Tendulkar, 40, will end a glittering career when he plays his 200th Test match against West Indies starting on Thursday.
Tendulkar is the only batsman to rack up 50 Test centuries, with his current tally at 51, and boasts the record for the most hundreds and runs in one-day internationals.
And Dhoni believes Tendulkar's ability to perform to exceptional standards over different forms of the game, as well as his ability to handle the pressure of a demanding public, have set him aside as the best.
Speaking ahead of the second test, Dhoni said: "As far as Sachin is concerned, I will consider him as the greatest.
"When it comes to Indian cricket, you are under the microscope and he has been under it from the start. Test cricket has changed significantly since he started in 1989, so have ODIs and then there was the introduction of the Twenty20 format.
"But it's not only the cricketing aspect. I think what's difficult in India is how you handle the success and the expectation level of the people. We are expected to win each and every game which is not possible.
"So there are other greats but there's one thing that they didn't have to deal with like Sachin and that was the incredible expectation.
"In that way, Sachin has been fantastic and there's plenty to learn from him. As long as he has played for India, he has always been a star."
When asked whether Tendulkar could bow out on a high by knocking a final Test century, Dhoni responded in a coy manner and insisted the onus is on the man dubbed 'the Little Master' to just enjoy his final match.
He added: "Of course you can say (I hope he gets) a hundred, a double-hundred, a triple hundred or 500, whatever. But at the end of the day what's most important is that it's his last Test match and it's really important that he enjoys it."
India will look to wrap up a series victory at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, after crushing the West Indies by an innings and 51 runs in the opening Test.
