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European Economic Area (EEA) developers If your billing address is in the European Economic Area, effective on 8 July 2025, the Google Maps Platform EEA Terms of Service will apply to your use of the Services. Learn more. In addition, certain content from the Solar API will no longer be returned. Learn more.The buildingInsights endpoint provides insights about the location, dimensions, and solar potential of a building. In particular, you can get information about:
To learn more about how the Solar API defines solar potential and sunniness, see Solar API Concepts.
Note: Results may vary between the outputs of the Solar API and the Geocoding API. The Solar API uses Google's proprietary building information to calculate insights about map features classified as a "building," while the Geocoding API surfaces specific information about addresses around a location.The APIs Explorer lets you make live requests so that you can get familiar with the API and the API options:
About building insights requestsTo request building insights, send an HTTP GET request to:
https://solar.googleapis.com/v1/buildingInsights:findClosest?key=YOUR_API_KEY
Include your request URL parameters that specify the latitude and longitude coordinates of the location and the minimum required quality level allowed in the results.
Example building insights requestThe following example requests building insights information for the location at the coordinates of latitude = 37.4450 and longitude = -122.1390:
API keyTo make a request to the URL in the response, append your API key to the URL:
curl -X GET "https://solar.googleapis.com/v1/buildingInsights:findClosest?location.latitude=37.4450&location.longitude=-122.1390&requiredQuality=HIGH&key=YOUR_API_KEY"
You can also make HTTP requests by pasting the URL in the cURL request into your browser's URL bar. Passing the API key provides you with better usage and analytics capabilities and better access control to the response data.
OAuth tokenNote: This format is for a testing environment only. For more information, see Use OAuth.
To make a request to the URL in the response, pass in your billing project name and your OAuth token:
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $(gcloud auth print-access-token)" \
-H "X-Goog-User-Project: PROJECT_NUMBER_OR_ID" \
"https://solar.googleapis.com/v1/buildingInsights:findClosest?location.latitude=37.4450&location.longitude=-122.1390"
TypeScript
To make a request to the URL in the response, include either your API key or OAuth token in the request. Here's an example that uses an API key:
/**
* Fetches the building insights information from the Solar API.
* https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/solar/building-insights
*
* @param {LatLng} location Point of interest as latitude longitude.
* @param {string} apiKey Google Cloud API key.
* @return {Promise<DataLayersResponse>} Building Insights response.
*/
export async function findClosestBuilding(
location: google.maps.LatLng,
apiKey: string,
): Promise<BuildingInsightsResponse> {
const args = {
'location.latitude': location.lat().toFixed(5),
'location.longitude': location.lng().toFixed(5),
};
console.log('GET buildingInsights\n', args);
const params = new URLSearchParams({ ...args, key: apiKey });
// https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/solar/reference/rest/v1/buildingInsights/findClosest
return fetch(`https://solar.googleapis.com/v1/buildingInsights:findClosest?${params}`).then(
async (response) => {
const content = await response.json();
if (response.status != 200) {
console.error('findClosestBuilding\n', content);
throw content;
}
console.log('buildingInsightsResponse', content);
return content;
},
);
}Note: Read the guide on using TypeScript and Google Maps. Data type definitions
The following data types are supported:
export interface DataLayersResponse {
imageryDate: Date;
imageryProcessedDate: Date;
dsmUrl: string;
rgbUrl: string;
maskUrl: string;
annualFluxUrl: string;
