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About the summer countdown
How many days until summer? This page shows it live: days, hours, minutes and seconds until the first day of summer, on the clock of your own device. Open it and it counts — there is nothing to set.
It counts to the exact minute of the June solstice, the moment the sun is highest in the northern sky. You can also count to June 1 (meteorological summer) or, south of the equator, to the December solstice. Once summer has started, the board also tells you how many days of summer are left.
Features
- Live countdown — days, hours, minutes and seconds, updated every second
- To the exact solstice minute — worked out with astronomical formulas, shown in your own time zone
- Three kinds of summer — the June solstice, meteorological summer (June 1) or the Southern Hemisphere (December solstice)
- Days of summer left — during summer, see how many days are left until it ends
- Sleeps — how many nights are left, for children who can't wait
- Six sunny styles — Beach day, Sunshine, Ocean waves, Tropical, Summer sunset and Minimal, with floating bubbles
- Dates for three years — the first day of summer this year and the next two
- Full screen and Keep the screen on — for a classroom, an office or a shop window
When is the first day of summer?
There are two ways to count it, and both are common:
- Astronomical summer starts on the June solstice — June 20 or 21 in North America and Europe — and ends on the September equinox (about September 22). This is the "first day of summer" that calendars and the news use in the US.
- Meteorological summer is the three warmest months: June 1 to August 31. Weather services use it because whole months are easier to compare.
The solstice moment moves by about six hours each year and jumps back after a leap year, so the date changes between June 20 and June 21. These are the next ones (Eastern Time, New York):
| Year | First day of summer | Solstice time (New York) | Summer ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Monday, June 21, 2027 | 10:10 am | September 23 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, June 20, 2028 | 4:01 pm | September 22 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, June 20, 2029 | 9:48 pm | September 22 |
| 2030 | Friday, June 21, 2030 | 3:31 am | September 22 |
| 2031 | Saturday, June 21, 2031 | 9:17 am | September 23 |
| 2032 | Sunday, June 20, 2032 | 3:08 pm | September 22 |
In another time zone the solstice can fall on a different day: in 2029 it is still June 20 in New York but already June 21 in London.
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere
In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America the seasons are the other way round. Astronomical summer starts on the December solstice (December 21 or 22) and ends on the March equinox. In Australia, summer is usually counted from December 1. If you open this page in a southern time zone, it starts on the Southern Hemisphere choice.
| Year | First day of summer (south) | Solstice time (Sydney) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, December 22, 2026 | 7:50 am |
| 2027 | Wednesday, December 22, 2027 | 1:42 pm |
| 2028 | Thursday, December 21, 2028 | 7:20 pm |
Six sunny styles
- Beach day — blue sky, sea and sand, with a sun in the corner
- Sunshine — warm yellow with sun rays
- Ocean waves — deep blue water with soft waves
- Tropical — teal and pink, with a drink and a hibiscus
- Summer sunset — purple, pink and orange, like a warm evening
- Minimal — plain and clean, in your page's light or dark colours
Ideas for the countdown
- Classroom — the last weeks of school feel long; count the sleeps to summer each morning
- Vacation — use Countdown to Date for your own trip or the last day of school
- Garden — the solstice is the longest day of the year; plan a sunrise walk or an evening barbecue
- Office — show it in full screen on a TV in the break room in winter, for a little sunshine
- Kids — with 100 days to go, start a summer bucket list and tick one thing off each week
How to use it
- Open the page — the countdown starts by itself
- Pick a style: Beach day, Sunshine, Ocean waves, Tropical, Summer sunset or Minimal
- Under Count down to, choose the June solstice, meteorological summer (June 1) or the Southern Hemisphere
- Turn the bubbles and the sound on or off
- Press Full screen to show it on a big screen; press Esc to go back
Frequently asked questions
How many days until summer?
The big numbers at the top of this page show it, live. By default they count to the June solstice, the official first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, in your own time zone.
When is the first day of summer 2027?
The June solstice is on Monday, June 21, 2027, at 14:10 UTC (10:10 am in New York, 7:10 am in Los Angeles). Meteorological summer starts on June 1, 2027.
Is the first day of summer June 1 or June 21?
Both are used. Weather services count summer from June 1 (meteorological summer). Astronomers and most calendars use the June solstice, on June 20 or 21. Pick either one under "Count down to".
How many days of summer are left?
During summer, the line under the countdown shows the days of summer left — until the September equinox, or until August 31 if you choose meteorological summer.
Why does the date of the solstice change?
A year is about 365¼ days long, so the solstice comes about six hours later each year. A leap day pulls it back again. That is why it moves between June 20 and June 21.
When does summer start in Australia?
In the Southern Hemisphere, astronomical summer starts on the December solstice (December 21 or 22). Australia usually counts summer from December 1.
Related tools
- Christmas Countdown — days and sleeps until Christmas
- New Year Countdown — to midnight, with fireworks
- Easter Countdown — Western and Orthodox Easter
- Halloween Countdown — days until October 31
- Countdown to Date — count down to a vacation or any day
- Printable Calendar — plan your summer on paper
