Area needed for solar panels

How much space do solar panels need?

The more electricity you want to produce, the more roof space you’ll need for your installation. The average solar panel is about 3’x5’, which adds up to an area of 15 square feet total.

How many solar panels can you install on a roof?

The size of your roof may limit how many solar panels you can install. A typical solar installation will need a minimum of 335 square feet of suitable roof space. For reference, an average roof is 1,700 square feet. If your roof can’t fit all the solar panels you need - that’s okay!

How many solar panels do I Need?

To calculate the number of panels, divide your required system size (in kW) by the wattage of the panels you choose. For example, if you need a 7.4 kW system and each panel is 350W, you would need approximately 21 panels. What factors affect the surface area required for solar panels?

How many square feet is a solar panel?

The average solar panel is about 3’x5’, which adds up to an area of 15 square feet total. The average residential solar installation in the US is about 20 solar panels, which at 15 square feet each adds up to 300 square feet for the entire solar array (a fancy word for the group of solar panels).

How many solar panels can a roof plane hold?

Most solar companies require a roof plane to be large enough to hold at least 2 solar panels, and many homes with numerous roof planes might have up to 5 or 6 small groups of solar panels placed throughout the roof, as opposed to a single large solar array.

How do I choose a solar panel?

Choose Panel Wattage: Solar panels typically range from 250W to 400W. Determine Number of Panels: Divide the system size by the wattage of the chosen panels. Panel Wattage: 350W per panel. Number of Panels: 7,400W / 350W per panel ≈ 21 panels. Roof Dimensions: Measure the length and width of the roof sections where you plan to install solar panels.