Solar Panel Size Guide for residence and industry
Do you always ask yourself what could be the physical size of the solar array system you normally see on other people’s roofs? Or wondered what could be the standard size of a residential solar installation that would cater for all the energy consumption of an average home because every solar panel installation you see tends to vary quite a lot?
Maybe your concern is in the weather conditions in your area that make you wonder if there will be sufficient hours of sunlight per day to make the solar panel produce enough electricity to match your domestic or commercial energy usage.
The upfront cost of residential installations of standard panels (a 250 watt panel for example) may vary from country to country but this article includes estimated cost per panel and also gives you the number of panels needed for specific electrical energy requirements or per kWh of energy i.e target energy output.
the solar energy production or the solar power output for common configurations in residential projects or commercial projects can be determined by determining a few key factors like the solar panel wattage, the average irradiance, the panel efficiency, and your energy demand.
Solar Panel Size and Wattage
| Wattage in (Watts) | Width in (Inches and CM) | Length in (Inches and CM) | Solar Panel Voltage in (Volts) | Thickness in (inches and cm) |
| 50 watts per Panel | 21 inches 53.34 cm | 26 inches 66.04 cm | 12 volts | 1 inch 2.54 cm |
| 100 watts per Panel | 21 inches 53.34 cm | 47 inches 119.38 cm | 12 volts | 1.5 inches 3.81 cm |
| 160 watts per Panel | 26 inches 66.04 cm | 58 inches 147.32 cm | 12 volts | 1.5 inches 3.81 cm |
| Flexible Panels | ||||
| 50 watts per Panel | 21 inches 53.34 cm | 26 inches 66.04 cm | 12 volts | 0.1 inches 0.25 cm |
| 100 watts per Panel | 21 inches 53.34 cm | 48 inches 121.92 cm | 12 volts | 0.1 inches 0.21 cm |
| 160 watts per Panel | 26 inches 66.04 cm | 55 inches 139.7 cm | 12 volts | 0.1 inches 0.21 cm |
Solar Panel Sizes and Expected Prices
It may look a bit expensive at first glance, but the guarantee period that you will be given by the solar installation company that you will choose will show you that it takes a small fraction of the useful life of the solar panels to get your returns on investment and you are left with all the remaining time to enjoy profits in a safe, reliable and sustainable way of energy generation.
| Solar System Size in (Kilowatts) | Cost Estimate in (USD) | Cost Estimate in (Euros) |
| 25 kilowatts | 43,750 to 56,350 | 38211.25 to 49216 Euros |
| 50 kilowatts | 87,500 to 112,700 | 76422.50 to 98432.18 Euros |
| 100 kilowatts | 175,000 to 225,400 | 152845 to 196864.36 Euros |
| 250 kilowatts | 437,500 to 563,500 | 382112.50 to 492160 Euros |
How to choose the right solar panel size
The very first step in the process of determining the size of solar panel you need is first determining your monthly energy consumption. This can be done by checking your kWh reading on the bill but the best way is to add the readings from the past twelve months then divide by twelve to have the average monthly consumption.
Just for comparison, an average home in the US consumes approximately 900kWh per month which is 30kWh a day or more specifically 1.25kWh per hour. Next, you need to find out about the intensity of sunlight your area receives which is called the sun peak hours to enable you to determine the amount of electricity in kilowatt-hour that 1kWh of solar panel will be able to produce
With this in mind, you can now determine the total solar system size you need to cover the energy consumption that you want to cover with solar energy.
Finally, calculate the number of solar panels you need, divide the figure of the solar system size in kilowatts to the wattage of the solar panels sold in your area and you now have the total number of solar panels needed to cover the energy consumption for your home or business.
Solar Cell Sizes for Residential Panels and Commercial Panels
| Solar Cells per Module | Length in (inches and cm) | Width in (inches and cm) | Depth in (inches and cm) | Area in (square feet and meters squared) | Wattage |
| 60 | 65 inches 165.1 cm | 39 inches 99.06 cm | 1.5 inches 3.81 cm | 17.7 square feet 1.64 meters squared | 175 to 240 watts |
| 72 | 78 inches 198.12 cm | 39 inches 99.06 cm | 1.5 inches 3.81 cm | 21.2 square feet 1.96 meters squared | 250 to 300 watts |
370-Watts Solar Panel Power Production in Varied Solar Irradiance Level
| State | Number of Peak Sunlight Hours per Day | Daily Electricity Production |
| California | 6 | 2.2 Kilowatt Hour |
| Arizona | 7.5 | 2.7 Kilowatt Hour |
| New Jersey | 4 | 1.5 Kilowatt Hour |
| Alaska | 2.5 | 0.93 Kilowatt Hour |
Solar Panel Electricity Production by Model
The figures in the table below are meant to help the reader match his or her daily electrical energy consumption with the number of solar panels needed to produce the same energy needed. After determining the average intensity of sunlight your area receives, you can determine the energy production expected per kilowatt-hour of the solar panel model you’ve chosen from which the total number of panels can directly be derived through a simple and direct calculation that is discussed in this article.
| Solar Panel Model | Power Rating | Approximate Daily Power Production (kWh of electricity) |
| Q. CELL Q. PEAK Duo | 385 W | 1.98 Kilowatt Hour |
| LG NeON | 405 W | 2.03 Kilowatt Hour |
| Panasonic EverVolt | 380 W | 1.90 Kilowatt Hour |
| SunPower A Series | 425 W | 2.3 Kilowatt Hour |
| REC Group Alpha Series | 405 W | 2.03 Kilowatt Hour |
Number of Panels Required and The Roof Space Needed
It doesn’t really matter the type of roof that you built for your home. Whether it’s a flat roof, dome-shaped, or whichever kind of roofing you have, it can all be turned into a usable roof for solar panel installations. There are of course alternative sites around your premise that can be used for the same installations. The table below is a guide on the surface area needed for different solar panel wattages.
