What to Wear in Boston
USA · 9 monthly packing guides
Boston runs East Coast prep and Ivy League heritage — Brooks Brothers (a New York brand, founded 1818, whose prep style runs deep here), L.L. Bean, the Cambridge tweed-and-blazer register. Summer dressing leans tailored-casual: chinos, button-down, boat shoes or loafers for daytime; light blazer added for evening at recognized Italian, French, or seafood restaurants. Cobblestones in Beacon Hill and the North End test heels. Cambridge (Harvard, MIT) runs a distinct intellectual-casual register — well-cut basics, leather messenger or briefcase, no logos.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach -5°C / 23°F in January; average highs reach 28°C / 82°F in July.
Compare Boston by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | -5°C / 23°F | 3°C / 37°F | 12 | 9h 25m |
| February packing guide | -4°C / 25°F | 4°C / 39°F | 11 | 10h 35m |
| May packing guide | 10°C / 50°F | 19°C / 66°F | 12 | 14h 35m |
| June packing guide | 15°C / 59°F | 25°C / 77°F | 11 | 15h 15m |
| July packing guide | 19°C / 66°F | 28°C / 82°F | 9 | 15h 5m |
| August packing guide | 18°C / 64°F | 27°C / 81°F | 9 | 14h 10m |
| October packing guide | 9°C / 48°F | 17°C / 63°F | 10 | 11h 05m |
| November packing guide | 3°C / 37°F | 11°C / 52°F | 10 | 9h 50m |
| December packing guide | -1°C / 30°F | 6°C / 43°F | 12 | 9h 5m |
Choose your Boston packing list
Boston in January: 3°C / 37°F afternoons, -5°C / 23°F nights, 14.3 inches of snow, and about two feet at a time when a big storm lands.
In this capsule: Khaki-tan knee-length waterproof insulated parka, hood; Kelly green cable-knit crew; Black merino crew base layer with thumbholes.
Boston in February: 4°C / 39°F afternoons, −4°C / 25°F nights, and two Monday nights of Beanpot hockey at TD Garden, 1 and 8 February 2027.
In this capsule: Navy wool toggle duffle coat, hip length, hooded; Forest green lambswool crew; Mid-wash blue straight-leg jeans, full length.
Boston in May is New England spring — 19°C / 66°F afternoons, 10°C / 50°F mornings, 12 rain days. The East Coast prep register is dominant; Cambridge runs intellectual-casual.
In this capsule: Tailored chinos or wool-blend trousers; Cotton or linen button-down; Light wool or cashmere sweater.
Boston in June is summer arriving — 25°C / 77°F afternoons, 15°C / 59°F mornings, 11 rain days. The Charles River Esplanade runs at peak through July 4 fireworks.
In this capsule: Linen or unstructured cotton blazer; Lightweight cotton chinos — cream, khaki, navy; Polo or oxford button-down.
Boston in July is the warmest month — 28°C / 82°F, 9 rain days. July 4 fireworks at the Charles River Esplanade fills the city. The harbor heat sits, the AC runs harder.
In this capsule: Linen blazer or unstructured cotton blazer; Lightweight cotton chinos — cream, khaki; Polo or oxford button-down.
Boston in August is late summer — 27°C / 81°F, 9 rain days, peak humidity. Cape Cod weekend culture peaks; the harbor wind is the city's relief.
In this capsule: Linen blazer or unstructured cotton blazer; Lightweight cotton chinos — cream, khaki, navy; Polo or oxford button-down.
Boston in October: 16.7°C / 62°F afternoons, 8.6°C / 47°F mornings, 10 rain days — and a foliage drive that runs 5–8°C colder than the city.
In this capsule: Insulated or wool-lined jacket, hip length; Fine merino crewneck; Dark straight-leg jeans.
Boston in November: 11°C / 52°F afternoons, 3°C / 37°F nights, about 10 wet days, and sunset near 4:15pm by Thanksgiving week.
In this capsule: Dark chocolate twill shirt-jacket, spread collar, flap pockets; Navy cable-knit wool crew sweater; Light grey oversized cotton shirt with a chest pocket.
Boston in December: 6°C / 43°F days against -1°C / 30°F nights — the first freeze-thaw month, and brick sidewalks that ice over.
In this capsule: Charcoal insulated hooded parka, hip length; Cream fisherman-rib wool knit, heavyweight; Blue-and-white striped oxford button-down.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- February: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- May: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- June: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- July: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- August: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- October: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- November: NOAA · Logan Airport · 1991–2020 normals
- December: NOAA · Boston Logan · 1991–2020 normalsStation USW00014739. Mean of 30 complete Decembers, 1991–2020, in NOAA's global summary of the month; within 0.2°C of the published US monthly normal.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 9 published guides cover January, February, May, June, July, August, October, November, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at -5°C / 23°F, while July has the highest average high at 28°C / 82°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.