monthlyFluxUrl: string;
hourlyShadeUrls: string[];
imageryQuality: 'HIGH' | 'MEDIUM' | 'LOW';
}
export interface Bounds {
north: number;
south: number;
east: number;
west: number;
}
// https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/solar/reference/rest/v1/buildingInsights/findClosest
export interface BuildingInsightsResponse {
name: string;
center: LatLng;
boundingBox: LatLngBox;
imageryDate: Date;
imageryProcessedDate: Date;
postalCode: string;
administrativeArea: string;
statisticalArea: string;
regionCode: string;
solarPotential: SolarPotential;
imageryQuality: 'HIGH' | 'MEDIUM' | 'LOW';
}
export interface SolarPotential {
maxArrayPanelsCount: number;
panelCapacityWatts: number;
panelHeightMeters: number;
panelWidthMeters: number;
panelLifetimeYears: number;
maxArrayAreaMeters2: number;
maxSunshineHoursPerYear: number;
carbonOffsetFactorKgPerMwh: number;
wholeRoofStats: SizeAndSunshineStats;
buildingStats: SizeAndSunshineStats;
roofSegmentStats: RoofSegmentSizeAndSunshineStats[];
solarPanels: SolarPanel[];
solarPanelConfigs: SolarPanelConfig[];
financialAnalyses: object;
}
export interface SizeAndSunshineStats {
areaMeters2: number;
sunshineQuantiles: number[];
groundAreaMeters2: number;
}
export interface RoofSegmentSizeAndSunshineStats {
pitchDegrees: number;
azimuthDegrees: number;
stats: SizeAndSunshineStats;
center: LatLng;
boundingBox: LatLngBox;
planeHeightAtCenterMeters: number;
}
export interface SolarPanel {
center: LatLng;
orientation: 'LANDSCAPE' | 'PORTRAIT';
segmentIndex: number;
yearlyEnergyDcKwh: number;
}
export interface SolarPanelConfig {
panelsCount: number;
yearlyEnergyDcKwh: number;
roofSegmentSummaries: RoofSegmentSummary[];
}
export interface RoofSegmentSummary {
pitchDegrees: number;
azimuthDegrees: number;
panelsCount: number;
yearlyEnergyDcKwh: number;
segmentIndex: number;
}
export interface LatLng {
latitude: number;
longitude: number;
}
export interface LatLngBox {
sw: LatLng;
ne: LatLng;
}
export interface Date {
year: number;
month: number;
day: number;
}
export interface RequestError {
error: {
code: number;
message: string;
status: string;
};
}Note: Read the guide on using TypeScript and Google Maps. Example response object
That request produces a JSON response in the form:
{
"name": "buildings/ChIJh0CMPQW7j4ARLrRiVvmg6Vs",
"center": {
"latitude": 37.4449439,
"longitude": -122.13914659999998
},
"imageryDate": {
"year": 2022,
"month": 8,
"day": 14
},
"postalCode": "94303",
"administrativeArea": "CA",
"statisticalArea": "06085511100",
"regionCode": "US",
"solarPotential": {
"maxArrayPanelsCount": 1163,
"maxArrayAreaMeters2": 1903.5983,
"maxSunshineHoursPerYear": 1802,
"carbonOffsetFactorKgPerMwh": 428.9201,
"wholeRoofStats": {
"areaMeters2": 2399.3958,
"sunshineQuantiles": [
351,
1396,
1474,
1527,
1555,
1596,
1621,
1640,
1664,
1759,
1864
],
"groundAreaMeters2": 2279.71
},
"roofSegmentStats": [
{
"pitchDegrees": 11.350553,
"azimuthDegrees": 269.6291,
"stats": {
"areaMeters2": 452.00052,
"sunshineQuantiles": [
408,
1475,
1546,
1575,
1595,
1606,
1616,
1626,
1635,
1643,
1761
],
"groundAreaMeters2": 443.16
},
"center": {
"latitude": 37.444972799999995,
"longitude": -122.13936369999999
},
"boundingBox": {
"sw": {
"latitude": 37.444732099999996,
"longitude": -122.1394224
},
"ne": {
"latitude": 37.4451909,
"longitude": -122.13929279999999
}
},
"planeHeightAtCenterMeters": 10.7835045
},
/.../
],
"solarPanelConfigs": [
{
"panelsCount": 4,
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 1819.8662,
"roofSegmentSummaries": [
{
"pitchDegrees": 12.273684,
"azimuthDegrees": 179.12555,
"panelsCount": 4,
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 1819.8663,
"segmentIndex": 1
}
]
},
/.../
]
"financialAnalyses": [
{
"monthlyBill": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "20"
},
"panelConfigIndex": -1
},
{
"monthlyBill": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "25"
},
"panelConfigIndex": -1
},
{
"monthlyBill": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "30"
},
"panelConfigIndex": -1
},
{
