Ramadan Timer: Countdown to Suhoor and Iftar (2026)

By Sharif Hossain · Last reviewed 2026
This guide covers how to use accurate suhoor and iftar timings during Ramadan, what to do when you’re not currently in Ramadan, and how moon-sighting affects when the month actually starts in your country. Sources are listed at the end.

If you’re fasting in Ramadan, two times define your day: the moment Suhoor ends (when Fajr begins), and the moment Iftar starts (when Maghrib begins). Get them wrong and your fast can be invalidated. The tool below gives you both — live, location-aware, with a countdown to the next one. There’s also a countdown to next Ramadan when you’re outside the month.

→ Jump to Ramadan timer

What This Tool Does

Two modes, depending on the time of year:

• During Ramadan: Shows today’s Suhoor end time (Fajr) and Iftar time (Maghrib) for your location, plus a live countdown to whichever is next.
• Outside Ramadan: Shows a countdown to the next Ramadan’s expected start date, calculated using the Hijri calendar.

The data comes from the same astronomical-calculation engine used by major prayer-time apps (the Aladhan API, which handles location, timezone, and DST automatically). You can switch calculation methods to match your local mosque (Muslim World League, ISNA, Karachi, Umm al-Qura, etc.).

When Is Ramadan This Year?

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Hijri (Islamic lunar) calendar. Because the Hijri year is approximately 354 days — about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year — Ramadan moves earlier each year on the Western calendar. Over a 33-year cycle, it passes through every season.

Recent and upcoming Ramadan start dates (based on Umm al-Qura calendar; actual start varies by local moon-sighting):

• Ramadan 1447 AH — started February 17 or 18, 2026 (depending on country)
• Ramadan 1448 AH — expected February 7 or 8, 2027
• Ramadan 1449 AH — expected late January 2028
• Ramadan 1450 AH — expected mid-January 2029

The exact start date in your country depends on moon-sighting. The Umm al-Qura calendar used by Saudi Arabia gives a calculated date that most Gulf and many other Muslim-majority countries follow. The UK, USA, and many Muslim communities elsewhere wait for local or regional crescent sighting and may start a day later.

Why Suhoor and Iftar Timing Matters

The fast begins at Fajr (true dawn — when the sky just begins to lighten) and ends at Maghrib (sunset — when the sun’s disc has fully set).

Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal eaten before Fajr begins. The latest you can eat or drink anything is the moment Fajr begins. After that, the fast has started.

Iftar is the meal that breaks the fast, eaten right at Maghrib. The Sunnah is to break fast immediately when Maghrib begins — typically with dates and water — before performing Maghrib prayer.

The challenge: Fajr and Maghrib both depend on the sun’s position relative to the horizon, which varies by your latitude and the time of year. They cannot be eyeballed — they need calculation or, ideally, observation of the sky. The timer below uses standard astronomical calculations adopted by major Islamic authorities worldwide.

Why your local mosque’s timing may differ slightly

Different calculation methods set the angle below the horizon at which Fajr begins, ranging from 15° to 19.5°. Each method reflects a different scholarly judgment about when “true dawn” begins. Most differences amount to 2–5 minutes either way for Fajr; Maghrib is largely uniform (it’s sunset, with very little ambiguity).

Common methods used in different regions:

• Muslim World League: 18° Fajr / 17° Isha — used internationally as a default
• Umm al-Qura: 18.5° Fajr / 90 min after Maghrib for Isha — used in Saudi Arabia
• ISNA: 15° Fajr / 15° Isha — used in North America
• Karachi: 18° Fajr / 18° Isha — used in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan
• Egyptian General Authority: 19.5° Fajr / 17.5° Isha — used in Egypt and parts of Africa

Pick the one your local mosque follows. The timer below lets you switch between them.

Use the Ramadan Timer

Allow location access (or enter your city) and pick your preferred calculation method. The timer will show your current Suhoor and Iftar times, plus a live countdown to whichever is next.

