Trying to get my head around solar for our place. How do I even start figuring out how many panels we’d need to cover the basics? Is there a simple way to ballpark it before I talk to installers?
Great question to be asking before you talk to installers — knowing your own numbers makes those conversations a lot more productive.
Here’s how most folks start:
Step 1 — Figure out your daily load
Pull out your electric bill and look for your monthly kWh usage. Divide by 30 and you’ve got your daily average. If you’re building from scratch or going off-grid without a utility history, you’ll want to list every appliance and light, estimate hours of use per day, and add it up. There are free load calculators online that walk you right through it.
Step 2 — Account for your location
Solar panels don’t produce the same everywhere. Look up your area’s “peak sun hours” — a quick search with your state or county will get you there. The lower your peak sun hours, the more panel capacity you’ll need for the same output.
Step 3 — Rough math
A very general ballpark: divide your daily kWh need by your peak sun hours, then add about 25% for system losses (wiring, inverter inefficiency, cloudy days). That gives you a starting panel wattage target. A 400W panel is pretty common right now, so divide that number by 400 to get a rough panel count.
Step 4 — Don’t forget battery storage
If you want power when the sun isn’t shining, battery sizing is its own whole calculation. Lithium (LiFePO4) is the popular choice right now for homesteads — longer life, deeper discharge than lead-acid.
The honest truth is every homestead is a little different — well pump loads, deep freezers, seasonal variation — and a good local solar installer will do a proper site assessment. Use your ballpark to ask sharp questions rather than walk in blind.
What’s your situation — are you on grid now looking to offset costs, or aiming for full off-grid?