Introduction
The United States has many states with sunny climates and bright days, the sunniest of which are located in the south and southwest regions of the country. Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada are all renowned for their sunny weather. Arizona is known for its hot desert climate with plenty of sunshine throughout the year; it’s even home to the world’s first official ‘Sunshine City’, Yuma. California is known for its moderate coastal areas as well as its sunny inland valley regions; San Francisco is particularly renowned for their mild temperatures amenable to outdoor activities. Florida has plenty of sunshine to offer; in fact, it’s the only state that has two official climates: one temperate-humid and one tropical-humid. It’s also home to some of America’s most popular beaches including Daytona Beach and Miami Beach. Lastly, Nevada offers plenty of sun-filled days along with a unique desert climate that makes it perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking or cycling.
| # | State | Average Annual Sunlight | Average Temperature | Average Annual Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 5,755 kJ/m² | 62.9 °F | 52.25% |
| 2 | New Mexico | 5,642 kJ/m² | 56.2 °F | 57.33% |
| 3 | Nevada | 5,296 kJ/m² | 53.4 °F | 56.6% |
| 4 | Texas | 5,137 kJ/m² | 68 °F | 79.83% |
| 5 | California | 5,050 kJ/m² | 61.7 °F | 67.77% |
| 6 | Colorado | 4,960 kJ/m² | 47.9 °F | 59.2% |
| 7 | Oklahoma | 4,912 kJ/m² | 62.8 °F | 80.5% |
| 8 | Kansas | 4,890 kJ/m² | 57.4 °F | 78.6% |
| 9 | Utah | 4,887 kJ/m² | 51.3 °F | 63% |
| 10 | Florida | 4,859 kJ/m² | 73.4 °F | 85.58% |
| 11 | Louisiana | 4,725 kJ/m² | 68.5 °F | 88.25% |
| 12 | Arkansas | 4,724 kJ/m² | 62.8 °F | 84.5% |
| 13 | Mississippi | 4,693 kJ/m² | 66.1 °F | 88.67% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 4,685 kJ/m² | 52 °F | 79.86% |
| 15 | Georgia | 4,661 kJ/m² | 66.2 °F | 84.83% |
| 16 | Alabama | 4,660 kJ/m² | 65.4 °F | 85.75% |
| 17 | South Carolina | 4,624 kJ/m² | 65.4 °F | 82.5% |
| 18 | Missouri | 4,545 kJ/m² | 57 °F | 82.25% |
| 19 | Tennessee | 4,486 kJ/m² | 60.1 °F | 83.8% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 4,471 kJ/m² | 43.9 °F | 63.75% |
| 21 | North Carolina | 4,466 kJ/m² | 61.7 °F | 82.83% |
| 22 | Kentucky | 4,383 kJ/m² | 58.1 °F | 81% |
| 23 | Illinois | 4,380 kJ/m² | 54 °F | 82% |
| 24 | Virginia | 4,354 kJ/m² | 58 °F | 78.6% |
| 25 | South Dakota | 4,332 kJ/m² | 47.9 °F | 79.25% |
| 26 | Iowa | 4,331 kJ/m² | 49.9 °F | 82.5% |
| 27 | Indiana | 4,318 kJ/m² | 54 °F | 82% |
| 28 | District of Columbia | 4,307 kJ/m² | ||
| 29 | Maryland | 4,267 kJ/m² | 57.5 °F | 77% |
| 30 | Idaho | 4,251 kJ/m² | 45.3 °F | 67% |
| 31 | Delaware | 4,232 kJ/m² | 58 °F | 78% |
| 32 | West Virginia | 4,146 kJ/m² | 54 °F | 83.5% |
| 33 | Ohio | 4,139 kJ/m² | 53.5 °F | 81.13% |
| 34 | New Jersey | 4,056 kJ/m² | 56 °F | 76% |
| 35 | Wisconsin | 4,023 kJ/m² | 45 °F | 81.75% |
| 36 | Michigan | 4,018 kJ/m² | 46.7 °F | 82.38% |
| 37 | Rhode Island | 3,989 kJ/m² | 53.5 °F | 75% |
| 38 | Connecticut | 3,988 kJ/m² | 52.5 °F | 75.5% |
| 39 | Minnesota | 3,968 kJ/m² | 42.5 °F | 82.2% |
| 40 | Massachusetts | 3,944 kJ/m² | 51.8 °F | 74.67% |
| 41 | Pennsylvania | 3,939 kJ/m² | 51.4 °F | 78.14% |
| 42 | North Dakota | 3,925 kJ/m² | 42.4 °F | 81.5% |
| 43 | New York | 3,904 kJ/m² | 48.2 °F | 76.44% |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 3,891 kJ/m² | 46.9 °F | 80% |
| 45 | Montana | 3,847 kJ/m² | 44.6 °F | 69.71% |
| 46 | Oregon | 3,830 kJ/m² | 49.9 °F | 78% |
| 47 | Vermont | 3,826 kJ/m² | 45.7 °F | 76% |
| 48 | Maine | 3,815 kJ/m² | 44.9 °F | 78.5% |
| 49 | Washington | 3,467 kJ/m² | 49 °F | 79.33% |
Average Annual Sunlight by State
Alabama
Average Annual Sunlight
4,660 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#16
65.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#6
85.75%
Ranked in the US
#48
Arizona
Average Annual Sunlight
5,755 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#1
62.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#8
52.25%
Ranked in the US
#1
Arkansas
Average Annual Sunlight
4,724 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#12
62.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#9
Ranked in the US
#45
California
Average Annual Sunlight
5,050 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#5
61.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#11
67.77%
Ranked in the US
#8
Colorado
Average Annual Sunlight
4,960 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#6
47.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#37
Ranked in the US
#4
Connecticut
Average Annual Sunlight
3,988 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#38
52.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#28
Ranked in the US
#12
Delaware
Average Annual Sunlight
4,232 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#31
58 °F
Ranked in the US
#15
Ranked in the US
#18
District of Columbia
Average Annual Sunlight
4,307 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#28
Florida
Average Annual Sunlight
4,859 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#10
73.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#1
85.58%
Ranked in the US
#47
Georgia
Average Annual Sunlight
4,661 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#15
66.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#4
84.83%
Ranked in the US
#46
Idaho
Average Annual Sunlight
4,251 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#30
45.3 °F
Ranked in the US
#42
Ranked in the US
#7
Illinois
Average Annual Sunlight
4,380 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#23
54 °F
Ranked in the US
#22
Ranked in the US
#35
Indiana
Average Annual Sunlight
4,318 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#27
54 °F
Ranked in the US
#23
Ranked in the US
#36
Iowa
Average Annual Sunlight
