What is the best roof direction for solar panels?
South-facing is the best roof direction for solar panels in the UK, generating the most electricity over the year. East and west-facing roofs still produce around 85% as much and are well worth it, while north-facing roofs generate roughly half and are rarely recommended on their own. A pitch of around 30 to 40 degrees is close to ideal.
Roof direction (its orientation, or aspect) is one of the biggest factors in how much a solar system generates. Here is how each direction compares and why east-west systems are increasingly popular.
Generation by roof direction
| Direction | Relative output | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| South | 100% | Best |
| South-east / south-west | ~95% | Excellent |
| East / west | ~85% | Good, splits well across two faces |
| North-east / north-west | ~70% | Marginal |
| North | ~55% | Not usually recommended alone |
Why east-west systems are popular
A roof with east and west faces can hold panels on both sides, generating in the morning and the afternoon rather than peaking only at midday. This spreads output across the day, which often matches household demand better and increases the share of energy you use yourself.
Pitch and shading also matter
- Pitch: around 30 to 40 degrees is ideal in the UK; flat roofs use angled mounts.
- Shading: trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings reduce output significantly.
- Optimisers or microinverters can reduce the impact of partial shading.
Check your roof
The SunSum calculator factors in your roof direction and shading to give a generation and savings estimate, plus a roof suitability score, for your home.
Frequently asked questions
- Do solar panels work on an east or west-facing roof?
- Yes. East and west-facing roofs generate around 85% of a south-facing roof and are well worth installing, especially split across both faces.
- Are north-facing solar panels worth it?
- North-facing panels generate around half as much as south-facing and are rarely recommended on their own, though they can occasionally make sense as part of a larger east-west-north layout.
Related questions
Indicative estimates based on UK average data. Last updated 26 May 2026.