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Which Roof Direction Is Best for Solar? (And Does It Really Matter)
South, east, west — the impact of roof orientation and pitch on solar output, and when a “non-ideal” roof is still worth it.
WaterFuelAndSolarEnergy.com Editorial Team Updated December 2024 8 min read
In the northern hemisphere, south-facing roofs capture the most sun; in the southern hemisphere, north-facing roofs do. But east and west roofs still perform well and even have advantages for self-consumption.
Relative output by orientation (northern hemisphere)
| Orientation | Relative output | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| South | ~100% | Maximum total generation |
| East | ~80–90% | Morning generation |
| West | ~80–90% | Afternoon/evening generation |
| North | ~65–75% | Only if unavoidable |
East–west can beat south for self-consumption
A south-facing array peaks in the middle of the day, when you may be out. East-west arrays stretch generation across morning and afternoon — closer to household use patterns, which can raise self-consumption even if total output is a little lower.
Pitch and shading
- A 15–35° tilt is a good general range
- Flatter roofs (shallow pitch) still work fine in sunny latitudes
- Shading from trees or chimneys matters far more than a few degrees of orientation