Free online calculator

Solar Panel Tilt Angle Calculator

For a fixed (non-tracking) solar array, the standard starting point is simple: tilt the panels about the same number of degrees from horizontal as your latitude, facing the equator. Enter your latitude, pick a season, and this calculator applies the usual rule-of-thumb adjustments and clamps the result to a sensible 0-90° range.

This is a planning estimate, not a yield calculation. Roof pitch, shading, snow cover, array azimuth and local weather all change the real output, and a professional design will use measured irradiance data for your exact location.

It is the right tool for answering "roughly what angle should my panels be at?" before you buy mounting hardware or ask an installer for a fixed-tilt quote.

Your latitude (north positive, south negative) (°)

Adjustment

Recommended tilt from horizontal — °

Face this direction —

Winter equivalent — °

Summer equivalent — °

Panels should face the equator: south-facing in the northern hemisphere, north-facing in the southern hemisphere.

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Worked examples

Phoenix, Arizona

Latitude 33.4°, year-round

33.4° tilt · face south · winter 48.4°, summer 18.4°

Denver, Colorado

Latitude 39.7°, winter

54.7° tilt · face south · year-round 39.7°, summer 24.7°

Berlin, Germany

Latitude 52.5°, year-round

52.5° tilt · face south · winter 67.5°, summer 37.5°

Sydney, Australia

Latitude -33.9°, year-round

33.9° tilt · face north (towards the equator)

Singapore (near the equator)

Latitude 1.3°, year-round

1.3° tilt - almost flat is correct near the equator

How the tilt rule works, and what it ignores

The rule of thumb exists because the sun sits highest in summer and lowest in winter. Tilting a panel to your latitude puts it roughly perpendicular to the average year-round sun path, which maximises total annual energy for a fixed array. Adding about 15° in winter raises the panel towards the low southern sun, and removing about 15° in summer lowers it towards the overhead sun - the two adjustments are heuristics that work well between roughly 25° and 55° of latitude.

Direction matters as much as tilt. In the northern hemisphere a fixed array should face true south (azimuth 180°), and in the southern hemisphere it should face true north. True south is not magnetic south: account for the difference between magnetic and true north for your location before setting the mounting rail. Small azimuth errors cost less than tilt errors - a panel 20° off in azimuth loses only a few percent, while shading loses far more.

Near the equator the maths produces almost flat panels, which is genuinely correct: the sun passes close to overhead all year, and a steep tilt would perform worse. At high latitudes, tilt rises quickly and the winter/summer spread becomes more valuable, though so does the impact of snow sliding off a steeper array.

What this calculator does not model: roof pitch (if the array sits on a pitched roof, the roof angle usually wins because racking to a different tilt costs money), diffuse versus direct irradiance, horizon shading from trees or neighbouring buildings, temperature losses, and the fact that optimal tilt shifts with the season rather than in two steps. Tracking mounts follow the sun continuously and typically gain 25% or more over a fixed array, but they add motors, maintenance and cost.

Before installing: check local permitting and HOA rules, confirm the roof structure can take the load, have a qualified installer handle the electrical connection, and treat any output estimate - including tilt recommendations - as an input to a proper design rather than a guarantee of production.

Want to measure an angle instead of calculating one? Open the on-screen angle finder and protractor - it measures angles on screen, over an uploaded photo or through your camera, with no upload.

Solar panel tilt FAQ

What is the best tilt angle for solar panels?

For a fixed array, a good starting point is a tilt equal to your latitude, facing the equator. Adjust about 15° steeper for winter and 15° shallower for summer.

Should solar panels be tilted at my latitude?

Latitude tilt maximises year-round energy for a fixed array in most locations. On a pitched roof, the existing roof angle is often used instead because racking to a different tilt adds cost.

Which direction should fixed panels face?

In the northern hemisphere, face true south; in the southern hemisphere, face true north. Near the equator the direction matters less than keeping the panels unshaded.

Does a steeper tilt produce more power?

Not automatically. A steeper tilt helps in winter and at high latitudes, but hurts in summer and near the equator. The best angle depends on the season, your latitude and the surrounding shading.