Which Way Should Solar Panels Face in the UK?
Solar panels in the UK should ideally face south, pitched at 30–40°. A south-facing roof captures the most sunlight throughout the day. But east and west roofs still produce around 85–88% of a south roof's output and remain worthwhile for most UK homes.
Quick Answer
South-facing is optimal in the UK. East and west produce 85–88% of south. South-east or south-west produce 95%+. North-facing produces 60–70% and is usually not recommended. Roof pitch between 30° and 40° maximises annual yield.
Solar panel orientation chart (UK)
| Orientation | % of optimal yield | Typical annual output (4kWp) |
|---|---|---|
| South | 100% | 3,400–4,200 kWh |
| South-East / South-West | 95–98% | 3,200–4,100 kWh |
| East / West | 85–88% | 2,900–3,700 kWh |
| North-East / North-West | 70–80% | 2,400–3,400 kWh |
| North | 60–70% | 2,000–2,900 kWh |
Based on MCS MIS 3002 yield estimates for central England at 35° pitch.
What roof pitch is best?
The optimal roof pitch for UK solar panels is between 30° and 40°. Most modern UK houses are built with roof pitches in this range, which is why the UK is well suited to rooftop solar.
- 0° (flat roof): ~88% of optimal — panels should be mounted on A-frames at 10–15°
- 15°: ~95% of optimal
- 30–40°: 100% (optimal)
- 50°: ~97%
- 60°: ~92%
- 90° (vertical wall): ~60% — rare but feasible
See our flat-roof solar panels guide for options with shallow or flat roofs.
East-west split arrays
Many UK homes have east-west roofs. Installing panels on both slopes — an east-west split array — produces generation that is spread more evenly across the day rather than peaking at midday. This can actually improve self-consumption and battery utilisation compared to a south-only system, because the generation curve better matches household demand.
A 50/50 east-west split typically produces around 80–85% of a south-facing system, but with better load-matching for most UK households.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can solar panels face north?
Technically yes, but it is rarely worthwhile. North-facing panels produce around 60–70% of a south-facing system. Payback periods extend significantly and most installers will advise against it.
Are east-facing solar panels worth it?
Yes. East-facing panels produce around 85–88% of a south-facing system, making them one of the best alternatives to south. East-facing panels generate more in the morning, which suits homes with morning-heavy electricity use.
What is the best angle for UK solar panels?
Between 30° and 40°, which is close to the UK's latitude. Most UK houses naturally fall within this range, so panels typically use the existing roof pitch without modification.
Do you need a south-facing roof for solar panels?
No. South is ideal, but east and west roofs produce 85–88% of the output and remain financially viable. Even south-east and south-west roofs produce 95%+ of a pure south-facing system.
How does shading affect orientation?
Shading from trees, chimneys, or other buildings can reduce output significantly. Power optimisers or microinverters help mitigate this. Sometimes a less-optimal orientation with no shading outperforms a perfect south orientation with morning tree shade.
Related Guides
Flat Roof Solar Panels
Flat roof solar: costs, mounting systems, east-west layouts, and planning.
Solar Panel Output
How much electricity solar panels produce by system size in the UK.
How Solar Panels Work
Plain-English guide to solar PV technology.
Do Panels Need Direct Sun?
Panels generate from diffuse daylight, not just direct sunshine.
Sources
- MCS — MIS 3002 PV Yield Calculation — mcscertified.com
- European Commission — PVGIS Tool — re.jrc.ec.europa.eu
Last updated: April 2026
Fact-checked by John Rooney, Solar Energy Editor. Editorial policy
John Rooney is the founder of Solar Info and has been covering the UK solar energy market since 2023. He fact-checks all content against official MCS and Ofgem data and maintains relationships with MCS-certified installers across the UK.
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