"monthlyBill": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "35"
},
"panelConfigIndex": 0,
"financialDetails": {
"initialAcKwhPerYear": 1546.8864,
"remainingLifetimeUtilityBill": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "2563"
},
"federalIncentive": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1483"
},
"stateIncentive": {
"currencyCode": "USD"
},
"utilityIncentive": {
"currencyCode": "USD"
},
"lifetimeSrecTotal": {
"currencyCode": "USD"
},
"costOfElectricityWithoutSolar": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "10362"
},
"netMeteringAllowed": true,
"solarPercentage": 86.7469,
"percentageExportedToGrid": 52.136684
},
"leasingSavings": {
"leasesAllowed": true,
"leasesSupported": true,
"annualLeasingCost": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "335",
"nanos": 85540771
},
"savings": {
"savingsYear1": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "-10"
},
"savingsYear20": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1098"
},
"presentValueOfSavingsYear20": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "568",
"nanos": 380859375
},
"financiallyViable": true,
"savingsLifetime": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1098"
},
"presentValueOfSavingsLifetime": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "568",
"nanos": 380859375
}
}
},
"cashPurchaseSavings": {
"outOfPocketCost": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "5704"
},
"upfrontCost": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "4221"
},
"rebateValue": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1483",
"nanos": 40039063
},
"paybackYears": 11.5,
"savings": {
"savingsYear1": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "325"
},
"savingsYear20": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "7799"
},
"presentValueOfSavingsYear20": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1083",
"nanos": 500244141
},
"financiallyViable": true,
"savingsLifetime": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "7799"
},
"presentValueOfSavingsLifetime": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1083",
"nanos": 500244141
}
}
},
"financedPurchaseSavings": {
"annualLoanPayment": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "335",
"nanos": 85540771
},
"rebateValue": {
"currencyCode": "USD"
},
"loanInterestRate": 0.05,
"savings": {
"savingsYear1": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "-10"
},
"savingsYear20": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1098"
},
"presentValueOfSavingsYear20": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "568",
"nanos": 380859375
},
"financiallyViable": true,
"savingsLifetime": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "1098"
},
"presentValueOfSavingsLifetime": {
"currencyCode": "USD",
"units": "568",
"nanos": 380859375
}
}
}
},
],
/.../
"panelCapacityWatts": 400,
"panelHeightMeters": 1.879,
"panelWidthMeters": 1.045,
"panelLifetimeYears": 20,
"buildingStats": {
"areaMeters2": 2533.1233,
"sunshineQuantiles": [
348,
1376,
1460,
1519,
1550,
1590,
1618,
1638,
1662,
1756,
1864
],
"groundAreaMeters2": 2356.03
},
"solarPanels": [
{
"center": {
"latitude": 37.4449659,
"longitude": -122.139089
},
"orientation": "LANDSCAPE",
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 455.40714,
"segmentIndex": 1
},
/.../
]
"imageryQuality": "HIGH",
"imageryProcessedDate": {
"year": 2023,
"month": 8,
"day": 4
}
}Note: buildingInsights always returns information for only one building. If two buildings are exactly the same distance from the requested location, the Solar API arbitrarily identifies a building and returns that building's information. To determine which building was returned, examine the bounding box of the roof. Select roof segments for panel placement
In some cases, you may choose to select particular roof segments for solar panel placement. roofSegmentStats provides information about the size, orientation, and sunniness quantiles of a given roof segment:
"roofSegmentStats": [
{
"pitchDegrees": 11.350553,
"azimuthDegrees": 269.6291,
"stats": {
"areaMeters2": 452.00052,
