How to Measure Remaining Daylight with Your Hand

You can estimate the amount of remaining daylight by using your hand and the horizon. This is a popular outdoorsman trick known as the “hand method” or “finger rule.” Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-Step: How to Measure Remaining Daylight with Your Hand

1. Face the Sun: Stand facing the setting sun, making sure you have a clear view of the horizon.
2. Extend Your Arm: Stretch your arm out fully in front of you, palm facing you, fingers horizontal to the ground.
3. Stack Your Fingers:
   • Place your bottom pinky finger on the horizon line.
   • Stack your fingers one over the other (palm-side toward you) toward the bottom edge of the sun.
   • Count how many fingers fit between the horizon and the sun.
4. Estimate Time:
   • Each finger width (from pinky to index) represents roughly 15 minutes of remaining daylight.
   • A full hand (4 fingers) is about 1 hour.
   • If you can fit 2 hands (8 fingers), that’s about 2 hours of light left.

Notes & Tips:

• This method works best closer to the equator and near sunset, when the sun’s angle is more horizontal.
• It’s an approximation, but surprisingly accurate for planning hikes or travel before dark.
• The trick works because the sun moves about 15 degrees per hour, and each finger equals around 1 degree at arm’s length.

Example:

You see the sun is 1½ hand-widths (6 fingers) above the horizon. That means you have approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes of daylight left.