In this study, by using long-term global solar radiation data, 6 day of the year based empirical models were tested for prediction of daily global solar radiation in four Iranian cities of Bandarabass, Isfahan, Kerman and Tabass. The statistical non-linear regression technique was utilized to establish the models then their accuracy evaluated using the statistical indicators of mean absolute percentage error, mean absolute bias error, root mean square error and coefficient of determination. In Bandarabass, Kerman and Tabass, the hybrid sine and cosine wave model and in Isfahan the 4th order polynomial model provided the highest accuracy. To assess the performance of the models in different days of the year a further statistical analysis was performed using the relative percentage error. The number of days falling in its acceptable interval of -10% to 10% for the best models in Bandarabass, Isfahan, Kerman, and Tabass were 346, 322, 334 and 328, respectively. Making comparison with the predictions of some existing monthly averaged models stated the superiority of the newly established day of the year based models. Hence, they can be utilized swimmingly to estimate daily insolation in the corresponding cities and a vast similar climate region around them. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.