4,331 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#26
49.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#33
Ranked in the US
#40
Kansas
Average Annual Sunlight
4,890 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#8
57.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#18
Ranked in the US
#22
Kentucky
Average Annual Sunlight
4,383 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#22
58.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#14
Ranked in the US
#31
Louisiana
Average Annual Sunlight
4,725 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#11
68.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#2
88.25%
Ranked in the US
#49
Maine
Average Annual Sunlight
3,815 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#48
44.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#44
Ranked in the US
#21
Maryland
Average Annual Sunlight
4,267 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#29
57.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#17
Ranked in the US
#16
Massachusetts
Average Annual Sunlight
3,944 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#40
51.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#30
74.67%
Ranked in the US
#10
Michigan
Average Annual Sunlight
4,018 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#36
46.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#40
82.38%
Ranked in the US
#39
Minnesota
Average Annual Sunlight
3,968 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#39
42.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#47
Ranked in the US
#37
Mississippi
Average Annual Sunlight
4,693 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#13
66.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#5
88.67%
Ranked in the US
#50
Missouri
Average Annual Sunlight
4,545 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#18
57 °F
Ranked in the US
#19
82.25%
Ranked in the US
#38
Montana
Average Annual Sunlight
3,847 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#45
44.6 °F
Ranked in the US
#45
69.71%
Ranked in the US
#9
Nebraska
Average Annual Sunlight
4,685 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#14
52 °F
Ranked in the US
#29
79.86%
Ranked in the US
#28
Nevada
Average Annual Sunlight
5,296 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#3
53.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#27
Ranked in the US
#2
New Hampshire
Average Annual Sunlight
3,891 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#44
46.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#39
Ranked in the US
#29
New Jersey
Average Annual Sunlight
4,056 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#34
56 °F
Ranked in the US
#21
Ranked in the US
#13
New Mexico
Average Annual Sunlight
5,642 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#2
56.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#20
57.33%
Ranked in the US
#3
New York
Average Annual Sunlight
3,904 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#43
48.2 °F
Ranked in the US
#36
76.44%
Ranked in the US
#15
North Carolina
Average Annual Sunlight
4,466 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#21
61.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#12
82.83%
Ranked in the US
#42
North Dakota
Average Annual Sunlight
3,925 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#42
42.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#48
Ranked in the US
#33
Ohio
Average Annual Sunlight
4,139 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#33
53.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#25
81.13%
Ranked in the US
#32
Oklahoma
Average Annual Sunlight
4,912 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#7
62.8 °F
Ranked in the US
#10
Ranked in the US
#30
Oregon
Average Annual Sunlight
3,830 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#46
49.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#34
Ranked in the US
#19
Pennsylvania
Average Annual Sunlight
3,939 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#41
51.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#31
78.14%
Ranked in the US
#20
Rhode Island
Average Annual Sunlight
3,989 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#37
53.5 °F
Ranked in the US
#26
Ranked in the US
#11
South Carolina
Average Annual Sunlight
4,624 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#17
65.4 °F
Ranked in the US
#7
Ranked in the US
#41
South Dakota
Average Annual Sunlight
4,332 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#25
47.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#38
79.25%
Ranked in the US
#25
Tennessee
Average Annual Sunlight
4,486 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#19
60.1 °F
Ranked in the US
#13
Ranked in the US
#44
Texas
Average Annual Sunlight
5,137 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#4
68 °F
Ranked in the US
#3
79.83%
Ranked in the US
#27
Utah
Average Annual Sunlight
4,887 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#9
51.3 °F
Ranked in the US
#32
Ranked in the US
#5
Vermont
Average Annual Sunlight
3,826 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#47
45.7 °F
Ranked in the US
#41
Ranked in the US
#14
Virginia
Average Annual Sunlight
4,354 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#24
58 °F
Ranked in the US
#16
Ranked in the US
#23
Washington
Average Annual Sunlight
3,467 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#49
49 °F
Ranked in the US
#35
79.33%
Ranked in the US
#26
West Virginia
Average Annual Sunlight
4,146 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#32
54 °F
Ranked in the US
#24
Ranked in the US
#43
Wisconsin
Average Annual Sunlight
4,023 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#35
45 °F
Ranked in the US
#43
81.75%
Ranked in the US
#34
Wyoming
Average Annual Sunlight
4,471 kJ/m²
Ranked in the US
#20
43.9 °F
Ranked in the US
#46
63.75%
Ranked in the US
#6