Roof orientation affects how much electricity your solar PV system generates. But with modern panels, falling costs, and UK grants, you can still get excellent results even if your roof doesn't face perfect south. Here's what you need to know before you install:
What is the "ideal" roof orientation in the UK?
In the UK, the best orientation is due south. The sun is highest in the southern sky, so a south-facing roof gets the most direct sunlight between 10am and 4pm — when solar panels produce the most power.
The sweet spot: anything between south-east and south-west is considered excellent. You'll still hit about 90–95% of the output of a perfect south-facing roof.
What about east or west facing roofs?
East and west facing roofs are very common in the UK and they work well too.
- East-facing: makes most power in the morning — great for breakfast, showers and getting kids ready.
- West-facing: makes most power in the afternoon and evening — great if you're home after work.
An east or west roof will generate about 80–85% of what a south-facing roof would generate over a year. The bonus? East-west systems give you a more "spread out" generation across the day, instead of one big midday peak.
What about north facing roofs?
North-facing roofs are the least ideal in the UK. They get the least direct sun and will produce about 60–70% of a south-facing system.
That doesn't mean it's impossible. If you have enough roof space and combine it with battery storage, it can still be worth it. But most installers will recommend putting panels on other roof faces first.
What about roof pitch and angle?
Orientation isn't the only factor — pitch matters too. The ideal roof pitch in the UK is 30° to 40°. Too flat, and dirt and water sit on the panels; too steep, and you lose some summer sun. Luckily, most UK homes are already in this range.
What else matters more than perfect orientation?
Don't let orientation stop you. These three things often matter more:
- Shading — a chimney, tree, or neighbouring house casting shade will hurt performance more than being east vs south.
- Roof space — a larger east-west system can easily out-produce a small south-facing system.
- Energy use pattern — match your generation to when you use power. West-facing plus battery is perfect for evening use.
With MCS-compliant design software, installers can now model exactly how much your specific roof will generate before you commit.
So, should you still install solar if your roof isn't south-facing?
Here's the rule of thumb we use:
| Roof Faces | Viability in UK | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| South, SE, SW | Excellent | Maximum annual generation |
| East, West | Very Good | 80–85% output, better for morning/evening use |
| North | Possible | Only if combined with other faces or large space |
Add battery storage and energy efficiency measures, and even non-south roofs can cut bills by 50%+.
Our delivery approach
We survey your roof using 3D shading and orientation tools to model real-world output. We then design and install solar PV, air source heat pumps, and energy efficiency measures that are tailored to your home, not to a textbook "perfect" roof. The goal isn't a perfect orientation — the goal is the lowest bills and highest savings for your home.
Want to know what your roof could generate?
Book a free solar survey. We'll check your orientation, shading, and give you a year-by-year savings estimate.