How to Use the Timer During Ramadan

Mornings (before Fajr)

Use the countdown to time your Suhoor. Many people set a phone alarm for 15–20 minutes before Fajr to ensure they finish eating and drinking with margin. The Sunnah is to delay Suhoor until close to Fajr.

If you finish eating right at Fajr, you’ve fulfilled the timing. If you continue eating after Fajr has begun, that day’s fast is invalidated and needs to be made up.

Through the day

The timer flips to showing the countdown to Iftar after Fajr has passed. You can leave the page open or check periodically.

Iftar (Maghrib)

Break your fast immediately when Maghrib begins. The Sunnah is dates and water first, then Maghrib prayer, then the main meal. Don’t delay opening the fast — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged hastening Iftar.

Evening (after Maghrib)

After Maghrib, the timer shows the countdown to tomorrow’s Suhoor end (next Fajr). This helps with planning Taraweeh prayer, Iftar gatherings, and Suhoor preparation.

Outside Ramadan: Countdown to the Next One

When it’s not currently Ramadan, the timer shows a countdown to the next Ramadan’s expected start. This is calculated using the tabular Islamic calendar (Kuwaiti algorithm), which gives an accurate astronomical estimate.

Note: the calculated date may shift by ±1 day based on actual moon-sighting in your country. The countdown gives you the most likely date according to standard calculation — useful for planning travel, work leave, and preparation — but check your local Islamic authority’s announcement closer to the date for the official start.

Suhoor and Iftar Etiquette

Recommended Suhoor practices

• Don’t skip it. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Eat Suhoor, for in Suhoor there is blessing.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) Even a sip of water and a date counts.
• Delay until close to Fajr. Don’t eat right after Isha and consider yourself done. Suhoor is meant to be the last meal before dawn.
• Hydrate, don’t just eat. Especially during long summer fasts. Water and slow-digesting foods help you make it through the day.
• Make du’a. The time just before dawn is one of the times of acceptance for du’a.

Recommended Iftar practices

• Hasten Iftar. The Prophet ﷺ said: “People will continue to be in good as long as they hasten to break their fast.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
• Start with dates and water. The Sunnah is fresh dates if available, dry dates otherwise, then water if neither.
• Du’a at the moment of breaking fast. A well-known du’a: “Allahumma laka sumtu wa ‘ala rizqika aftartu” (O Allah, for You I fasted, and with Your provision I break my fast).
• Pray Maghrib before the main meal. The standard practice is to break fast with dates and water, then pray Maghrib, then have the full Iftar meal.
• Don’t overeat. Common mistake. Eating heavy at Iftar after fasting all day causes lethargy and makes Taraweeh harder.

Common Ramadan Timing Mistakes

• Using last year’s timetable. Suhoor and Iftar times change every day during Ramadan as the sun’s position shifts. Use a live, daily-updating timer.
• Trusting one calculation method universally. Different regions follow different methods. Match your local mosque’s timing for community consistency.
• Eating “until you hear the adhan.” Suhoor ends at Fajr, which is sometimes a few minutes before the local Fajr adhan is called. If you want to be safe, finish 5–10 minutes before the published Fajr time.
• Delaying Iftar to be “safe.” The Sunnah is to hasten, not delay. If your timer shows Maghrib, break fast immediately. Don’t wait for the adhan to finish or for community confirmation.
• Forgetting about DST. Daylight Saving Time transitions during Ramadan can shift the clock by an hour. Live timers handle this automatically; printed schedules sometimes don’t.
• Skipping Suhoor entirely. Even a small amount counts. The blessing is in eating the meal at all.

Special Cases

High latitudes (Scandinavia, Iceland, Alaska)

In regions far from the equator, Fajr-to-Maghrib can exceed 18–20 hours during summer Ramadans, and Fajr may not be astronomically observable (the sun doesn’t dip far enough below the horizon). Scholars permit using either Mecca’s timing, the nearest reasonable city, or the longest day of the year as the upper limit. Consult your local imam — there’s no one-size answer.

