Optimal Tilt
40°
Latitude
40°N
Azimuth
180° (South)
US ranges: 25\u00B0 (Miami) to 48\u00B0 (Seattle)
Panel facing: True South (180\u00B0) for Northern Hemisphere
Winter formula: lat \u00D7 0.9 + 29 = 65\u00B0
Summer formula: lat \u00D7 0.9 - 23.5 = 12.5\u00B0
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For a fixed mount, tilt your panels at an angle equal to your latitude. At 40°N latitude, tilt panels 40° from horizontal. Adjusting seasonally can increase production by 5–8% compared to a fixed mount.
| Latitude | Fixed | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25° (Miami) | 25° | 0° | 52° |
| 35° (LA) | 35° | 8° | 61° |
| 40° (NYC) | 40° | 13° | 65° |
| 48° (Seattle) | 48° | 20° | 72° |
Yes, panels should face true south (180° azimuth) in the Northern Hemisphere. Southwest or southeast facing reduces production by 5–15%. East or west facing can lose 20–30% of optimal production.
If easy to access, adjusting twice per year (summer/winter) gains about 5% more energy. Four seasonal adjustments gain about 8%. For rooftop panels, fixed mounting at latitude is usually the best cost-benefit.
Higher latitudes need steeper tilt angles to capture low-angle sunlight. At the equator (0°), panels lie nearly flat. At 45°N latitude, panels tilt at 45°. The relationship is approximately linear.
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Last Updated: Mar 26, 2026
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