How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?

A Guide to Calculating Your Solar Panel Size

 The number of solar panels is dependant on your energy consumption, sun hours, and
roof size.
 In the UK, 12 solar panels are needed for a 3kW solar installation, and 24 panels for a
6kW installation.
 The bigger the size of the panel, the more energy is generated per square metre.

When determining how many solar panels you need, there are three key factors to consider to
get the most benefits of solar energy:

1. Your average daily energy consumption

2. The sun hours in your area
3. Your roof size

The average energy consumption - or planned usage - is the most important guideline in
determining the number of solar panels that you need. Here, the consideration is the total
Kilowatt hours (kWh) you currently use, or intend to use in your home.

The amount of energy solar panels can generate is dependent on sun hours, and is therefore
affected by your location. There are varying amounts of sun hours in the UK, which will affect
the number of solar panels you will need.

Your roof size is a key factor because it determines the number of panels that can fit on your
roof, how much energy will be generated, and the cost. It is also important to consider your roof
suitability: whether it can support the weight of the solar panels and how the panels will be
angled.

The table below shows approximate amounts of space you need in order to generate a specific
amount of energy.

Number of Panels Needed Per System and Roof Size

Size of solar panels Number of 250W panels Estimated surface area
3kW 12 19.2 m²
4kW 16 25.6 m²
5kW 20 32.0 m²
6kW 24 38.4 m²

* Table assuming 250Wp Solar Panel dimensions: 1.6 x 1 m = 1.6 m²

Would you like to know the number of panels you need? GreenMatch can help you in the
process. Fill in the contact form and get up to four tailored quotes from suppliers. This service
we offer is completely free and non-binding!

Learn More in Our Guide

 What Is the Average Number of Solar Panels In a UK Home?

 How Do I Calculate the Right Solar Array Size?
 What Type of Solar Panels Should I Install?
 What Is the Cost of Solar Panels?
 Do I Need Solar Battery Storage?
 How Do I Find the Right Installer?

What Is the Average Number of Solar Panels In A UK

Home?
One of the determining factors in figuring out how many solar panels you need is the number of
people in a household. A 6kW solar panel system is recommended for a home with over five
people, while a 5kW solar system is typical for a home with four people. A 4kW solar system is
one of the most common sizes for domestic solar systems, as it suits homes with 3 to 4 people.

The number of solar panels you need will vary depending on whether your installation is a 3kW
or 6kW, and the size of solar panels you will use. For example, if you install a 3kW solar system
using 250W panels, then you need 12 solar panels. A 6kW system would need 24 solar panels.

The average number of solar panels will also be determined by whether you would like your
solar panels to generate all your electricity needs, or only a percentage.

An average UK home consumes between 3kWh and 6kWh of energy daily, and some UK
homeowners use solar energy to power only parts of their energy consumption, which would
then reduce the number of solar panels installed.
How Do I Calculate the Right Solar Array Size?
To calculate what solar system size you need, you should first know the amount of energy that
you need to generate from your solar solar system daily. The other important things are the sun
hours in your area, and your roof space.

Monthly energy bills can provide information on the amount of energy that you consume per
day, and therefore how much energy you need to generate daily.
For example, if your monthly consumption is 124 kWh in January, then your daily consumption
is 4 kWh. This means that the solar system should generate an average of 4 kWh daily. The 4
kWh can also be referred to as the expected daily solar system power output.

You can follow the same process to find the right commercial solar panel system size if you want
to invest in solar PV for your business.

Some people may question if the UK is sunny enough for solar panels. The UK has an average of
4 sun hours daily which means you can certainly benefit from having a solar panel system
installed.

It is important to be aware that different regions in the UK have different sun hours per day:
England has 4.1, Scotland has 3.7, Northern Ireland 3.2 and Wales 3.3. It is therefore important
that you consult your local installer for guidance.

Determining Individual Solar Panel Sizes

To determine the size of the panels that you need for your house, you need to know the
following:

1. How much energy do solar panels with different capacities generate?

2. The capacity of your roof: how much space in square meters is available?
3. Dimensions of solar panels per size or brand.

Solar panels generate different amounts of energy depending on their wattage size or rating. A
250 watt panel will generate up to 250 watts per sun hour while a 300 watt solar panel can
generate up to 300 watts per sun hour. This is why it is important to know the amount of energy
you need before determining solar panel sizes.

In the earlier example with a daily consumption of 4 kWh (4,000 W/hrs), if the homeowner used
250 W solar panels, then they would need to install 16 solar panels (4,000 Wh/250 W). If they
used 350 W panel, then they would need 12 solar panels (4,000 Wh/350 W).

The capacity of your roof impacts the number of solar panels you can install and therefore how
much energy you can generate. This is also because different solar panel sizes have different
dimensions.
Continuing with the previous example, if you are installing 16 250W solar panels, you would
require a surface area of 25.6 m².

If you are installing 12 350W solar panels would require a surface area of 22.8 m².

It is therefore important to know how much space you have. The table below outlines the
average solar panel dimensions and weight per system size.

