Best Roof Orientation for Solar in Arizona (2026)

In Arizona, roof orientation is one of the most important factors in solar system design — yet it's often misunderstood. The short answer: south-facing produces the most electricity overall. But the "best" orientation depends on your utility's rate structure, when your household uses the most electricity, and what roof faces are actually available to you.

For full context on going solar in Arizona including how system design works, see our complete guide to going solar in Arizona.

Why Orientation Matters in Arizona

At Arizona's latitude (Phoenix is at ~33°N, Tucson at ~32°N), the sun travels primarily across the southern sky. A south-facing roof perpendicular to the average sun path captures the most total irradiance throughout the year. East and west-facing panels receive more sun in the morning or afternoon respectively, and less during the midday peak. North-facing panels are generally not recommended for primary solar installations in Arizona (though they can be used as part of a multi-orientation array).

South-Facing: Maximum Annual Production

A perfectly south-facing roof at an optimal tilt angle (typically 15–25° in Arizona) produces approximately:

• 100% relative annual production (baseline)
• Peak production at midday (11 AM–1 PM)
• Symmetric morning and afternoon production curve
• Best performance for flat-rate electricity plans (APS Saver Choice standard)

When South Is Best

• You're an APS customer on a standard (non-TOU) rate plan
• You work from home and use significant daytime electricity
• You want to maximize total system production and annual savings
• Your budget is fixed and you want the most kWh per dollar

West-Facing: Better for Peak-Hour Alignment

West-facing panels produce their peak output in the late afternoon (3–5 PM) rather than at midday. This aligns better with:

• APS time-of-use plans (Saver Choice Plus) where on-peak hours are 4–7 PM
• SRP on-peak hours (2–8 PM weekdays)
• Household consumption patterns that peak in the evening

Production Trade-Off

West-facing panels produce approximately 10–15% less annual electricity than south-facing panels of the same capacity. However, the electricity they produce is generated at a time when:

• Grid electricity is most expensive (on TOU plans)
• Demand peaks occur (on SRP's E-27 demand plan)
• The household is most likely to be consuming electricity

For SRP customers managing demand charges, the value of western production during on-peak hours can outweigh the production loss — making west-facing panels an intelligent choice even at reduced total output.

East-Facing: Morning Production

East-facing panels mirror west-facing panels but in the morning (peak around 8–10 AM). They're generally less financially optimal than south or west for Arizona because:

• Morning production doesn't align with afternoon/evening on-peak hours for any major AZ utility
• Most Arizona households have lower consumption in the morning
• Production peaks before the home's AC load typically ramps up

East-facing panels are useful as part of an east/west split configuration to extend overall daily production time.

East + West Split Configuration

Many Arizona homes with complex rooflines or HOA constraints have panels on multiple roof faces — including an east/west split. This approach:

• Extends daily production from early morning to late afternoon
• Flattens the midday production peak, improving self-consumption
• Produces approximately 80–90% of pure-south production annually
• Works well for homeowners without viable south-facing roof space

Roof Orientation Production Comparison

Tilt Angle Matters Too

Beyond compass orientation, the angle (tilt) of panels relative to horizontal affects production. In Arizona:

• Optimal fixed tilt: ~15–25° from horizontal (approximates Arizona's latitude)
• Most residential roof pitches: 3:12 to 6:12 (14–27°) — conveniently close to optimal in Arizona
• Flat roofs: Ballasted racking can be tilted to an optimal angle regardless of actual roof pitch
• Steeper pitches (8:12+): Some production loss vs. optimal, but panels are still highly productive in Arizona's strong sun

What If You Don't Have a South-Facing Roof?

• West-facing: Excellent alternative, especially for SRP customers — only 10–15% less production but better peak-hour alignment
• East + West split: Spreads risk across multiple orientations and extends production window
• Ask your installer to model each face: A good installer will run shading analysis and production estimates for each available roof face before recommending a layout
• Don't install on north-facing only: Production losses are significant and rarely justify the investment in Arizona