Solar panel row spacing calculator

Enter latitude, table length and tilt to get the row gap that keeps winter shadows off the next row.

Latitude°Use the absolute value; southern hemisphere works the same wayTable length (sloped)m2 modules in portrait ≈ 4.5 m, 4 in landscape ≈ 4.5 mTilt°Keep rows shade-freeGround slope (north–south)%+ for ground falling toward the equator, − for ground falling away

Result

Gap d–

Row pitch–

Height difference h–

Table footprint–

Sun altitude at design time–

Sun azimuth (from due south)–

Ground coverage ratio (GCR)–

Equator-facing rows, solar time, a uniform slope across the rows. For real, uneven terrain, run it in the app on 3D terrain.

How it works

The gap is set so the shadow from the top edge of one row just reaches the bottom edge of the next. h = L × sin(tilt), d = h ÷ (tan(sun altitude) ÷ cos(sun azimuth) + ground slope). The full explanation is in the row spacing guide.

Lay it out on your real site

Draw your site in the app, set the pitch, and see the panel count, shading on real 3D terrain and annual energy. Free.

Try it free →

FAQ

Why is 9:00 to 15:00 on the winter solstice so common?

It protects the hours that produce most of the winter energy without using too much land. Where land is expensive, designers often shorten it to 10:00 to 14:00.

What is ground coverage ratio (GCR)?

Table length divided by pitch. Higher GCR uses land more densely but adds shading loss. Ground-mounted plants are often between 40 and 60 %.