Solar panel tilt angle calculator
The starting point used by most installers: tilt the panel at your latitude for the best all-year output, steeper in winter and flatter in summer. Enter your latitude and the season you care about.
Enter your measurements
- Face the panels
- True south (not magnetic south)
- Winter angle
- 55°
- Summer angle
- 25°
- Rise per foot (or per 30 cm) of panel length
- 7.7 in per foot · 19.3 cm per 30 cm of panel
Fixed, best all year: latitude 40° = 40° from horizontal
Height to raise the top edge = panel length × sin(40°) → 7.7 in per foot · 19.3 cm per 30 cm of panel
- Can’t adjust the angle? A roof pitch somewhat off this angle usually costs less over a year than people expect — run PVWatts at your address with your roof’s pitch to see exactly how much.
Quick answers for common sizes
| Example | Answer |
|---|---|
| The best angle for solar panels in winter | 55° at 40° north (latitude + 15°) |
Angles at other latitudes
| Latitude | Tilt from horizontal | Winter angle | Summer angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° | 25° | 40° | 10° |
| 30° | 30° | 45° | 15° |
| 35° | 35° | 50° | 20° |
| 40° | 40° | 55° | 25° |
| 45° | 45° | 60° | 30° |
| 50° | 50° | 65° | 35° |
Want the winter angle in detail? See the best angle for solar panels in winter.
The rule of thumb
all year: tilt = latitude winter: tilt = latitude + 15° summer: tilt = latitude − 15° face true south in the northern hemisphere, true north in the southern
The sun is lower in the sky in winter and higher in summer, so a steeper panel catches more winter sun and a flatter one more summer sun. Setting the panel at your latitude splits the difference for the year. It is a starting point, not a law: the best angle depends on local weather (cloudy winters favour flatter panels that see more of the bright sky), on whether snow needs to slide off, and on when you need the power.
Latitudes and peak sun hours
| City | Latitude | All-year tilt | Winter tilt | Peak sun hours at that tilt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 33.5° | 33° | 48° | 6.57 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 34.1° | 34° | 49° | 6.09 |
| Denver, CO | 39.7° | 40° | 55° | 5.74 |
| Miami, FL | 25.8° | 26° | 41° | 5.57 |
| Dallas, TX | 32.8° | 33° | 48° | 5.41 |
| Chicago, IL | 41.9° | 42° | 57° | 4.46 |
| New York, NY | 40.7° | 41° | 56° | 4.45 |
| Seattle, WA | 47.6° | 48° | 63° | 3.83 |
When to ignore it
- Grid-tied roofs. Rooftop panels usually follow the roof pitch. Building a steep rack on a shallow roof rarely pays for itself, and it adds wind load.
- Off-grid in winter. If winter is your hardest season, set the panels for winter (latitude + 15° or steeper) and accept less in summer, when you have energy to spare.
- Snow. Steep panels shed snow; flat ones can stay buried for days.
- Vans and RVs. Flat-mounted panels are a compromise for driving; tilting kits help when you are parked for a while in winter.
What you’ll need
- Digital angle finderBudget price
Sits on the panel frame and reads its tilt to a tenth of a degree, so a seasonal adjustment actually lands on the angle you worked out.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Adjustable tilt mount bracketsBudget price
Lets you change a ground- or roof-mounted panel’s angle with the seasons instead of leaving it flat.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best angle for solar panels?
For a fixed panel that stays put all year, start at your latitude — about 40° in Denver or New York, 34° in Phoenix or Los Angeles. Face it true south in the northern hemisphere.
What is the best angle for solar panels in winter?
About your latitude plus 15°: 55° at 40° north. See the best angle for solar panels in winter.
Should solar panels face south or toward the sun?
Fixed panels in the northern hemisphere face true south, which is where the sun is at midday. True south differs from magnetic (compass) south by your local magnetic declination.
Are flat solar panels much worse?
In summer the difference is small; in winter, at mid and high latitudes, a flat panel misses much of the low sun. PVWatts lets you compare a 0° tilt with your latitude for your address.
Related guides
Sources
- National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL) — PVWatts® Calculator (opens in a new tab) — Look up the solar resource (peak sun hours) and yearly output for your own address; default system losses 14%.
- NLR (formerly NREL) — PVWatts® v8 API, NSRDB PSM V3 TMY data (opens in a new tab) — City figures on this site: fixed open-rack array facing due south, tilted at the site’s latitude, 14% system losses, queried October 2026.