Sunprint
The short answer
South is the best direction for solar panels everywhere in Texas, and the best tilt runs from 28 degrees in Houston, Austin and San Antonio to 33 in Lubbock. A typical 6/12 roof (26.6 degrees) facing south gets within 0.6% of the best possible in all six cities we modeled. Other directions still work: southeast and southwest roofs make about 94 to 97% as much as the best, and east or west roofs about 81 to 88%.
Every direction, six cities
Each cell is a 6/12 roof's yearly output as a share of that city's best. Hover or tap a cell for the kWh per kW.
PVGIS (European Commission) on NREL's National Solar Radiation Database: a 1 kW system on a 6/12 roof (26.6°), 14% losses. Each city's best is its optimal tilt and direction.
The best tilt and direction by city
PVGIS can search for the tilt and direction that make the most power in a year. In Texas the answer leans slightly west of south in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Lubbock:
The differences are small: in every city a south roof at 6/12 lands within 0.6% of the optimum, so there's no reason to build a special rack on a pitched south roof to chase the last degree.
East or west?
When the choice is between an east and a west roof, the answer depends on where you live. West wins in North, Central and South-Central Texas and on the South Plains; east wins in Houston and El Paso. Either way the gap is under 5%:
The kWh total isn't the only thing that matters. A west roof makes more of its power in the afternoon, and at utilities that pay less for exported power than they charge, power your home uses as it's made is worth more. New Braunfels Utilities goes further: its solar rebate pays double, up to $3,000, for panels facing 200 to 290 degrees, south-southwest to west-northwest. Our buyback guide compares how Texas utilities value exports.
Roof pitch
Here's Dallas by roof pitch and direction, in kWh per kW a year. South roofs gain with pitch up to about 8/12; east, west and north roofs do better the flatter they are:
Dallas: yearly output by roof pitch
kWh per kW of panels, by the direction the roof faces
| Pitch | Tilt | South | West | East | North |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat | 0.0° | 1,359 | 1,359 | 1,359 | 1,359 |
| 2/12 | 9.5° | 1,449 | 1,353 | 1,343 | 1,237 |
| 4/12 | 18.4° | 1,506 | 1,331 | 1,315 | 1,098 |
| 6/12 | 26.6° | 1,532 | 1,302 | 1,280 | 961 |
| 8/12 | 33.7° | 1,536 | 1,267 | 1,243 | 849 |
| 12/12 | 45.0° | 1,503 | 1,198 | 1,170 | 692 |
North roofs are the weak spot: at 6/12 they make 32 to 41% less than south across the six cities. On a low 2/12 roof in Dallas the gap shrinks to 15%, because the panels lie nearly flat. Flat roofs give up about 12% in Dallas; tilting racks on a flat roof win most of that back.
The HOA 10% rule
Texas Property Code 202.010 lets a homeowners' association designate where on the roof panels go, unless your location would increase the system's estimated yearly production by more than 10% over the HOA's area, measured with a public NREL modeling tool. Here's how common swaps come out in NREL's PVWatts for a 6/12 roof in Dallas:
| HOA's area faces | You want | kWh per kW a year | Your gain | Which location holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | South | 1,271 vs 1,523 | +19.8% | Yours, over 10% |
| West | South | 1,298 vs 1,523 | +17.3% | Yours, over 10% |
| Southwest | South | 1,464 vs 1,523 | +4.0% | The HOA’s, 10% or less |
| Southeast | South | 1,443 vs 1,523 | +5.5% | The HOA’s, 10% or less |
| West | Southwest | 1,298 vs 1,464 | +12.8% | Yours, over 10% |
| East | Southwest | 1,271 vs 1,464 | +15.2% | Yours, over 10% |
| East | West | 1,271 vs 1,298 | +2.1% | The HOA’s, 10% or less |
| North | East | 975 vs 1,271 | +30.4% | Yours, over 10% |
South over east or west clears the bar easily; south over southwest doesn't. Results shift with your exact roof, shade and city, so run your own address. Our Texas HOA guide covers the rest of the statute.
Check your own roof
- Find the direction. A phone compass on the edge of the roof plane, or a map view, gives the azimuth: 180° is south, 270° west, 90° east.
- Convert the pitch. 4/12 is 18.4°, 6/12 is 26.6°, 8/12 is 33.7° and 12/12 is 45°.
- Run PVWatts. Enter your address, the azimuth and the tilt in NREL's free PVWatts calculator. Change one at a time to compare roof planes.
- Mind the shade. A tree or a neighbor's second story can cost more than any direction. Ask installers for a shade report.
Your estimate in three steps
- Enter your billYour ZIP code, your utility and last month's bill.
- See your estimateA yearly savings range based on your utility's rates and the sun where you live.
- Choose what's nextAsk for a quote call if you want real pricing, or just keep the number.
See what solar could save you
It takes about a minute. You don't need a site visit, a commitment or a sales call to see your number.
Common questions
What direction should solar panels face in Texas?
South. In our modeling of six Texas cities, the best direction runs from 2 degrees east of south to 8 degrees west of south. Southeast and southwest roofs make about 94 to 97% as much as the best, and east or west roofs about 81 to 88%.
What is the best angle for solar panels in Texas?
About 28 to 33 degrees: 28 in Houston, Austin and San Antonio, 31 in Dallas, 32 in El Paso and 33 in Lubbock. A common 6/12 roof (26.6 degrees) facing south comes within 0.6% of the best.
Are east or west facing solar panels better in Texas?
West, in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Lubbock, by 1.7 to 4.2%. East, in Houston and El Paso, by 1.4 to 2.9%.
Do north-facing solar panels work in Texas?
They work, but on a 6/12 roof they make 32 to 41% less than south-facing panels in the six cities we modeled. On a low 2/12 roof in Dallas the gap is about 15%.
Can my Texas HOA make me put solar panels on the back of my house?
It can designate an area of the roof, but under Property Code 202.010 that designation doesn't apply if your location would increase estimated yearly production by more than 10%, measured with a public NREL modeling tool such as PVWatts.
How much do flat solar panels lose in Texas?
About 12% in Dallas compared with the best tilt, in our modeling. Tilting racks on a flat roof recover most of that.
Related guides
- How many solar panels you need in Texas
- Texas HOA solar rules
- Solar for NBU customers
- Solar panels and Texas hail
- How much solar panels cost in Texas
- Is solar worth it in Texas?
Output figures are model estimates for a typical system, not measurements of any one roof. Sources: European Commission JRC: PVGIS 5.2 (PVGIS-NSRDB database) · NREL: National Solar Radiation Database · NREL PVWatts · Texas Property Code 202.010 · NBU: residential solar rebate guidelines (PDF). Reviewed October 2026.
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