Average Monthly Sunshine in Edinburgh

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Edinburgh receives direct sunlight. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Sunshine in Edinburgh varies greatly throughout the year. The sunniest month, May, reaches an impressive 193 hours, while December, the darkest month, offers only 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.

Edinburgh’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

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

The city of Rome, Italy, experiences 2470 hours of sunshine annually, adding to its charm as a year-round tourist destination.

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

In Seoul, South Korea, there are approximately 2133 hours of sunshine per year, mostly during spring and autumn.

In Brisbane, Australia, the annual sunshine averages 2999 hours, making it one of Australia’s sunniest cities.

Other climate information

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

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.