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- Summer begins on the June solstice, usually June 20 or 21.
- Meteorologists count summer from June 1, which you can also pick.
- From October 26, 2026 it is 238 days to the solstice and 218 days to June 1.
- School summer holidays start at different times, so use Pick my own date for those.
How to use the days until summer calculator
Open the calculator
The countdown to summer is already selected, so the answer shows as soon as the page loads.
Read the days left
The main result shows the days left, with the weekday and full date. Below it you get weeks and days, sleeps, hours, minutes, and the weekdays and weekend days in between.
Switch the date if you like
Use the Count down to menu to pick another holiday, a season, or your own date.
Check future years
The Next five dates list shows the date and weekday for each of the next five years.
When does summer start?
There are two common answers. Astronomical summer starts at the June solstice, when the sun is highest in the sky, usually on June 20 or 21. Meteorological summer always starts on June 1 and covers June, July and August. The calculator uses the exact moment of the solstice in U.S. Eastern time, so the date is right every year without a table to update.
How the date is found
Astronomical summer = June solstice (June 20 or 21)
Meteorological summer = June 1
Days left = start date − today
The solstice date can change by a day from year to year, so the calculator works it out for each year.
Worked examples
June solstice by year
U.S. Eastern time.
The date is June 20 or 21 in all these years.
From October 26, 2026
Counting to the start of summer in 2027.
The two definitions are about three weeks apart.
Summer holidays
School breaks vary by district.
Choose your last day of school in the menu to get your own countdown.
Where this countdown helps
Vacation planning
Count to a trip or school break with your own date.
Gardening
Plan planting around the start of the season.
Days until Christmas
See the christmas countdown.
Days until Halloween
See the halloween countdown.
If you are counting to warm weather, the June 1 date may feel closer. If you want the official astronomical start, use the solstice. Both are in the menu.
Days until summer FAQ
How many days until summer?
Open the calculator. From October 26, 2026 it is 238 days to the June solstice, or 218 days to June 1.
What is the first day of summer?
Astronomically it is the June solstice, June 20 or 21. Meteorologists use June 1.
Why are there two start dates?
The solstice depends on the sun’s position, while meteorological seasons use whole months to keep weather records simple.
What date is the summer solstice this year?
Pick the first day of summer in the menu, and the headline shows the date. The Next five dates list shows later years.
How many days until summer vacation?
School dates vary, so choose Pick my own date and enter your last day of school.
Is the solstice date the same everywhere?
The calculator uses U.S. Eastern time. Near midnight, the date can differ by a day in other time zones.