Solar Panel Angle Calculator estimates the best solar panels angle (tilt) for your zip code, based on Latitude and Sun Hours.
Simply enter you zip code, and you will get the best angle for your solar panels, your latitude, ideal roof pitch and estimated production for a 10KW solar panel system.
Calculate Best Solar Angle & Roof Pitch
There is a notion that the ideal roof slope or solar panels angle is your Latitude.
However, the reality is different.
Because the sun’s angle changes depending on the time of year, the ideal Year-Round angle is usually 5-7 degrees less than the Latitude angle, in terms of Solar PV production. This is mainly due to a large drop in winter production for a steep solar angle.
Why Tilt of Your Solar Panels is Important?
If the angle of your solar panels is too far off from the ideal tilt, you can see a massive loss of power production. Below is approximate loss of production for every 5 degrees of deviation from the “norm”. Not that for the first 15° the loss is not significant. However it starts to “grow” very fast, the further away you are from ideal tilt. Basically the loss is NOT linear, but exponential
Estimated Generation & Losses of a 10 KW Solar PV Sytemt in Ohio, based on Deviation from Ideal Angle
| Deviation (°) | 10 KW Production | Loss (kWh) | Loss (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5° | 15,101 kWh | 46 kWh | 0.31% |
| 10° | 14,932 kWh | 215 kWh | 1.42% |
| 15° | 14,668 kWh | 480 kWh | 3.17% |
| 20° | 14,274 kWh | 873 kWh | 5.76% |
| 25° | 13,772 kWh | 1,375 kWh | 9.08% |
| 30° | 13,147 kWh | 2,000 kWh | 13.21% |
| 35° | 12,475 kWh | 2,672 kWh | 17.64% |
| 40° | 11,736 kWh | 3,411 kWh | 22.52% |
| 45° | 10,544 kWh | 4,603 kWh | 30.39% |
Basically, if your ideal angle is 30° and your panels are installed flat (30° deviation), you will be losing around 13.21% of production due to angle of the sun and your panels.
In terms of actual production, if a 10kW solar PV system in OH, is estimated to produce 15,148 kWhs (under ideal conditions, and no other losses).
With a tilt deviation, it would produce 15,146 kWhs, resulting in a loss of 2,001 kWhs of the annual production.
Loss percentages will vary ever so slightly, in different areas of US, but in general, these numbers are a good enough measure to calculate tilt losses.
From these numbers, we can conclude that installing solar panes on the northern-facing side of the roof, will result in tremendous production losses. We strongly recommend that homeowners refrain from doing so, in pursuit of “installed KWs”. In the end, your cost per watt on norther-facing roof slopes will often be double that of a south-facing roof slope!
Best Angle For Solar Panels Angle In Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA latitude is 34.0549°
Best Solar Panles Angle: 28.76°
Ideal Roof Pitch for Solar: 7/12
Sun Hours / Day: 5.38
10 kW Solar Production: 16,888 - 17,673 kWh
California is a pretty sunny place with 5.38 hour of sunlight per day! Estimated electricity output of a 10 KW soalr PV system in Los Angeles is 17,281 kWhs per year.
With average electric rate in CA being $0.2862/kWh, if you use ALL of your solar electricity, that would result is savings of around $5,058/year!
Best Use of Solar Electricity in CA:
With cost of gasoline in CA around $4.41786, charging your Tesla (or other EV) is extremely cost efficicent!
Same goes for heating and cooling your home with a Heat Pump! You would be saving around $1,481 on cooling, and $529 on heating your home each year!
LA Ideal Solar Panels Angle by Month:
| Month | Angle | Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| January | 38.8° | 10/12 |
| February | 33.8° | 8/12 |
| March | 28.8° | 7/12 |
| April | 23.8° | 5/12 |
| May | 18.8° | 4/12 |
| June | 13.8° | 3/12 |
| July | 18.8° | 4/12 |
| August | 23.8° | 5/12 |
| September | 28.8° | 7/12 |
| October | 33.8° | 8/12 |
| November | 38.8° | 10/12 |
| December | 43.8° | 12/12 |
While solar is great in California, how well does it work in the Northern states? Let’s take a look at the New York area (metro New York city, Long Island, and Westchester County)!
Best Solar Panels Angle For New York, NY
New York, NY latitude is 34.0549°
Best Solar Panles Angle: 31.84°
Ideal Roof Pitch for Solar: 7/12
Sun Hours / Day: 3.79
10 kW Solar Production: 11,897 - 12,450 kWh
New York is a pretty sunny place with 3.79 hour of sunlight per day! Estimated electricity output of a 10 KW soalr PV system in New York is 12,173 kWhs per year.
With average electric rate in NY being $0.2462/kWh, if you use ALL of your solar electricity, that would result is savings of around $3,065/year!
Best Use of Solar Electricity in NY:
With cost of gasoline in NY around $3.75579, charging your Tesla (or other EV) is extremely cost efficicent!
Same goes for heating and cooling your home with a Heat Pump! You would be saving around $731 on cooling, and $2,325 on heating your home each year!
New York Ideal Solar Panels Angle by Month:
| Month | Angle | Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| January | 41.8° | 11/12 |
| February | 36.8° | 9/12 |
| March | 31.8° | 7/12 |
| April | 26.8° | 6/12 |
| May | 21.8° | 5/12 |
| June | 16.8° | 4/12 |
| July | 21.8° | 5/12 |
| August | 26.8° | 6/12 |
| September | 31.8° | 7/12 |
| October | 36.8° | 9/12 |
| November | 41.8° | 11/12 |
| December | 46.8° | 13/12 |
