Which direction should an apartment face for the most sun?

In the northern hemisphere, south-facing glass sees the sun all day and takes the low winter sun head-on; east takes the morning, west the afternoon, and north gets direct sun only around midsummer mornings and evenings. In the southern hemisphere the sunny side is north. What is across the street matters more than the floor: a skyline 22° high hides the whole midwinter noon sun at 42° latitude.

Does a south-facing window get more sun in winter or summer?

More hours around the equinoxes, when the sun rises due east and sets due west and the whole day is in front of the glass; fewer in midsummer, when the sun rises and sets behind it. But winter sun is stronger on the pane: it comes in low and nearly head-on, while the high summer sun skims the glass.

Does a north-facing apartment get any direct sun?

In the northern hemisphere, only near midsummer, in the first and last hour of the day, when the sun rises and sets north of east and west. From early autumn to early spring it gets none, but it has sky light all day, every day.

North-west-facing windows in Nashville

2 h 38 m of direct sun today, from 3:11 to 5:49 PM.

1 h 32 m at midwinter, 6 h 20 m at midsummer. Strongest on the glass in summer, when the afternoon sun comes in low and warm.

Today
2 h 38 m
3:11 – 5:49 PM.
Midsummer
6 h 20 m
June 21, the longest day.
Midwinter
1 h 32 m
December 21, the shortest day.
Strongest at
4:46 PM
The sun stands 12° up. none before noon, 2 h 38 m after.

See every window’s sun on the building itself.

Sol for iPhone stands a building at its real height among its neighbours and counts each window’s hours of sun, today and at the solstices. It’s coming soon.

Where the sun meets the glass.

The pane stands where your window does, and you look out through it. The dots are the sun’s path, bright while the sun can reach the glass and quiet while it cannot. Slide through the day, or through the year.

Now Today

Across the street.

A building opposite takes the low sun first, on every floor below its roof. Say what stands across the street, and every figure on this page counts only the sun that clears it.

See where the light falls in your room

Every facing, today.

Today in Nashville, south-facing glass takes the most sun: 10 h 38 m. Each facing has its own page, with its own day and its own year.

Three questions before you sign.

Which way gets the most sun?
In the northern hemisphere, south-facing glass sees the sun all day and takes the low winter sun head-on; east takes the morning, west the afternoon, and north gets direct sun only around midsummer mornings and evenings. In the southern hemisphere the sunny side is north.
More sun in winter or in summer?
On south glass, more hours around the equinoxes, when the whole day is in front of it, and fewer in midsummer, when the sun rises and sets behind it. But the winter sun is the stronger one: it comes in low and nearly head-on, while the high summer sun skims the pane.
Does a north window get any sun?
In the northern hemisphere, only near midsummer, in the first and last hour of the day. From early autumn to early spring it gets none, but it has the whole sky all day: the steady, shadowless light painters ask for.

The sun, through your own glass.See every window’s sun on the building itself.

Sol for iPhone is coming soon. Hold it to the window and it shows where the sun will be, any hour of any day you scrub to. Leave your address for early access and one email when it ships.

In Sol for iPhone, the Shadow tab stands a building at its real height among its neighbours and counts each window’s hours of sun, today, at the solstices and at the equinox. It is part of Sol Pro. Leave your address for early access and one email when Sol ships.

Check an apartment before renting