Roof direction
Best roof direction for solar panels in the UK.
South is the textbook answer — but it isn't the only one. Most UK roofs that face anywhere from south-east round through south to west are good candidates for solar. Here's the honest output picture, with figures.
Last updated: 8 May 2026.
Check your roof
A Solarable Report shows your likely roof direction, a Solarable Score, and listed installers covering your postcode.
Output by direction
How much you generate, by roof face.
All figures below are relative to a south-facing UK roof at the optimal 30–40° pitch. They're indicative — your actual output depends on shading, pitch, and local irradiation. The numbers are useful for a quick sanity check before booking a survey.
| Roof direction | Relative output | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South | 100% | Textbook ideal. Highest annual yield. |
| South-east / South-west | ~95% | Almost as good as south. Practically interchangeable. |
| East / West | ~80–90% | Strong result. Flatter daily curve — sometimes better for self-consumption. |
| North-east / North-west | ~70–80% | Marginal — payback stretches noticeably. |
| North | ~60–70% | The harder case. See the dedicated guide. |
Multiple roof faces
What to do if you have options.
Most UK homes have at least two roof faces — front and back — and many have more. A few decision rules:
- One face leans south. Use that one. Even if it's only a partial south (SE or SW), it beats other faces.
- One faces east, the other west. A "dual array" with panels on both gives you a flatter daily generation curve. Useful if your electricity use is morning and evening rather than midday.
- One faces north, the other south. Use the south face only. Panels on the north face rarely add enough output to justify the cost in the UK.
- Conservatory or extension roof. A flat-roof rear extension is often an excellent solar candidate even when the main roof is awkward — flat roofs let you choose orientation and pitch.
Pitch
Roof angle — less critical than direction.
The UK optimal pitch is around 30–40° from horizontal. Most modern UK roofs are close to this anyway. Older properties with very steep roofs (45°+) lose a few percent of summer output but gain a little in winter. Near-flat roofs (under 15°) lose more — but the fix is to mount panels on a tilted frame, common practice on flat-roof installations.
The Solarable Report estimates roof direction from public building data; pitch is harder to read remotely and your installer survey will confirm it. Most homes don't need to worry about pitch — direction is the bigger lever.
The verdict
Is your roof good enough?
If your main roof faces anywhere from south-east through south to west, the financial case for solar in the UK works. East and west are mild compromises. North is the case where it depends on your usage pattern, electricity tariff, and whether a battery is in the picture.
The fastest way to find out which way your roof faces: enter your postcode below. The Solarable Report estimates your likely main roof direction from public building data — survey-confirmed by your installer.
Common questions
FAQs about roof direction.
Is south the only direction worth doing?
No. South is the best on paper, but a south-east, south-west, east, or west-facing roof gets you 80–95% of the south-facing output. The cost of the system is the same, so the financial case still works in most cases — payback just stretches by a year or two.
What if my roof faces partly north?
A roof that splits — say, half north-east and half south-west — is common, and the south-leaning half is typically the part to install on. North-only roofs are the harder case: see our north-facing roof guide for the honest verdict.
How does pitch (roof angle) affect the answer?
Less than direction does, but it still matters. The optimal pitch in the UK is around 30–40° from horizontal. A near-flat roof or very steep roof loses a few percent of output — easy to fix on flat roofs with mounting frames. The Solarable Report estimates direction; pitch is harder to detect from public data and an installer survey will confirm.
Can I split panels across two directions?
Yes. A "dual-array" setup with some panels on a south-east roof and some on a south-west roof is common and often the right answer for properties with two reasonable roof faces. The east+west pair flattens the daily generation curve, which can actually improve self-consumption depending on your usage pattern.
Should I avoid solar entirely if my main roof faces east or west?
No. East and west-facing roofs reach roughly 80–90% of south-facing output and still pay back well within a system's lifetime. A south-facing roof is the textbook ideal; an east or west roof is a perfectly reasonable real-world answer. Run your numbers in the savings calculator before deciding.
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