Gran Canaria vs Tenerife: which is sunnier?
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇪🇸 Spain · 117 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Gran Canaria is the sunnier overall: about 3,298 hours of sunshine a year to Tenerife's 2,933. Gran Canaria has the higher Sunshine Score in 9 of 12 months; the other 3 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Gran Canaria | Tenerife | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,298 | 2,933 |
| Sunniest month | May (98/100) | June (96/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 93/100 | 89/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 98/100 | 96/100 |
| Rain / year | 157 mm | 202 mm |
| Warmest sea | 23°C / 73°F | 24°C / 75°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Gran Canaria vs Tenerife month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Canaria | Tenerife | Gran Canaria | Tenerife | Gran Canaria | Tenerife | Gran Canaria | Tenerife | |
| January | 95 | 92 | 20° | 20° | 18 | 25 | 21° | 21° |
| February | 87 | 84 | 19° | 19° | 22 | 24 | 20° | 21° |
| March | 96 | 93 | 20° | 20° | 15 | 19 | 20° | 21° |
| April | 97 | 94 | 20° | 20° | 10 | 12 | 21° | 21° |
| May | 98 | 95 | 21° | 22° | 6 | 7 | 21° | 21° |
| June | 98 | 96 | 23° | 23° | 2 | 3 | 22° | 22° |
| July | 98 | 96 | 24° | 24° | 2 | 2 | 22° | 23° |
| August | 98 | 95 | 24° | 25° | 5 | 5 | 23° | 24° |
| September | 97 | 95 | 25° | 25° | 8 | 10 | 23° | 24° |
| October | 96 | 92 | 24° | 24° | 17 | 25 | 23° | 24° |
| November | 94 | 90 | 22° | 22° | 24 | 33 | 22° | 23° |
| December | 94 | 90 | 21° | 21° | 28 | 37 | 22° | 22° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Gran Canaria · Feb Gran Canaria · Mar Gran Canaria · Apr Gran Canaria · May Gran Canaria · Jun even · Jul even · Aug Gran Canaria · Sep even · Oct Gran Canaria · Nov Gran Canaria · Dec Gran Canaria.
When to pick which
- November–February: Gran Canaria (average score 93/100 vs 89). Daytime highs are similar (21°C vs 21°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Gran Canaria (average score 97/100 vs 94). Daytime highs are similar (20°C vs 21°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Gran Canaria averages 98/100, Tenerife 96/100. Daytime highs are similar (24°C vs 24°C).
- September–October: Gran Canaria (average score 97/100 vs 94). Daytime highs are similar (25°C vs 25°C).
Sea temperature
Tenerife's sea gets warmer: 24°C / 75°F at its peak vs 23°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Gran Canaria about 10 months a year, Tenerife all year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Gran Canaria weather by month · Tenerife weather by month · Best time to visit Spain.
More comparisons: Gran Canaria vs Agadir (Temsia) · Gran Canaria vs Lanzarote · Gran Canaria vs Fuerteventura · Tenerife vs Málaga · Tenerife vs Hurghada · Tenerife vs Funchal · all head-to-heads