Sun Hours by Location
Enter your latitude and climate zone to get estimated peak sun hours per day for accurate solar panel sizing.
Use the Sun Hours by Location
Location Parameters
Negative = southern hemisphere. Use your city's latitude.
Tilt from horizontal. 0° = flat, 90° = vertical.
Enter to get a panel count estimate.
Enter your location parameters and click Calculate.
Summary
Peak sun hours represent the number of hours per day when solar irradiance averages 1,000 W/m² — the standard used to rate solar panels. This calculator estimates peak sun hours for any latitude and climate zone using empirical irradiance data, helping you size a solar array correctly and forecast annual energy output. Enter your latitude, choose your climate type, and optionally adjust for panel tilt to get a location-specific result.
How it works
- Enter your latitude (negative for southern hemisphere, 0–90 range).
- Select the climate zone that best describes your region.
- Optionally enter a panel tilt angle (defaults to latitude for optimal fixed tilt).
- The calculator applies latitude-based irradiance curves adjusted for climate and tilt.
- Results show daily peak sun hours, monthly breakdown, and a simple panel sizing guide.
Use cases
- Size a residential or commercial solar array for a specific location.
- Estimate annual kWh output before purchasing solar panels.
- Compare solar potential across different cities or countries.
- Determine the number of panels needed to offset a given electricity load.
- Quick feasibility check before commissioning a full solar site survey.
- Teaching or learning about solar resource assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last updated: 2026-06-04 · Reviewed by Nham Vu