A Quick Guide to Right-Sizing Your Solar Investment
One of the first questions we get from homeowners is:
“How many solar panels do I need?”
Or more specifically:
“What size system will eliminate (or reduce) my electric bill?”
The truth is — there’s no one-size-fits-all solar system. Your ideal system depends on your energy usage, roof space, utility rates, and future plans like EV charging or battery storage.
In this guide, we’ll help you understand what goes into determining your system size — and how we make sure it fits you.
🔌 Step 1: Review Your Energy Usage
Start by looking at your electric bill. Most utilities show your monthly and annual usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Here’s a general idea:
| Home Type | Monthly Usage (kWh) | Annual Usage (kWh) | Suggested System Size (kW) |
| Apartment / Condo (1–2 people) | 300–500 | 4,000–6,000 | 3–5 kW |
| Small Home (2–3 people) | 500–800 | 6,000–10,000 | 5–8 kW |
| Medium Home (family of 4) | 900–1,300 | 11,000–16,000 | 9–13 kW |
| Large Home (pool, EV, etc.) | 1,500–2,500+ | 18,000–30,000+ | 14–20+ kW |
Bonus Tip: Add ~2–4 kW if you plan to buy an electric vehicle or convert gas appliances to electric.
📐 Step 2: Consider Roof Space and Sun Exposure
Even if your energy usage suggests a large system, we have to look at what your roof can actually support:
- 🧱 Panel count depends on available square footage
- ☀️ Orientation and tilt affect sun exposure
- 🌳 Shading from trees, chimneys, or other buildings reduces output
- 🏡 Ground mounts are possible if roof space is limited
Most standard panels produce 350–450 watts each, so a 10 kW system would require around 22–28 panels.
🔋 Step 3: Do You Want Battery Backup?
Adding batteries won’t change your panel count, but it does affect how you use your solar power:
- Store excess solar for nighttime use
- Maximize savings under Time-of-Use (TOU) rates
- Keep the lights on during outages
- Reduce or eliminate grid dependence
Battery systems can also be designed to “load shift” — letting you avoid high utility rates by using stored solar when it’s most expensive to pull from the grid.
💰 Step 4: Factor in Incentives & Tax Credits
The 30% Federal Solar Tax Credit can significantly reduce your system cost. That means if your system costs $20,000, you could get $6,000 back at tax time.
⚠️ However, if proposed legislation like the BEAUTIFUL Act passes, this incentive may be reduced or eliminated in the near future. Now is the best time to act.
✅ Our Approach at Aicon Solar
We don’t guess — we design your system using:
- Your past 12 months of usage
- Roof layout and shading analysis
- Projected usage growth (EVs, appliances, AC upgrades)
- Your budget and goals
We give you multiple design options so you can compare savings, cost, and payback period.
🧠 What’s the Right Size for You?
Let us run a free analysis of your home’s energy usage and roof to build the ideal system for your needs — no guesswork, no pressure.
📩 Contact Aicon Solar today for your personalized quote.