Welcome to the Vertical Sundial Calculator.

From these pages you can download some great-value ($25) software that will help you design a unique vertical (wall mounted) sundial for locations in the northern hemisphere and for any wall that faces up to 60 degrees away from due-south. 

Most sundials available from the high-street are horizontal (floor mounted) and it is often assumed that these will work anywhere.  In reality this is not the case, as both the longitude and latitude influence the design of all sundials.

For example in the UK, Penzance in Cornwall is 20 minutes behind Greenwich as the sun travels overhead and the hour markings need to compensate for this.  In a similar way the gnomon (the bit that sticks out in front) must be aligned with the earth’s rotational axis and this changes with Latitude.  So the next time you see a sundial in a garden center please leave it there, they really do not work.  You must design the sundial for your exact location.

This software does all the calculations to allow you to build a vertical dial for a wall that faces up to 60 degrees away from due South.  It takes into account your latitude and longitude to provide you with a highly accurate and unique timepiece.  It is not possible to design a more accurate sundial.

The software covers the northern hemisphere from latitude +15 to +70 degrees.  To speed up your design the latitude & longitude of many cities in Europe & America have been included in a looked-up table, although for best results you should set your exact location.

I know it is always dangerous to make claims on the internet, but I am absolutely sure that this is the ONLY software for vertical dials that do not face due south and lets face it, the market for this is very small.  You could of course stand outside with a pen and a watch, but unless you do this on certain days and with the gnome in the right direction, you will still get it wrong!!