How Many Solar Panels Can I Fit On My Roof?

How Many Solar Panels Can I Fit On My Roof?
  • Author: Amanda Arnold
  • Posted On: October 22, 2021
  • Updated On: August 21, 2023

Solar panels are now a cheap method to produce your own electricity and reduce reliance on the electric grid. Solar panels are quickly becoming a common sight in many communities, particularly those concerned with environmental issues.

This efficient type of energy captures the sun’s energy and converts it into electricity for your house or workplace to save some money. It’s fantastic to learn about solar energy and also say the word about its advantages. Continue reading if you’re interested in learning how to get and install solar panels.

The trick to making the numbers work is to maximize the number of panels you can fit on your roof because regardless of the size of the system, you’ll still need inverters and wiring to run through the house. So, the cost of adding an extra panel won’t contribute that much to the overall cost.

A Few Considerations Before Calculating The Solar Panels

Calculating the maximum size of an installation for your home is an excellent first step because it will show you what is and is not possible. This estimate considers roof size and budget, and it’ll simply show you what you’ve got to work. So, you can make extra options depending on those parameters.

1) Check For The Total Energy Consumption

To find out how much electricity you use each month, look at your most recent power bill. In most circumstances, you can see the total quantity of electricity in kilowatt-hours at the bottom of the bill. Because energy usage varies by season, your yearly energy usage will give you the best estimate for how many solar panels you need.

2) Determine The Size Of Solar Panels

Solar panels are colossal in size. Although they are helpful, they will take up much room on the roof of your house or other structure. These panels are five feet five inches long and three feet wide.

This adds up to sixteen and a half square feet in total. Because most solar panels installed on companies or private residences are between 250-360 watts, this is the optimal size to prepare for.

That is, you should place this size on the higher end of the scale rather than underestimating it. You’ll need more than one because one isn’t enough to make a significant difference when it comes to solar panels.

This implies you’ll need much area to accommodate six to eight or more panels, each measuring sixteen and a half square feet.

3) Size Of Your Roof

The size of your roof directly influences your physical ability to install solar panels. While you can start with the most panels that will fit on your roof, it’s always a good idea to assess your demands and make the best selection for your budget. Knowing the dimensions of your building is necessary for calculating the size of your roof.

Keep in mind that you should only measure areas that are suitable for solar panels. If you wish to put panels on the south side of your house, for example, you can measure the length of the roof on the south side and then the east side from the corner to where the roof terminates, which is usually approximately half of the wall.

Why are the walls being measured instead of the roof? The computations will be less precise, but doing it yourself is far safer.

4) Solar Panels Wattage

Solar panels with 350 watts are the most common. That informs you how much power you’re getting in terms of wattage, but it doesn’t tell anything else. Your geographical location, such as climate and lot size, has a significant impact on the amount of power you may obtain.

You won’t be able to collect much solar energy if trees surround your house. Solar panels, of course, require sunlight to produce electricity. Sunlight does not last as long or come out as frequently in other regions of the earth. This can be owing to the earth’s rotation or time zones.

Make sure to position the solar panels on a south-facing roof with a 40-degree pitch and little to no shade in the ideal situation. If that isn’t an option, you can still make money by installing solar panels on different roofs and facing different directions.

5) Budget is The First Consideration

What you can and cannot buy is determined by your budget. There are no genuine solar grant schemes for household installation in any region.

While you can get a loan, the interest rates on most of them will cut into your return on the panels. So, you have to make the decision wisely based on your budget. Moreover, the electricity will also vary for the different types and sizes of solar panels.

How Much Roof Space Do You Need To Install The Solar Panels?

Between 335 and 405 square feet of roof, the area is required for the average solar installation. Simply multiply the number of panels you need by 17.55 square feet, which is the area of most residential solar panels offered currently, to get how much roof space your solar system requires.

If you have a small roof, high-efficiency panels or higher power output may be necessary. So, you may install fewer panels while still meeting your energy needs.

Solar panels are not available in standard sizes. So, depending on the brand you choose, you may require a varied number of panels. Even within the same brand, solar panels can vary in size. As a result, based on the brand and model you choose, you can recalculate the size of your array.

Final Verdict

If you’re sold on solar panels and want to put them on your house or other structure, the best suggestion is to do much research. This will ensure that you are ready for it as a pro when the time comes to install solar electricity in your home. Everything will run much more smoothly as a result of this without investing more than budget.

Avatar photo
Author: Amanda Arnold

Amanda has been working with ConstructionHow since 2021. Her experience spans over 5 years in the creative niche such as home decor and trends, landscaping, renovations, and custom architectural values. As a home designer expert, she has a keen eye for the latest home improvement trends with accurate facts that readers find impossible to ignore. Being invested in home-building trends is how she has gained her lucrative expertise exploring more to bring a positive ambiance for all homeowners (and even tenants!). Currently, she lives in a beautiful beach home, a source of fascination for her.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE