Wondering how many solar panels you need to cover your power consumption? At Shift to Solar we would like to help you with honest and personal advice. On this page you can read how you can easily calculate yourself how many panels would suit your situation. We also explain which factors influence the amount of solar panels you need and how to get the most out of your roof with the right installation.
Would you prefer to know immediately what the best choice is for your home? Then request a no-obligation quote: we always contact you personally to discuss your situation.
Enter your annual power consumption and the power output of one solar panel below. The calculator will immediately calculate how many panels you need to cover your consumption.
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Want to know how many solar panels you need for your annual electricity consumption? The rule of thumb is simple: divide your annual consumption (in kWh) by the expected output of one solar panel. An average panel of 400 Wp provides about 340 kWh per year on.
The table below shows a handy indication of the number of solar panels you will need for different levels of consumption. The exact result depends on your roof position, shade and orientation.
| Annual electricity consumption (kWh) | Required number of solar panels (400 Wp) | Total installation (kWp) |
|---|---|---|
| 2,000 kWh | 6 panels | 2.4 kWp |
| 3,000 kWh | 9 panels | 3.6 kWp |
| 3,500 kWh | 10 panels | 4.0 kWp |
| 4,000 kWh | 12 panels | 4.8 kWp |
| 5,000 kWh | 15 panels | 6.0 kWp |
| 6,000 kWh | 18 panels | 7.2 kWp |
| 7,000 kWh | 21 panels | 8.4 kWp |
| 8,000 kWh | 24 panels | 9.6 kWp |
| 10,000 kWh | 29 panels | 11.6 kWp |
| 12,000 kWh | 35 panels | 14.0 kWp |
Please note that this is an indication. Factors such as shade, roof pitch, location and any future consumption increase (such as an electric car or heat pump) can influence the amount of panels required. For personal advice, you can get in touch without obligation.
The number of solar panels you need depends on three main factors: your power consumption, the power output of the panels and the position of your roof. Together, they determine how much energy you can generate and how big your installation should ideally be.
The starting point is how much electricity your household consumes annually. A small flat with 2,000 kWh per year needs fewer panels than a family consuming 5,000 kWh. The guideline we use is: (annual consumption × 1.1) ÷ panel power (Wp). This way, you take into account slight losses due to seasonality and system efficiency.
Tip: you can easily find your annual consumption on your energy bill or in your supplier's app. Do you expect to use more power in the future, e.g. because of electric cooking or a heat pump? Add this consumption to your calculation in advance.
The power of a solar panel is expressed in Watt peak (Wp) - which is the maximum power the panel can generate under ideal conditions. Modern panels are usually between 370 and 450 Wp. The higher this number, the fewer panels you need to generate the same amount of power.
Example: if you consume 3,000 kWh per year and choose panels of 400 Wp, you calculate: (3,000 × 1.1) ÷ 400 = 8.25 → rounded up 9 panels. If you choose 450 Wp panels, you will have only 7 à 8 needed for the same result.
The orientation and pitch of your roof directly affect how much sunlight your panels receive. A south-facing roof yields the most, but east- or west-facing roofs are also profitable. On average 85% of peak power for realistic returns.
Do you have shade from a tree or chimney? Then the efficiency will be slightly lower and you will need slightly more panels to cover your annual consumption. A professional installer will take these influences into account to determine the optimal number of panels.
Below you can see how the calculation works in practice for different types of households. This will give you a good idea of approximately how many solar panels you will need.
Annual consumption: 2,500 kWh Panel power: 400 Wp Calculation: (2,500 × 1.1) ÷ 400 = 6.9 → rounded off 7 panels. With 7 panels, you cover almost the entire annual consumption.
Annual consumption: 3,800 kWh Panel power: 400 Wp Calculation: (3,800 × 1.1) ÷ 400 = 10.45 → rounded off 11 panels. This number provides for power consumption for cooking, washing and daily appliances.
Annual consumption: 6,500 kWh (including charging station) Panel power: 400 Wp Calculation: (6,500 × 1.1) ÷ 400 = 17.9 → rounded off 18 panels. With this number, you generate enough power for the house and partly for charging the car.
With solar panels alone, you generate renewable energy, but the maximum return is only achieved with the right combination: solar panels and a home battery. So you use more of your own power, reduce your energy bills and become less dependent on the grid.
A home battery stores the energy you generate during the day but do not use directly. In the evening and night, when the sun is not shining, you can use that stored power. Thus, your own consumption of solar power often increases from 30 to 60 per cent or even more. As a result, you get much more value out of every kilowatt hour generated.
By cleverly matching the battery to the output of your solar panels and your daily power consumption, you avoid energy being unnecessarily fed back to the grid. This is particularly interesting now that more and more suppliers feed-in costs calculate. By storing and using your generated power yourself, you reduce those costs and keep more profit.
At Shift to Solar we ensure that solar panels and home battery are perfectly matched. That way, you make the most of your own energy, reduce your dependence on energy suppliers and make the most of every ray of sunshine.
Buying solar panels is not something you do every day. That is why we make sure the process from quotation to installation is hassle-free.
Every roof and every household is different. That is why you will always receive a personal proposal from us with an honest calculation of your expected yield, payback time and investment.
Our VCA-certified fitters install your solar panels safely and professionally. We work exclusively with A-brand panels and materials for long-term efficiency.
At Shift to Solar, you always know what you're getting. No hidden costs, just a complete solar panel quote including installation, warranty and aftercare.
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