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• The condensation rate and condensation power in the south, middle and north China with three ideal radiative cooling emitters are elaborately examined. • An optimal emitter can be selected based on the calculated boundary conditions and condensation rate differences. • To realize the ideal emitters, multilayer design has been put forth, and the numerical calculation of the emissivity match well the impedance theory. • As a case study of the 4-infinite multilayer emitter, the average condensation rate throughout the year is 1.956 Lm−2hour−1 for the solar water purification. Radiative cooling, a novel cooling technology for condensation water harvesting without energy input, offers a promising solution to the water scarcity. According to the actual locations and atmospheric conditions, selecting the ideal radiative cooling spectrum is crucial to achieve improved condensation efficiency. In this work, we analyze the condensation rate and condensation power in the southern, middle and northern China with three ideal radiative cooling emitters, namely, 4-infinite, single-window, and double-window emitter. Depending on variations in temperature, relative humidity, or the heat transfer coefficient, an optimal emitter can be selected based on the calculated boundary conditions and differences in condensation rate. Meanwhile, three multilayer design of 4-infinite emitter, double-window emitter and single-window emitter are developed using the memetic algorithm. Their emissivity aligns well with the impedance theory. They are then applied to a case study that assesses condensed water collection in Hangzhou, utilizing real-time atmospheric and environmental data in the whole year. Regarding the all-day dew collection, the average daily water generation per week in Hangzhou can be up to 256.94 mLm−2. For the solar water purification, the average condensation rate throughout the year is 1.956 Lm−2hour−1 with h = 10 W m − 2 K − 1 . Our findings demonstrate that the multilayer design significantly enhances the water harvesting. Hence, our research provides valuable insights for selecting suitable ideal radiative coolers for water harvesting in specific atmospheric conditions and geographical locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]