How to Use the Solar Panel Tilt Calculator
Enter your latitude and pick the season you want to optimize for, and this tool calculates the ideal tilt angle for your solar panels. The wrong angle can noticeably cut into your energy output, so it's worth checking before installation.
The most common rule of thumb is that the best year-round fixed tilt roughly equals your latitude. Most of the continental US falls between 25°N and 49°N, so panels tilted somewhere in that range, matched to your specific location, typically produce the most total energy annually.
Because the sun's angle changes with the seasons, tilting lower than your latitude favors summer (when the sun sits higher in the sky), while tilting higher favors winter (when the sun sits lower). Adjustable racking that changes with the seasons can add roughly 5-10% more output, though a fixed setup is simpler to install and maintain.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a rule of thumb, the best year-round fixed tilt angle roughly equals your location's latitude. Tilting lower than latitude favors summer output, and tilting higher favors winter output.
Seasonal adjustment can boost output by roughly 5-10%, but if that's impractical, a fixed angle set to your latitude still delivers solid year-round performance.