Film production in Cleveland
Between June and December, usable daylight in Cleveland moves by 5h 58min — from 15h 10min down to 9h 12min. 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.
Light and shooting hours
On 15 June, the sun in Cleveland rises at 05:53 and sets at 21:03; the evening golden hour starts at 20:21 and runs for 42 minutes. By December that shifts to 07:47–16:59, with a 44-minute golden-hour window from 16:14.
In practice, a spread of 5h 58min 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 | 07:52 | 17:22 | 9h 30min | 16:39 |
| February | 07:23 | 18:01 | 10h 38min | 17:22 |
| March | 07:40 | 19:34 | 11h 54min | 18:57 |
| April | 06:48 | 20:07 | 13h 19min | 19:30 |
| May | 06:09 | 20:39 | 14h 31min | 20:00 |
| June | 05:53 | 21:03 | 15h 10min | 20:21 |
| July | 06:07 | 21:00 | 14h 54min | 20:19 |
| August | 06:36 | 20:28 | 13h 52min | 19:50 |
| September | 07:08 | 19:38 | 12h 30min | 19:02 |
| October | 07:39 | 18:47 | 11h 08min | 18:10 |
| November | 07:16 | 17:08 | 9h 52min | 16:27 |
| December | 07:47 | 16:59 | 9h 12min | 16:14 |
Blue hour and shooting windows
Blue hour in Cleveland starts at 21:24 in June and ends at 21:37 — a window of 13 minutes. In December it is 12 minutes from 17:18. If you need a city view with lit windows, that window is all you get.
Sunset moves fastest around the equinoxes: between March (19:34) and September (19:38) there are 4 minutes of difference. A schedule running over several weeks cannot work from one fixed "sunset" time.
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 Cleveland?
In June it starts at 20:21 and lasts 42 minutes; in December it starts at 16:14 and lasts 44 minutes. The table above lists all twelve months.
How much daylight does a shoot day in Cleveland get?
Between 9h 12min in December and 15h 10min in June. The 5h 58min difference is worth four to eight setups depending on your pace.
Which month is best for exteriors in Cleveland?
On daylight length alone, June is strongest with 15h 10min of usable light.