 |
| November | 06:45 | 17:59 | 11h 13min | 17:28 |
| December | 07:04 | 18:02 | 10h 58min | 17:29 |
Blue hour and shooting windows
Blue hour in Mexico City starts at 19:32 in June and ends at 19:41 — a window of 10 minutes. In December it is 9 minutes from 18:16. If you need a city view with lit windows, that window is all you get.
Sunset moves fastest around the equinoxes: between March (18:47) and September (18:40) there are 7 minutes of difference. A schedule running over several weeks cannot work from one fixed "sunset" time.
Weather and washout risk
Mexico City averages 27 rain days in July and 3 in January. A three-day exterior shoot in July statistically loses 2.7 days — not a forecast, but the basis for deciding whether a cover set belongs in the budget.
| Month | Mean temperature | Rain days | Sunshine hours/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.9 °C | 3 | 10.2 |
| February | 15.8 °C | 3 | 10.9 |
| March | 17.8 °C | 5 | 11.3 |
| April | 19.2 °C | 9 | 11.8 |
| May | 19.8 °C | 13 | 11.8 |
| June | 18.5 °C | 19 | 10.9 |
| July | 17.0 °C | 27 | 10.8 |
| August | 17.0 °C | 27 | 10.5 |
| September | 16.8 °C | 23 | 9.7 |
| October | 16.0 °C | 16 | 9.8 |
| November | 15.5 °C | 5 | 10.2 |
| December | 14.3 °C | 3 | 10.3 |
Planning a shoot here
A schedule that ignores these numbers looks fine on paper and falls over on the day. TillyGen folds sun position, travel and crew availability straight into the schedule — if the exterior no longer fits before sunset in December, the plan says so, not the wrap report.
Frequently asked
When is golden hour in Mexico City?
In June it starts at 18:45 and lasts 32 minutes; in December it starts at 17:29 and lasts 32 minutes. The table above lists all twelve months.
How much daylight does a shoot day in Mexico City get?
Between 10h 58min in December and 13h 18min in June. The 2h 20min difference is worth four to eight setups depending on your pace.
Which month is best for exteriors in Mexico City?
Combining daylight and rain days, February comes out ahead: plenty of usable light with comparatively few rain days. June has the longest days but not necessarily the steadiest weather.