Average Monthly Sunshine in Chicago (IL)

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Chicago receives direct sunlight. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Those who love seasonal contrasts will appreciate Chicago. Expect long, bright days with 319 hours in July and darker periods with just 107 hours in December. The total annual amount of sun is 2520 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

In Chicago, summer days are longer and more sunny, with daily sunshine hours peaking at 10.6 hours in July. As the darker season arrives, the brightness of the sun becomes less. December sees a soft sun for only 3.6 hours.

Chicago’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

Chicago enjoys an average of 2520 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

Seville, Spain, enjoys an impressive 2920 hours of sunshine per year, making it an ideal destination even in winter.

In contrast, Brussels, UK, receives only about 1590 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

In Shanghai, China, the annual average sunshine is 1780 hours, with cloudier weather in summer.

In Brisbane, Australia, the annual sunshine averages 2999 hours, making it one of Australia’s sunniest cities.

Other climate information

June, Chicago’s wettest month, receives 115 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 26°C. During the driest month January you can expect a temperature of -1°C.

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Chicago Precipitation page.