Where is the array going?
Tilt depends almost entirely on latitude. Enter a ZIP code, or type an exact latitude if you have it.
Get the exact best tilt for one specific day — handy for setting a seasonal rack or checking before a trip.
The length of the panel face measured along the sloped direction — for a typical 65×39 in panel tilted on its long edge, that's about 5.5 ft. We use it to work out how much winter shadow the tilted panel casts, so rows (or trees and fences to the south) stay clear of the sun.
Set the rack to a fixed 42.6° tilt for the best year-round energy harvest.
- Target azimuthTrue south (180°)
- Estimated magnetic declination0.3° W
- Compass heading to use180.3°
A handheld compass points at magnetic north, not true south. Walk the 180.3° heading on the compass and the panels will face true south. Phone map apps already show true bearings.
On Oct 18, tilt the panels to 56.1° and aim them at 180.3° on your compass (true south).
That day's ideal is 13.5° steeper your fixed year-round tilt of 42.6° — worth adjusting if your rack moves.
At the winter solstice the sun tops out around 21.1° above the horizon here. Keep at least 17.4 ft between rows — and the same distance clear of buildings, fences, and tree lines to the south.
That clearance is the minimum gap between rows — and how far back to keep the array from buildings, fences, and tree lines to the south so the low winter sun stays on the panels. Shade beats math every time: real terrain, trees, and snow load can override these numbers — Sparxx confirms placement on site before installation.
Get your day-specific tilt and compass heading in your inbox so you have it out at the rack.
Used only to send your angles and follow up about solar and backup power. Never shared.
Why tilt angle matters
In Minnesota the winter sun sits low in the southern sky, so a steeper tilt collects far more energy from November through February — exactly when backup power matters most. A panel tilted for winter can harvest roughly twice what a flat-mounted panel makes on a short December day. In summer the sun rides high, so a shallower tilt wins.
The seasonal settings this calculator returns are the standard rules of thumb: your latitude minus 15° for summer, your latitude for spring and fall, and your latitude plus 15° for winter.
Row spacing for ground mounts
A tilted panel throws a long shadow behind it in winter. The calculator shows how far apart ground-mount rows need to sit so the front row never shades the row behind it at the lowest winter sun. Enter the panel's length along the slope — not its height off the ground — and the tool does the rest.
Planning a backup system around solar? Size the battery and array with the battery size calculator, or see what a ready-to-go rental looks like on the Minnesota generator rental page.