Abstract Wave energy plays a vital role in providing renewable energy in coastal areas. Several factors need to be considered for optimum site selection and type of the wave energy converter. Some factors such as impact of climate variation, exploitable storage of wave energy and its trend, design wave condition (as a representative of construction cost), accessibility and availability are related to the local sea state, while the characteristics of the Wave Energy Converter (WEC) need to be considered in the prediction power supply. Hence, this study focuses on the impact of different criteria on the selection of the appropriate location/WECs combinations and offers a Multi-Criteria Approach (MCA). The proposed multi-criteria approach combines the above-mentioned factors into one factor to consider both the efficiency of WECs as well as sea state to assist decision makers when planning for a pilot project. The approach was then applied to the wave condition of three locations previously suggested as hotspots for wave energy extraction. Comparison of MCA index in the stations with different types of WECs provided a more comprehensive view on the suitability of a location for a near-future pilot project and selection of the most efficient WEC.