Released as a single in 3 June 1966, it went to number 1 on the UK charts on 7 July 1966, remaining there for two weeks. The track also went to number 1 in Ireland on 18 July 1966. In America, it peaked at number fourteen. "Sunny Afternoon" was placed at #200 on Pitchfork Media's list of The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s.