What to Wear in Philadelphia
USA · 6 monthly packing guides
Philadelphia dresses for a walking city with old bones: William Penn's city, developed from the late seventeenth century, with Independence Hall (begun in 1732), where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and Reading Terminal Market, trading beneath the old Reading train shed since 22 February 1893. Per NOAA Philadelphia International Airport data, May-August holds 24-31°C / 75-88°F afternoons. Center City and Rittenhouse Square run the tailored register: Boyds, founded by the Gushner brothers in 1938 at 1217 Market Street and at 1818 Chestnut Street since 1990, has sold designer womenswear alongside its menswear since 1993. Old City is the gallery district, with more than 30 galleries and design showrooms that open new shows on the First Friday of every month, and Race Street Pier on the Delaware. Northern Liberties and Fishtown run craft beer and design: La Colombe opened its first café, with a micro roaster in the back, in Philadelphia in 1994, and Frankford Hall is Fishtown's German-style biergarten. The city's own retailers shape everyday dressing: Urban Outfitters began in 1970 as a shop called Free People across the street from the University of Pennsylvania, Anthropologie opened its first store in a refurbished automobile shop in Wayne, Pennsylvania, in 1992, and Free People is now their sister brand. Mitchell & Ness throwback jerseys cover game days. SEPTA and walking are how you get around; cheesesteaks, the South 9th Street Italian Market and lunch at Reading Terminal are the food.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach -3°C / 27°F in January; average highs reach 31°C / 88°F in July.
Compare Philadelphia 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 | -3°C / 27°F | 5°C / 41°F | 11 | 9h 38m |
| May packing guide | 12°C / 54°F | 24°C / 75°F | 11 | 14h 25m |
| June packing guide | 18°C / 64°F | 28°C / 82°F | 10 | 15h |
| July packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 31°C / 88°F | 10 | 14h 50m |
| August packing guide | 20°C / 68°F | 30°C / 86°F | 9 | 13h 50m |
| December packing guide | 0°C / 32°F | 8°C / 46°F | 11 | 9h 21m |
Choose your Philadelphia packing list
Philadelphia in January: 5°C / 41°F days, −3°C / 27°F nights, and New Year's Day spent standing on Broad Street.
In this capsule: Forest-green down parka, knee length, hooded; Cream fleece crew; Navy thermal leggings.
Philadelphia in May is East-Coast spring shoulder — 24°C / 75°F afternoons, 12°C / 54°F mornings, 11 rain days. Pre-June-July humidity peak.
In this capsule: Layered cotton tee + light wool-blend or merino sweater; Tailored chinos or dark denim + cotton tee; Closed-toe leather sneakers.
Philadelphia in June is early East-Coast summer + Pride Month — 28°C / 82°F afternoons, 18°C / 64°F mornings, 10 rain days. Pride parade early-June.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Tailored chinos or dark denim + cotton tee; Closed-toe leather sneakers.
Philadelphia in July is peak East-Coast summer + Wawa Welcome America July 4 — 31°C / 88°F afternoons, 21°C / 70°F mornings, 10 rain days.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Tailored chinos or cotton shorts + cotton tee; Closed-toe leather sneakers — breathable.
Philadelphia in August is late East-Coast summer + Eagles preseason — 30°C / 86°F afternoons, 20°C / 68°F mornings, 9 rain days.
In this capsule: Lightweight cotton sundress or linen midi; Tailored chinos or cotton shorts + cotton tee; Closed-toe leather sneakers — breathable.
Philadelphia in December: 8°C / 46°F days, 0°C / 32°F nights, and evenings spent standing at an outdoor counter.
In this capsule: Oxblood wool coat, single-breasted, below the knee; Heather-grey wool crew; Navy wool trousers, straight leg, full length.
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 NCEI · Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · 1991–2020 normalsNOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals for USW00013739. Precipitation days count 0.01 in (0.25 mm) or more.
- May: NOAA · Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · 1991–2020 normals
- June: NOAA · Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · 1991–2020 normals
- July: NOAA · Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · 1991–2020 normals
- August: NOAA · Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · 1991–2020 normals
- December: NOAA NCEI · Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) · 1991–2020 normalsNOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals for USW00013739. Precipitation days count 0.01 in (0.25 mm) or more.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 6 published guides cover January, May, June, July, August, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at -3°C / 27°F, while July has the highest average high at 31°C / 88°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.