Solar Panel Mounts: Roof, Ground, Pole and RV Racking Explained

A solar panel mount is chosen by where the panels will sit. Roof racking uses space you already have. Ground and pole mounts suit an open, sunny yard and let you set the angle. RVs use low brackets or tilt kits. Portable panels need only a kickstand. Aim for south and a tilt near your latitude.

The main types of solar panel mounts

Most mounts are a version of the same idea: rails or a frame that hold panels at a fixed angle. The Department of Energy calls rack mounting the most common method, on roofs and on the ground. The differences come from what the rack is fixed to.

Roof racking for houses

Roof racking is rails bolted to the roof structure, with clamps that hold each panel to the rails. On a sloped roof the panels usually sit at the roof’s own pitch, a few inches above the surface. Flat roofs use frames that raise the panels to an angle.

Two things matter more than the brand. First, the roof should have years of life left, because panels usually have to come off to reroof. Second, DOE says a mount must withstand wind, rain, hail and corrosion for decades, so the racking has to suit the wind and snow loads where you live. OSHA counts roof edges and skylights among the fall hazards solar workers face, so a roof mount is normally a job for an installer.

Ground mounts and pole mounts

A ground mount is racking on legs set into footings in the yard. Because you build the frame, you choose the direction and tilt instead of accepting the roof’s. The panels sit at a height you can reach, which makes cleaning and checks simple. For safe washing methods, see how to clean solar panels.

A pole mount holds a small group of panels on one post. Some let you change the tilt by season. Pole mounts suit a cabin, a gate opener or a well pump, where the power is needed away from the house. For sizing the panel itself on a gate or a trail camera, see our guide to small solar panels. Ground and pole mounts both need open sky: trees and buildings that shade the panels for part of the day cost output.

Solar trackers: more output, more upkeep

A solar tracker is a mount that moves the panels to follow the sun. DOE describes two kinds. Single-axis trackers usually turn from east to west through the day. Dual-axis trackers also change the tilt, so the panels point straight at the sun.

Trackers produce more energy than a fixed rack, according to DOE, but they cost more up front and need more maintenance, since they have motors and moving joints. DOE notes that the balance increasingly favors tracking for ground-mounted systems. For a home, a tracker makes most sense on a ground or pole mount with a clear view of the sky from morning to evening. The safety standard for trackers is UL 3703, which UL Solutions says refers back to UL 2703 for bonding and grounding.

RV and van mounts

RV panels sit low on the roof to keep the height down and cut wind load at highway speed. Rigid panels usually go on Z brackets or corner mounts screwed through the roof and sealed. Tilt-up mounts let you raise the panels toward the sun when parked, which helps most in winter when the sun is low. Flexible panels can lie flat on a curved roof, with less airflow underneath.

Sealing every hole matters more on an RV than on a house, because a leak can damage the roof structure. Some RV kits include mounts, so check what comes in the box before you buy brackets separately.

Balcony and portable panels

Balcony panels hang on a railing with hooks or brackets, or lean against a wall. Where that is allowed, and the size caps that apply, is covered in our guide to balcony and plug-in solar.

Folding panels for a power station come with a kickstand or legs. Turn them toward the sun every few hours for the best output. For how much power those panels deliver, see how to charge a solar generator.

How to aim and tilt any mount

The Department of Energy says panels in the northern hemisphere give the highest yearly output facing due south and tilted at an angle equal to your latitude. Because the winter sun sits lower in the sky, a steeper angle favors winter and a flatter one favors summer.

For panel sizes and parts on a camper, see RV solar panel kits. Shade matters as much as angle: a perfectly aimed panel still loses output when a tree or building shades it. For more on choosing panels, start at our solar panels section.