Solar Panel Angle By Postcode UK

What should your solar panel be angled at based on your UK postcode and region? Here we explain how to optimise your solar panel based on your location in the UK.

Most homes in the UK will be unable to get the perfect angle and dead south position needed for the maximum amount of sunlight in the UK with the roof space that they have.

So what percentage of sunlight will you get with what you have and what is the perfect angle for your solar panels?

Pro tip: Avoid upsells and confusing packages—choose a provider with a clear, fixed-price quote that won’t change. Heatable, a Which?-approved solar installer, offers transparent pricing with no surprises.

What is the best angle for solar panels in the UK?

The best all-year-round angle for PV (photovoltaic) solar panels in the UK is 35-40 degrees.

The best angle for each region within the UK will vary slightly within this.

For seasonal changes, the best angle for summertime is 20 degrees and 50 degrees in winter.

See below for the optimum angle for each UK region.

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Seasonal changes in solar panel tilt

If you have a solar system that can move with the seasons, whether manually or automatically, you will need to calculate the tilt according to the time of year.

For example, you will want your panels to be more vertical in the winter, to make the most of the low winter sun and have a lower tilt in the summer months when the sun is higher in the sky.

The calculation for the winter tilt of solar panels

For winter work out your solar panel tilt by adding 15 to your latitude.

So, if your latitude is 34. 34 + 15 = 49. Your solar panels need a 49-degree tilt.

If you’re still learning about solar, refer to our complete advice section for more help and advice, which includes guides on the best solar panels, costs of installing solar and if solar is worth it.

The calculation for the summer tilt of solar panels

For summer you can do this by subtracting 15.

For example, 34 -15 = 19. You would want a 19-degree tilt.

Can I have solar panels on a flat roof?

Having a completely flat solar panel array will still get a good amount of sunlight to generate energy.

However, it is worth considering the fact that the flatter they are the less efficient they are at self-cleaning which will affect their efficiency when dirt builds up on them.

In this case, it would be better if they were easy to access for cleaning.

Below, we have listed the solar panel angle roughly by segmenting each region of the UK, which you can roughly use based on your UK postcode.

The exact tilt for your postcode may vary within the region you live in but very marginally.

See below for the optimum angle for each region in the UK: