Edinburgh Sunshine Hours by Month

In climate discussions, the hours of sunlight reveal much about a location. This page shows the total number of hours of direct sunlight per month and the average hours per day in Edinburgh, Highland, Scotland. These averages rely on historical data collected over 30 years, from 1990 to 2020.

Monthly hours of sunshine

If you're visiting Edinburgh, timing is key. In May, you can enjoy up to 193 hours of sunshine, while the shorter days of December provide just 48 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 1428 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

This means the city can be enjoyed more throughout the sunniest month of May under a blue sky, with approximately 6.4 hours of sunshine daily. In contrast, the city experiences much darker days in December, with only 1.6 hours of sunlight per day.

Average percent of sunshine

On average the sun shines 37% of the time during the day in June, the highest percentage of any month. October has the lowest percentage at 17%.

Edinburgh enjoys an average of 1428 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

Seville, Spain, enjoys an impressive 2920 hours of sunshine per year, making it an ideal destination even in winter.

In contrast, London, UK, receives only about 1659 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

Beijing, China, has 2505 hours of sunshine annually, with clear, sunny days in winter.

Melbourne, Australia, has 2380 hours of sunshine annually, with its famous “four seasons in a day” weather pattern.

October, Edinburgh’s wettest month, receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 14°C (57°F). During the driest month April you can expect a temperature of 12°C (54°F).

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Edinburgh Precipitation page.