What is the Size of a Solar Panel?

When comparing solar panel sizes and overall production, it’s helpful to know what the average home uses and needs.

The average yearly electricity use of a home in the United States is 10,500 kilowatthours (kWh), which can be achieved by generating around 28.7 kWh per day. Assuming an average of 5 hours of peak sunlight per day, your home can be powered by a solar panel system capable of generating 5.75 kilowatts per hour.

For example, if you take into consideration 60-cell panels per panel, which generate between 250-300 watts, we know the system will need to include at least 20 panels. A 20-panel system, with a square footage of 17.62 ft per panel, requires a rooftop size of at least 352.4 square feet.

This basic breakdown does not include a number of factors including your geographic location, peak sunlight hours, seasonal shifts in light, or your rooftop quality. However, estimating the general size of the space required to add solar to your roof is still helpful.

Note: While the panels referenced above represent the average across the industry, Blue Raven Solar’s typical panel is a 72”x42” monocrystalline panel generating a common wattage between 400-410. This helps you maximize watts per square foot of roof space.