In recent years, the heightened global demand for renewable energy has led to a rapid surge in the development of offshore wind energy resources. One of the predominant foundations for offshore wind turbines is monopiles, characterized by single large-diameter and open-ended cylindrical steel structures. The behaviour of monopile foundations during earthquakes plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of structures. Therefore, the seismic analysis of the monopile is an essential part that needs to be investigated. In practice, numerous geotechnical engineers often rely on simple methods to assess the internal responses of piles subjected to earthquake forces. This paper evaluates a simple pseudo-static method that entails converting seismic forces into equivalent static horizontal and vertical forces. A series of three-dimensional (3D) finite-element (FE) analyses using ABAQUS Cae software is performed on monopiles embedded in homogeneous sandy soil. The soil is modelled using the Mohr–Coulomb plasticity constitutive model while the monopile is modelled as an elastic rigid body. The friction angle of sand (φ) and horizontal seismic acceleration coefficient (kh) are varied to study the effect of these parameters on the seismic lateral load behaviour of monopile. The interface roughness is varied representing smooth to rough by varying interface friction angle (δ). An assessment involving a comparative analysis between the current model and findings documented in published literature has also been considered. The outcomes of the present study contribute to understanding the seismic behaviour of monopiles and offer valuable insights for optimizing their design and resilience against seismic events.