"sunshineQuantiles": [409.601, 1482.1255, 1553.5117, 1582.7875, 1602.3456, 1613.7804, 1623.6434, 1634.0812, 1642.697, 1651.0267, 1771.4792],
"groundAreaMeters2": 443.16
},
"center": {
"latitude": 37.4449728,
"longitude": -122.1393637
},
"boundingBox": {
"sw": {
"latitude": 37.4447321,
"longitude": -122.1394224
},
"ne": {
"latitude": 37.4451909,
"longitude": -122.1392928
}
},
"planeHeightAtCenterMeters": 10.7835045
},
{
"pitchDegrees": 12.273684,
"azimuthDegrees": 179.12555,
"stats": {
"areaMeters2": 309.87268,
"sunshineQuantiles": [650.5504, 1701.709, 1745.0032, 1768.4081, 1779.1625, 1787.4258, 1794.9333, 1801.3938, 1806.7461, 1814.0724, 1845.8717],
"groundAreaMeters2": 302.79
},
"center": {
"latitude": 37.4449286,
"longitude": -122.1389889
},
"boundingBox": {
"sw": {
"latitude": 37.4448617,
"longitude": -122.1392095
},
"ne": {
"latitude": 37.444982,
"longitude": -122.1387809
}
},
"planeHeightAtCenterMeters": 10.67585
},
/.../
],
Based on these characteristics, you can choose to select only the panels placed on a specific roof segment. Every panel returned through the buildingInsights endpoint includes a segmentIndex value indicating which roof segment the panel is placed on:
{
"panelsCount": 142,
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 101170.17,
"roofSegmentSummaries": [
{
"pitchDegrees": 12.273684,
"azimuthDegrees": 179.12555,
"panelsCount": 122,
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 87260.48,
"segmentIndex": 1
},
{
"pitchDegrees": 11.245564,
"azimuthDegrees": 179.204,
"panelsCount": 18,
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 12544.052,
"segmentIndex": 3
},
{
"pitchDegrees": 2.5699794,
"azimuthDegrees": 86.05642,
"panelsCount": 1,
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 681.69183,
"segmentIndex": 10
},
{
"pitchDegrees": 0.10844088,
"azimuthDegrees": 0,
"panelsCount": 1,
"yearlyEnergyDcKwh": 683.9312,
"segmentIndex": 14
}
]
},
To select panels on roof segments with specific characteristics, you can filter by segmentIndex. For example, if you want to place panels on the south-facing part of the roof, identify which roof segments have azimuthDegrees values between 90 and 270, then use the corresponding segmentIndex to filter the full panel list for those roof segments.
The APIs Explorer lets you make sample requests so that you can get familiar with the API and the API options.
Select the API icon api on the right side of the page.
Optionally edit the request parameters.
Select the Execute button. In the dialog, choose the account that you want to use to make the request.
In the APIs Explorer panel, select the fullscreen icon fullscreen to expand the APIs Explorer window.
Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies. Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.
Last updated 2025-08-14 UTC.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-14 UTC."],[[["The Building Insights API provides data on a building's solar potential, panel placement, and estimated energy production based on location coordinates."],["Request building insights by sending an HTTP GET request with location coordinates and desired quality level."],["The API response includes details like building location, solar panel configurations, potential energy savings, and financial analyses."],["You can explore the API and test requests using the API Explorer."],["Returned data leverages Google's building information and may differ from the Geocoding API's results."]]],["The `buildingInsights` endpoint provides data on a building's solar potential, dimensions, and location. This includes solar panel size, sunshine amount, carbon offset, energy production, position, and orientation. Users can also find the estimated monthly energy bill for optimal solar layouts. To request this data, send a GET request with latitude, longitude coordinates, and quality level parameters, using either an API key or OAuth token. The response is a JSON object with detailed building and solar data.\n"]]
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