Wake Before Sunrise Calculator
Set an alarm the right amount of time before sunrise — allow for waking, getting ready and travel so you are in place as the sun comes up.
How it works
be-ready time = sunrise − buffer · leave time = be-ready − travel · alarm = leave time − getting-ready time
To be settled before the sun breaks the horizon you work backwards from sunrise. First subtract the buffer you want on location, then the travel time to get there, then the minutes you need to wake and get out the door. The result is the alarm time; if the subtraction crosses midnight the calculator flags that the alarm is the night before. Photographers often want to arrive during the “blue hour” 20–40 minutes before sunrise, which is exactly the buffer field.
Worked example
Sunrise at 6:35, wanting 15 minutes on site, 25 minutes of travel and 20 minutes to get ready: be in position by 6:20, leave by 5:55, and set the alarm for 5:35 — one hour before sunrise.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the sunrise time?
Any weather app, your phone’s weather widget, or a sunrise-sunset site gives the local sunrise for your location and date. Enter it in 24-hour HH:MM form.
What buffer should photographers use?
Landscape and wildlife shooters usually want to be in place 20–40 minutes before sunrise to catch the blue hour and first light. Put that in the “be ready before sunrise” field.
What if the alarm falls before midnight?
The result notes “previous day”, meaning your alarm should be set the night before. This happens when your total lead time pushes the wake time past midnight backward.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.