Candle Lighting Times for Shabbat
Candle lighting marks the start of Shabbat at home. Get the time for your location, understand the custom behind it, and prepare with calm.
Searching for candle lighting times is one of the most practical Shabbat questions online. You want a time you can trust for your city, and enough context to light with intention rather than scramble at the last minute.
Why candle lighting comes before sunset
Shabbat begins at sundown. Candle lighting is done earlier so that the holy day is welcomed while it is still weekday time to kindle a flame. Many communities follow an approximately eighteen-minute margin before sunset. Others use slightly different amounts, or specific published calendars from their synagogue or posek.
The point is not inventing a stopwatch hobby. It is finishing weekday work, lighting with a bracha where appropriate, and entering Shabbat before the clock runs you ragged.
How Shabbat7 shows candle lighting
On the Shabbat7 home page, choose your location (or use major cities and search). You will see this week’s candle lighting time, a countdown, and Havdalah for when Shabbat ends. Times are educational approximations based on location-aware calculations—always confirm with a local halachic authority, especially for borderline cases or travel.
- Location-aware candle lighting and Havdalah
- Live countdown so Friday is less of a surprise
- Ritual text for the candle lighting bracha on the Guide page
A simple Friday prep sequence
- Check candle lighting for your city early in the week and again Friday morning.
- Finish cooking, tech shutdowns, and lights/timers before the deadline you follow.
- Light candles at or before your community’s time, then recite the blessing as your minhag requires.
- Disconnect. The tools were for preparation—not for Shabbat itself.
Candle lighting vs. other Shabbat times
Candle lighting is specific to welcoming Shabbat in the home. Broader Shabbat times and daily zmanim (shema deadlines, shkiah, tzeit) matter for prayer and learning schedules. If you are also asking when Shabbat ends, you need nightfall / Havdalah—not Friday’s candle clock.
Travel tip
Flying or driving across time zones? Recheck candle lighting for the place you will be on Friday afternoon. A bookmarked “usual” city does not help if you spend Shabbat elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
- What time do you light Shabbat candles?
- Most communities light before sunset—often about 18 minutes prior. Exact practice depends on minhag and location. Confirm with your community.
- Who lights Shabbat candles?
- Typically the woman of the house lights, though men and girls of age may light when appropriate for the household. Ask a rav for your situation.
- Can candle lighting times change every week?
- Yes. Sunset shifts through the year, so candle lighting moves earlier in winter and later in summer. Always check the current Friday for your city.
Educational aid only. Times and practices vary by community. Always confirm with your local halachic authority. For use before Shabbat — please disconnect once Shabbat begins.