Required Solar Panel Surface Area

Solar panel size (W)* Solar panel dimensions* Weight per panel
250 1.6 m x 1 m 18 kg
300 1.67 m x 1 m 18 kg
350 1.9 m x 1 m 21.6 kg

*It is important to note that different brands may have different solar panel dimensions.

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What Type Of Solar Panels Should I Install?

The choice of solar panel type can be based on efficiency, cost, and available space. Some types
of solar panel are more efficient that others, and this would affect the number of panels you need
to install.

For example, you need less space to install monocrystalline panels compared to thin film and
polycrystalline solar panels.

There are different types of solar panels that can be installed on your roof, but the most
commonly installed panels are monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels.

Monocrystalline

 Efficiency rate of 15-20%

 They require the least space for installation
 Less affected by weather compred to other options

Polycrystalline

 Efficiencty rate of 13-17%

 Cheaper than monocrystalline panels
 More temperature tolerant

Monocrystalline
  Most expensive solar panel type
 Lower performance at increasing temperatures

Polycrystalline

 Lower efficiency rate compared to monocrystalline

 More sensitive to high temperatures compared to monocrystalline

Monocrystalline

Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency rate of 15 - 20%. This means that they
can convert between 15% and 20% of sun energy into usable energy.

This type of solar panel is also space efficient because they generate more energy per area
compared to other types. One square metre of a monocrystalline panel will generate 10W more
than the same size of a polycrystalline solar panel.

On the other hand, monocrystalline panels are the most expensive solar panel type due to their
high efficiency and quality of silicon used.
Polycrystalline

Due to their high temperature tolerance, polycrystalline solar panels generate more electricity
over the year compared to monocrystalline panels.
Polycrystalline panels are a cheaper alternative to its monocrystalline variant. Although both
types are made from silicon, in polycrystalline, many fragments of silicon are melted to form the
wafers for the panel, while in monocrystalline silicon is formed into bars and cut into wafers.

A downside of polycrystalline panels is that they are less efficient because their silicon material
is less pure. You can expect an average efficiency rate between 13-17%.

What Is the Cost Of Solar Panels?

Naturally, cost is an important determining factor for how many solar panels you need. Solar
panel costs depend on several factors that include the size and type of solar panels. The cost
ranges from £5,000 to £13,000 for solar panel system sizes ranging from 3 kW to 12 kW.

3kW system 4kW system 5kW system 6kW system

You can find an estimation of prices per solar panel system size in the table below:

Average Solar Panel System Prices

Solar Panel Size Number of Panels Price
3 kW 12 £5,000 - £6,000
4 kW 16 £6,000 - £8,000
5 kW 20 £7,000 - £9,000
6 kW 24 £8,000 - £10,000
12 kW 48 £11,000 - £13,000

*These prices are estimates based on a system using 250W panels. These figures are intended as
guidance and not as an exact price. We always recommend getting a tailored quote for your
property.

Other factors that may affect the cost of solar panels include:

 The cost of solar panels in your area

 Brand or supplier costs
 Labour costs in your area
 Site complexities that may require more labour hours

Solar Panel Funding Options

There is also an advantage of getting paid for the energy you generate under the Smart Export
Guarantee (SEG), and therefore can result in savings in the long run. Unlike the former Feed-in
Tariff scheme, the SEG is a type of solar panel funding that requires that all exported energy is
paid by your supplier.
Do I Need a Solar Battery Storage System?
Deciding whether to install a solar battery storage with your solar panels depends on your
interests. If you would like to avoid energy bills and reduce reliance on grid power, then
installing your solar panels with a solar battery storage is the most appropriate option.However,
if your goal is to reduce your energy bills, then installing solar panels without a solar battery
storage can be an option.

A solar battery storage has several benefits;

 You can store the unused energy generated by your solar panels
 You will be less reliant on the grid electricity
 You will be more environmental friendly
 You have reduced or no electricity bills

Households that install solar panels with a battery storage, use about 80% of the energy they
generate while households without a battery storage use only 40% of energy they generate.

The amount of money you can save by installing your solar panels with a solar battery storage
depends on the number of solar panels installed, the size of solar battery installation, and how
much the batteries can discharge.

If you would like to save more energy, then you would have to install more panels and more
batteries. A solar professional can advise you on different options and costs.
How Do I Find the Right Installer?
Installing solar panels is a relatively expensive, long-term decision, but when done right, it's a
home improvement project that can pay off in the long-run.
It's important to find the right installer that can advise you on the most suitable system, and that
can execute the project smoothly.

When looking for a solar panel installer, you should always get multiple quotes to ensure you
are being given a fair price.

It is also a great idea to run a background check on the installer to ensure they have the right
qualifications and a good track record of happy customers.

It's a great idea to be prepared for your conversation with an installer and to help you in your
research, you can follow our 6-step guide to finding the best solar panels in the video below:

If you are ready to speak to a professional installer about how many panels you need, fill in the
contact form and get up to four tailored quotes from suppliers in your area. The service is free
and non-binding!