Shabbat Times in Montreal

Montreal brings some of the earliest winter candle-lighting times of any Jewish community in this guide. Our free calculator below is preset to Montreal, so you can check this week’s candle-lighting time, sunset, Havdalah, and Torah portion in seconds. Times follow United States Eastern Time, with daylight saving handled automatically.

Candle Lighting in Montreal

Candle lighting in Montreal is 18 minutes before astronomical sunset, the standard Diaspora custom. Montreal sits at about 45.5 degrees north, so sunset ranges from about 4:12 PM in late December to 8:46 PM in late June. Candle lighting therefore falls near 3:54 PM on the darkest Fridays, earlier than in New York or Toronto, and near 8:28 PM at the start of summer.

Quebec observes daylight saving time, moving clocks forward in March and back in November. The calculator applies the correct offset automatically for any date you enter.

Havdalah in Montreal

Havdalah in Montreal is recited after nightfall, when three medium stars are visible. The default nightfall standard in the calculator is 8.5 degrees, and communities that follow 42, 50, or 72 minutes after sunset can select their custom in the settings.

Shabbat Times for Nearby Communities

Times across Greater Montreal differ by only a few minutes. Nearby options include Laval and Ottawa. For other curated guides, see Shabbat times in Toronto or Shabbat times in New York. You can also check any city worldwide on the main Shabbat candle-lighting times tool.

Planning Around Shabbat in Montreal

Winter Fridays in Montreal move fast: with candle lighting near 4 PM in December, families often prepare earlier than usual, and snow on the Metropolitaine or Decarie adds travel time. Synagogues in Côte-des-Neiges, Outremont, and the Mile End hold Kabbalat Shabbat services at various times, so confirm with your own congregation. To convert a Hebrew date for a simcha or a yahrzeit, see our Hebrew date converter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is candle lighting in Montreal this Friday?

Use the calculator on this page for this week’s exact times. In late December, candle lighting in Montreal is near 3:54 PM, one of the earliest of the major communities in this guide, and in late June it is near 8:28 PM.

Does Montreal share a time zone with New York?

Yes. Montreal follows Eastern Time, same as New York and Toronto, including the same daylight-saving dates, so clock times compare directly across all three cities.

Why does Montreal have such early winter lightings?

Montreal is one of the northernmost major Jewish communities in the world, at about 45.5 degrees north. Its short winter days place sunset well before 4:30 PM in late December, which moves candle lighting close to 4 PM.