Traveling during Ramadan

If you’re traveling across time zones during Ramadan, the principle is: fast according to wherever you are at Suhoor time, and break fast wherever you are at Maghrib. The timer will update automatically as your geolocation changes (re-enable location detection when you arrive).

Sick, pregnant, breastfeeding, or menstruating

You may not be fasting on a given day. The timer is still useful for knowing when not to eat publicly (out of respect for those fasting) and for tracking when Maghrib arrives (for evening prayers and family meal timing).

Sources and Scholarly Notes

This guide draws on:

• The Qur’an, particularly Surah Al-Baqarah (2:187) on the rules of Ramadan fasting and the timing of Suhoor and Iftar.
• Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim for hadith on Suhoor blessing, hastening Iftar, and the etiquette of fasting.
• The Aladhan API for astronomical prayer time calculations — used by major prayer-time applications worldwide.
• The Saudi Umm al-Qura calendar for the calculated Hijri reference dates.
• Contemporary fatwa councils including the European Council for Fatwa and Research for guidance on high-latitude fasting.

For your personal situation — especially involving high-latitude fasting, travel across time zones, or medical concerns — consult a qualified scholar.

Disclaimer: Prayer time calculations are based on astronomical formulas and reflect mainstream calculation methods. Local moon-sighting and your community’s adopted method are authoritative for your situation. The timer is a planning aid, not a substitute for local mosque announcements.

Related Tools

• Prayer Times — daily salah times for your location (all five prayers, not just Fajr and Maghrib)
• Hijri Date Converter — convert between Islamic and Gregorian calendars
• Qibla Finder — find the direction of the Kaaba from your location
• Islamic Events Calendar — major Islamic dates including Ramadan, Eid, and Day of Arafah
• Zakat Calculator — calculate your annual zakat (many Muslims pay during Ramadan for added reward)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When does Ramadan 2027 start?
A: Astronomical calculations suggest the first day of fasting for Ramadan 1448 AH will be Monday, February 8, 2027 (with the fast actually beginning at Fajr on that day). Some countries may start a day earlier or later depending on local moon-sighting on the evening of February 7.

Q: What time does Suhoor end and Iftar begin in my city?
A: Use the Ramadan timer above with your location enabled. It calculates daily Fajr (Suhoor end) and Maghrib (Iftar) times for your specific city, using the calculation method you choose.

Q: Why do Suhoor and Iftar times change every day?
A: Both depend on the position of the sun, which shifts slightly each day. Over a full Ramadan, the time difference between the first and last day can be 15–30 minutes for both Suhoor and Iftar.

Q: Should I stop eating when I hear the adhan or when the timer shows Fajr?
A: Fajr begins at the calculated/observed astronomical moment of true dawn. The adhan should be called at that moment — but in practice, adhan timing varies between mosques by a minute or two. To be safe, finish Suhoor a few minutes before the published Fajr time, not waiting for the adhan itself.

Q: I’m traveling during Ramadan. How do I handle timing?
A: Fast according to your current location. If you cross a time zone, your fasting day may be longer or shorter than usual. Most travelers either continue fasting according to their current location, or use travel as a permissible exemption (qaza later). Consult your scholar.

Q: Why does my mosque show different times than this timer?
A: Your mosque may use a different calculation method, slight timing margins, or a manual adjustment to match traditional local practice. Switch the timer to match your mosque’s method (Muslim World League, ISNA, Karachi, Umm al-Qura, etc.) for closer alignment.

Q: Can I skip Suhoor if I’m not hungry?
A: You can skip the meal in terms of validity — your fast is still valid — but doing so misses the Sunnah and blessing the Prophet ﷺ described. Even a small amount (a date, a sip of water) is enough to fulfill the Sunnah.

Q: How long does Ramadan last?
A: 29 or 30 days, depending on the moon. The month ends when the crescent of Shawwal is sighted. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated on the 1st of Shawwal.