| Solar Panel System Size | Approximate Monthly Solar Panel Output | Number of Solar Panels | Roof Space Needed in (square feet and meters squared) |
| 4 kW | 480 to 600 kWh | 13 | 220 sq. feet 20.43 meters squared |
| 6 kW | 720 to 900 kWh | 19 | 330 sq. feet 30.65 meters squared |
| 8 kW | 960 to 1200 kWh | 25 | 439 sq. feet 40.78 meters squared |
| 10 kW | 1200 to 1500 kWh | 32 | 549 sq feet 51 meters squared |
| 12 kW | 1440 to 1800 kWh | 38 | 659 sq feet 61.22 meters squared |
| 14 kW | 1680 to 2100 kWh | 44 | 768 sq feet 71.34 meters squared |
Solar Panel Efficiency Table
As you can see in the table below, there seem to be small margins between the efficiency levels of solar panels from different manufacturers. This means that you would be good to go with the brand that is locally available in your area instead of waiting for long shipment periods to acquire higher efficiency solar panels.
| Solar Panel Manufacturer | Maximum Efficiency Rating |
| LONGi | 20.9 % |
| Solaria | 20.5 % |
| LG | 22.0 % |
| Hanwha | 20.3 % |
| JA Solar | 20.4 % |
| Sunpower | 22.8 % |
| JinkoSolar | 20.38 % |
| QCELLS | 20.6 % |
| Rec Solar | 21.7 % |
| Panasonic | 21.2 % |
Solar Panel Sizes and Weight (60 cell 250 Watts panel)
| Solar Panel | Solar Panel Dimensions in (millimeters and inches) | Average Weight in (kgs and pounds) |
| Jinko Solar Panel 255W | 1650 by 992 by 40 mm 64.96 by 39 by 1.57 inches | 19 kgs 41.88 pounds |
| Waaree Solar 250W | 1640 by 990 by 40 mm 64.56 by 38.97 by 1.57 inches | 22.2 kgs 48.94 pounds |
| Canadian Solar CS6K | 1650 by 992 by 40 mm 64.96 by 39 by 1.57 inches | 18.2 kgs 40.12 pounds |
| Vikram Solar Eldora Neo Series | 1640 by 992 by 40 mm 64.56 by 39 by 1.57 inches | 18.5 kgs 40.78 pounds |
| Trina Honey Series | 1650 by 992 by 35 mm 64.96 by 39 by 1.377 inches | 18.5 kgs 40.78 pounds |
Solar Panel Size and Weight Chart (72-cell panel 300W)
| Solar Panel | Dimensions in (mm and inches) | Weight in (kgs and pounds) |
| Jinko Solar Panels | 1956 by 992 by 40 mm 77 by 39 by 1.57 inches | 26.5 kgs 58.42 pounds |
| Waaree Solar Adifya Series | 1960 by 990 by 40 mm 77.16 by 38.97 by 1.57 inches | 22.2 kgs 48.94 pounds |
| Canadian Solar Dymond Series | 1968 by 992 by 58 mm 77.48 by 39 by 2.28 inches | 27.5 kgs 60.62 pounds |
| Vikram Solar Eldora Grand Series | 1955 by 991 by 40 mm 76.96 by 39 by 1.57 inches | 22 kgs 48.50 pounds |
| Trina Tall Max Series | 1956 by 992 by 40 mm 77 by 39 by 1.57 inches | 22.5 kgs 49.60 pounds |
Industrial Solar Panel Sizes and Area Required
For industrial clients of solar panels, here is a guide for the number of panels and an estimated area required for the installations.
| Solar System Size | Number of Panels | Roof Space Required in (meters squared and square feet) |
| 1.5kW | 5 | 9 meters squared 96.875 square feet |
| 2kW | 6 | 10.3 meters squared 110.868 square feet |
| 3kW | 9 | 15.4 meters squared 165.764 square feet |
| 4kW | 12 | 20.4 meters squared 219.583 square feet |
| 5kW | 15 | 25.5 meters squared 274.479 square feet |
| 6.6kW | 20 | 34 meters squared 365.973 square feet |
| 10kW | 30 | 51 meters squared |
What is the best solar panel size for you?
As this article has outlined above, the best solar panel size for you depends on your domestic or commercial energy consumption, or on the part of your electrical energy consumption that you intend to cover with solar energy.
Most of the residential solar panels are rated at 250 to 300 watts each and from the wattage figure, you can always calculate the number of panels needed for specific electrical energy consumption figures through the steps shown in this article. Choose the most efficient solar panel available in your area, though the efficiency figures tend to vary in very small margins so this shouldn’t be a worry to you.
Solar Panel sizes explained
Conclusion
With a focus on sustainability in matters of energy production, solar energy is undoubtedly at the top of the list. There is an unlimited supply of solar energy on our planet that can be harnessed using solar panels of any type or size. Solar installation companies can now be found in almost every part of the world and they would be happy and willing to assist in case you have any concerns or further information that you would need to help you make a decision regarding solar energy.
Don’t wait any longer to do away with your usual electricity utility bills because you can start with small size solar panels to offset part of your electricity consumption and then go step by step scaling up until you cover all your electrical energy consumption using solar panels.
If you enjoyed reading this solar panel size guide, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
Picture in this post by Bill Mead on Unsplash
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