Panel Tilt & Azimuth Optimizer
Optimal module angle for your site coordinates
Free · No sign-up · Computed instantly on your device
Site Coordinates
Find these on Google Maps — long-press your rooftop and copy the two numbers.
Rule-of-thumb: fixed tilt ≈ latitude, adjusted ±15° seasonally. Below 10° latitude we clamp to 10° so rain can self-clean the modules.
Optimal year-round tilt
19.1°
Summer setting (Apr–Sep)
5°
Latitude −15° — sun rides higher in the sky
Winter setting (Oct–Mar)
34.1°
Latitude +15° — catches the lower winter sun
Yield Sensitivity to Tilt Angle
Approximate — shows how forgiving tilt is around the optimum.
Fixed vs seasonal: a fixed year-round tilt captures ~96–98% of the energy of twice-yearly manual adjustment. We recommend seasonal adjustment only where structures are designed for it (adjustable-leg arrays on RCC roofs).
About This Calculator
Module tilt is the cheapest performance upgrade in solar — it costs nothing at design time and pays for the plant’s entire life. The rule validated across Indian sites: set year-round fixed tilt approximately equal to your latitude, and face the array toward the equator (true south anywhere in India). This calculator returns the year-round angle plus seasonal settings (latitude −15° for summer, +15° for winter) for adjustable structures.
Below 10° of latitude the tool clamps the recommendation to 10°, because flatter modules stop self-cleaning in rain — a real yield killer in dusty Indian conditions. A fixed year-round tilt captures 96–98% of what twice-yearly manual adjustment would, which is why most rooftops rightly skip adjustable legs.
How the Calculation Works
The rule of thumb for a fixed panel is to tilt it at roughly your latitude, facing the equator — true south in India. The calculator keeps the year-round tilt at 10° or more so rain can wash dust off, and offers seasonal settings: latitude minus 15° for summer and plus 15° for winter, for arrays you can adjust twice a year.
The best fixed tilt maximises yearly energy, not peak-day output; a few degrees either way costs very little, so mounting cost and wind loading often decide the final angle. Read our structural safety and wind loading guide before choosing a steep tilt.
Worked example
- Jaipur (latitude 26.9°N): year-round tilt about 26.9°; summer setting 11.9°; winter setting 41.9°; face true south (180°).
- Mumbai (latitude 19.1°N): year-round about 19.1°; summer 5° (the tool’s minimum); winter 34.1°.
Go Deeper
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which Direction Should Solar Panels Face in India?
- True south, everywhere in India — the entire country is in the northern hemisphere. East/west orientations lose 15–20% annually but are sometimes used to match morning/evening consumption patterns.
- Is Tilt Angle the Same as My Roof Slope?
- On sloped roofs, modules are usually flush-mounted and inherit the roof’s pitch — acceptable when the roof faces broadly south. On flat RCC roofs, the mounting structure sets the tilt, which is where this calculator matters most.
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