Is your roof good for solar?
Pick your roof's direction, pitch and shading to see what panels on it would make in a Melbourne year, compared with an ideal roof. Built on PVGIS satellite data.
Updated November 2026 · Litmec Electrical, REC-10383
In Melbourne, a north-facing roof is best, but it is not the only good option. East and west roofs make about 85% of what a north roof makes, north-east and north-west about 96%, and even a flat roof about 88%.
Only south-facing roofs fall away badly, to about 65% at a standard pitch. Shade usually matters more than direction.
Solar output by roof direction and pitch
Each figure is the yearly output from 1 kW of panels in Melbourne. Multiply by your system size: a 6.6 kW system on a standard north-facing tiled roof makes about 9,488 kWh a year.
| Roof faces | Flat (0°) | Low (10°) | Standard tile (22.5°) | Steep (30°) | Very steep (45°) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | 1,259 (86%) | 1,359 (93%) | 1,438 (99%) | 1,459 (100%) | 1,444 (99%) |
| North-east | 1,259 (86%) | 1,329 (91%) | 1,380 (95%) | 1,390 (95%) | 1,362 (93%) |
| North-west | 1,259 (86%) | 1,328 (91%) | 1,376 (94%) | 1,384 (95%) | 1,352 (93%) |
| East | 1,259 (86%) | 1,252 (86%) | 1,224 (84%) | 1,197 (82%) | 1,121 (77%) |
| West | 1,259 (86%) | 1,249 (86%) | 1,216 (83%) | 1,189 (81%) | 1,109 (76%) |
| South-east | 1,259 (86%) | 1,168 (80%) | 1,032 (71%) | 948 (65%) | 788 (54%) |
| South-west | 1,259 (86%) | 1,165 (80%) | 1,027 (70%) | 943 (65%) | 784 (54%) |
| South | 1,259 (86%) | 1,128 (77%) | 935 (64%) | 824 (57%) | 619 (42%) |
North is best, but the margin is smaller than you think
Melbourne sits at about 38° south, so the sun tracks across the northern sky. North-facing panels at 20 to 35 degrees catch the most over a year. Turn the roof to north-east or north-west and you lose only around 4%. East or west costs about 15%, which you can make up with two or three extra panels.
Many Melbourne homes combine faces: some panels north, some west. That spreads generation through the day, which often suits how a household uses power. See east-west solar.
Pitch
A standard tiled roof at about 22.5 degrees is close to ideal. Steeper roofs gain a little in winter and lose a little in summer. Flat roofs make about 88% of a north-facing pitched roof, and panels on them usually go on low tilt frames, which also helps rain wash them clean.
Shading
Shade is where real roofs lose most. A tree, chimney or two-storey neighbour that shades panels for a few hours can cost more than a poor direction. Where shade is unavoidable, panel-level optimisers or microinverters stop one shaded panel dragging down the rest. We assess shade on the site visit, including the low winter sun.
What this calculator can't see
It can't see your actual roof area, vents, skylights, roof condition or the switchboard. Those decide how many panels fit and what the job involves, and they're what an installer's site visit is for.
Related
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Questions
Is an east-west roof good for solar in Melbourne?
Yes. East or west-facing panels in Melbourne make about 85% of a north-facing roof's yearly output. A couple of extra panels makes up the difference, and generation spreads across the morning and afternoon.
Can you put solar on a south-facing roof in Melbourne?
You can, but panels on a south face at a standard pitch make only about 65% of a north-facing roof, and much less in winter. It usually makes sense only on a very low pitch or when every other face is full.
Do solar panels work on a flat roof?
Yes. Flat-mounted panels make about 88% of a north-facing pitched roof in Melbourne. Most installers tilt them slightly toward the north on frames, which lifts output and helps them self-clean.
How much does shading reduce solar output?
It depends on when and how much. Light morning or evening shade may cost only a few percent; a tree shading panels through the middle of a winter day can cost a third or more. Optimisers or microinverters limit the damage.
Check it on your roof
One minute online, then a free visit from a licensed electrician who checks your roof and switchboard.