The aim of this study is to establish a database for the hydrodynamic performance of Wave Energy Converters (WECs). The method relies on the collection and analysis of data available in the literature. The availability and presentation of these data vary greatly between sources. Thus, extrapolations have been made in order to derive an annual average for the capture width ratio (CWR) of the different technologies. These CWR are synthesized in a table alongside information regarding dimension, wave resource and operational principle of the technologies. It is observed that CWR is correlated to operational principle and dimension. Statistical methods are used to derive relationships between CWR and dimension for the different WEC operational principles. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.