Sizing
How many solar panels do I need for a South African home?
Size panels from your daytime consumption and bill, not from roof envy. As a rough Gauteng-style guide: smaller bills often need ~4–6 × 550 W panels; mid bills ~8–12; high usage homes ~12–18+. Exact counts follow peak sun hours, roof orientation, shading and whether you are offsetting an EV or pool.
Bill-first rough guide
| Typical monthly bill | Rough array | Often paired inverter class |
|---|---|---|
| ~R600–R1 800 | 4–6 × 550 W | ~3–5 kW |
| ~R1 800–R4 000 | 8–12 × 550 W | ~5–8 kW |
| ~R4 000–R7 500+ | 12–18 × 550 W | ~8–12 kW |
Illustrative only — coastal vs Highveld irradiance, north vs east/west roofs, and heat-pump/EV loads move the number.
Roof space rule of thumb
A modern ~450–550 W module needs roughly 2.2–2.6 m² including gaps. A 16-panel (~8 kW) array often wants ~35–45 m² of usable, preferably north-facing roof. See roof space answer.
Related answers
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