Solar Panel Spacing Calculator
Enter panel height, tilt angle, and site latitude to calculate the minimum row spacing that prevents inter-row shading.
Array Parameters
m
Length of the panel face (not vertical height)
deg
Degrees from horizontal (0° = flat)
deg
North positive (e.g. 35 for Tennessee, 51 for London)
×
1.0 = theoretical min; 1.1–1.25 typical
Results
Enter parameters and click Calculate
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Min. Row Spacing (m)
—
Min. Row Spacing (ft)
| Winter solstice sun elevation | — |
| Panel vertical rise | — |
| Panel horizontal run | — |
| Shadow length on ground | — |
| Raw spacing (before factor) | — |
| GCR (Ground Cover Ratio) | — |
Geometry Diagram
Shadow cast at winter solstice solar noon — worst-case shading condition
Common Spacing Examples
| Location (lat) | Tilt | 1.96 m panel | GCR |
|---|
Summary
Enter panel height, tilt angle, and site latitude to calculate the minimum row spacing that prevents inter-row shading.
How it works
- The tool uses the winter solstice sun elevation angle, calculated from your site latitude.
- It computes the shadow length cast by the top edge of the panel at that low sun angle.
- The minimum row spacing equals the horizontal projection of the panel plus the shadow it casts on the ground.
- A safety factor can be applied to add margin for diffuse shading or non-ideal conditions.
- Results are shown in meters and feet, with a visual diagram of the geometry.
Use cases
- Size a rooftop array without shading the next row during winter mornings.
- Plan a ground-mounted solar farm with optimal land use vs. shading trade-off.
- Verify contractor spacing recommendations against sun-angle math.
- Compare spacing requirements at different latitudes for multi-site projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: 2026-07-04 ·
Reviewed by Nham Vu