Why does Havdalah happen after sunset, not at sunset?

Shabbat doesn't end until nightfall (when stars are visible), which is somewhat after actual sunset — the 42-minute offset is a commonly-used approximation for that visible-stars standard.

Do these times differ by community?

Yes — both offsets are commonly-cited defaults, not universal rules. Many congregations publish their own specific candle-lighting and Havdalah times; check those for the most locally accurate figure.

All tools

Jewish Tools

Shabbat Times Calculator

Candle-lighting and Havdalah times from real sunset, for any location.

🔒 Runs entirely in your browser — nothing here is ever uploaded

Remove ads →

About the Shabbat Times Calculator

Computes Friday candle-lighting and Saturday Havdalah times for Shabbat, from real sunset times at your chosen location.

100% Free Runs in Your Browser No Sign-Up Required

How to use it

Select a location.
Enter the Friday date that starts the Shabbat you want times for.
Read the candle-lighting and Havdalah times.

Formula

Candle lighting = Friday sunset − 18 minutes. Havdalah = Saturday sunset + 42 minutes.

Worked example

At a location with a 7:00 PM Friday sunset: candle lighting at 6:42 PM.

Interpreting your result

Both offsets are commonly-cited defaults, not universal: candle lighting varies by community from 18 to 40 minutes before sunset (Jerusalem's custom is 40); Havdalah's "3 medium stars visible" standard is commonly cited as 42 minutes after sunset, though some customs (Rabbeinu Tam's opinion) wait up to 72 minutes. Check your own community's published times for the most locally accurate figure.

Recommendations

• Sunset times are computed from the same real astronomical model (astronomy-engine) used across this site's Islamic prayer-time and Hindu Panchang calculators, verified to within about a minute.

Frequently asked questions

Because Shabbat's restrictions begin at sunset, and lighting candles is itself a restricted activity once Shabbat starts — lighting a few minutes early ensures it happens before the restriction takes effect.