When calculating how many solar panels you need, the general rule of thumb is:
- 1-2 bedroom house: 6-8 panels
- 2-3 bedroom house: 8-12 panels
- 4-5 bedroom house: 12-16 panels
These are the averages you’ll see on roofs around the UK. But it’s not a cast-iron rule. See our detailed explainers below:
☀️ No amount of panels will cover all your electricity needs
🔋 You can sell your energy back to the grid, or store it in a battery
🏠 If you have the roof space, and the cash, think about getting more panels than these estimates
As with any construction job, the specifics will vary depending on the particular property. But how many solar panels you need also depends on what your goal is:
- Want to be energy independent? Get as many panels as possible, and a heat pump, and a battery
- Want to lower energy bills with a reasonable upfront cost? Stick to the estimates at the top of the page, and probably avoid a battery
If you’re ready to find out how much your system might cost, you need to get a rough price estimate and compare some quotes. You can do this via our calculator at the top of the page.
