What to Wear in New York
USA · 9 monthly packing guides
New York rewards practicality that still looks deliberate. You will walk more than you think, descend stairs, stand on a subway platform in weather that changes by the hour. The uniform tends toward layered neutrals and a very good pair of shoes.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach -2°C / 28°F in January; average highs reach 29°C / 84°F in July.
Compare New York 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 | -2°C / 28°F | 4°C / 39°F | 11 | 9h 35m |
| May packing guide | 13°C / 55°F | 22°C / 72°F | 12 | 14h 30m |
| June packing guide | 18°C / 64°F | 27°C / 81°F | 11 | 15h 10m |
| July packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 29°C / 84°F | 11 | 15h |
| August packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 29°C / 84°F | 10 | 14h 10m |
| September packing guide | 17°C / 63°F | 25°C / 77°F | 8 | 12h 25m |
| October packing guide | 11°C / 52°F | 18°C / 64°F | 8 | 11h 05m |
| November packing guide | 6°C / 43°F | 12°C / 54°F | 9 | 9h 50m |
| December packing guide | 1°C / 34°F | 7°C / 45°F | 11 | 9h 15m |
Choose your New York packing list
New York in January: 4°C / 39°F afternoons, −2°C / 28°F nights, the coldest month of the year, and the one you spend walking.
In this capsule: Dark brown down jacket, stand collar, hip length; Oatmeal lambswool roll-neck; Oat merino long-sleeve crew base layer.
NYC in May: 22°C / 72°F afternoons, 13°C / 55°F mornings, 12 rain days (mostly short afternoon thunderstorms), 257 sunshine hours.
In this capsule: Light denim or cotton jacket; Fitted white tee or tank; Dark wash straight-leg jeans.
NYC in June: 27°C / 81°F afternoons, 18°C / 64°F mornings, 11 rain days, 257 sunshine hours — rooftop season starts.
In this capsule: Lightweight warm-white linen shirt; White ruched ribbed camisole; Beige tailored linen shorts.
NYC in July: 29°C / 84°F afternoons, 21°C / 70°F mornings, 11 rain days, 268 sunshine hours — humidity makes it feel 35°C / 95°F+.
In this capsule: Oat-white linen midi dress; White pinstripe linen button-up shirt; Cream pleated tailored shorts.
NYC in August: 29°C / 84°F afternoons, 21°C / 70°F mornings, 10 rain days, 66% humidity — locals leave for the Hamptons.
In this capsule: Green & white striped tiered midi dress; Short-sleeve white linen button-down; White ruched ribbed camisole.
New York in September: 25°C / 77°F afternoons, 17°C / 63°F mornings, 8 rain days — and a 10°F drop between Labor Day and the 30th.
In this capsule: Unlined trench coat in stone or camel; White cotton poplin button-down; Fine-knit Breton pullover, cream with navy stripes.
New York in October: about 18°C / 64°F by day and 11°C / 52°F at night. Pack for a walking day that finishes after dark.
In this capsule: Wool or wool-blend coat, knee length; Fine-gauge knit or cashmere crew; Dark straight-leg or wide-leg trousers.
New York in November: 12°C / 54°F afternoons, 6°C / 43°F nights, and sunset at 4:38pm by mid-month.
In this capsule: Stone hooded mackintosh; Oatmeal flecked wool crew knit; Sage merino long-sleeve base.
New York in December: 6.8°C afternoons, 1°C / 34°F nights, 4.9 inches of snow — and more standing still outdoors than any other month.
In this capsule: Full-length teddy or faux-fur coat, black; Merino or synthetic thermal base layer; Cream chunky rib-knit sweater, crew neck.
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 · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- May: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- June: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- July: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- August: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- September: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- October: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- November: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
- December: NOAA · Central Park (Belvedere Castle) · 1991–2020 normals
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 9 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at -2°C / 28°F, while July has the highest average high at 29°C / 84°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.