How many solar panels do I need for a home in India?

Size roughly 1 kW per ₹1,000 of your monthly bill. A ₹2,500–₹3,000 bill suits a 3 kW system — about 5–6 modern panels (545–585 W each) needing ~300 sq ft of shadow-free roof. Most homes fit the 2–3 kW range (indicative 2026 — verify current).

What is the cost of a 3 kW solar system after subsidy in 2026?

A 3 kW system costs about ₹1.65–₹2.25 lakh before subsidy. With the PM Surya Ghar subsidy capped at ₹78,000 for 3 kW-plus systems, your net cost is roughly ₹87,000–₹1.47 lakh (indicative 2026 — verify current). Note new subsidy registrations closed on 6 June 2026.

How much can I save monthly with home solar?

A 3 kW system generates ~360 units a month. At ₹7–₹9 per unit, that's roughly ₹2,500–₹3,200 off your bill monthly, or ₹30,000–₹38,000 a year — enough to pay back a subsidised system in about 3–4 years (indicative 2026 — verify current).

Should I choose on-grid or a battery system?

For most homes, on-grid is best — it's cheapest and is the only type eligible for net metering and subsidy. It doesn't work during outages. Add a hybrid or lithium (LFP) battery only if you face frequent, long power cuts, accepting higher cost and no subsidy on the battery.

How does net metering work for home solar?

Net metering is deemed feasible up to 10 kW for homes under the 2020 Consumer Rights Rules. You apply via your DISCOM after install; approval takes ~15–45 days. A bidirectional meter credits your daytime exports, usually with monthly carry-forward and annual settlement (indicative — verify with your DISCOM).

What warranty do home solar panels carry?

Panels typically carry ~25-year performance warranty and ~10–12-year product warranty; inverters 5–10 years. For the PM Surya Ghar subsidy you must use ALMM-listed panels with DCR cells. Choose an established brand with local service and confirm all warranties are written into your contract (indicative 2026 — verify current).

Solar Panels for Home in India: 2026 Buyer Guide

Buying solar for your home in India in 2026 comes down to four honest questions: how big a system you need, what it truly costs after subsidy, how much you’ll save, and whether your roof and DISCOM cooperate. This guide answers all four with real numbers, then walks a 2-BHK and 3-BHK family through the decision.

How many solar panels does a home need?

The simplest rule an experienced installer uses: size roughly 1 kW of solar for every ₹1,000 of your average monthly bill, or for every ~120 units you consume per month. A kilowatt of rooftop solar in India generates about 4 units a day (~1,400–1,600 units a year) — enough to offset the consumption behind a ₹1,000–₹1,200 monthly bill in most cities (indicative 2026 — verify current).

Since PM Surya Ghar caps its subsidy at 3 kW, and most homes with a ₹2,000–₹3,500 bill land in the 2–3 kW range, 3 kW is the sweet spot for the majority of Indian households.

Monthly bill	Suggested size	Panels (approx.)*	Roof space needed
₹1,000–₹1,500	1–2 kW	2–4 panels	~100–200 sq ft
₹2,000–₹3,000	3 kW	5–6 panels	~300 sq ft
₹3,500–₹5,000	4–5 kW	7–9 panels	~400–500 sq ft
₹6,000+	5–10 kW	9–18 panels	~500–1,000 sq ft

*Assuming ~545–585 W modern panels; higher-wattage panels mean fewer units.

What do solar panels cost — before and after subsidy?

Installed cost runs about ₹55,000–₹75,000 per kW before subsidy in 2026, varying by brand, panel type (DCR mono PERC vs TOPCon), inverter quality and your city (indicative — verify current). The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana central subsidy is ₹30,000/kW for the first 2 kW plus ₹18,000 for the 3rd kW, capped at ₹78,000 for any 3 kW-or-larger residential system.

System size	Cost before subsidy*	Central subsidy	Net cost after subsidy
1 kW	₹55,000–₹75,000	₹30,000	₹25,000–₹45,000
2 kW	₹1,10,000–₹1,50,000	₹60,000	₹50,000–₹90,000
3 kW	₹1,65,000–₹2,25,000	₹78,000	₹87,000–₹1,47,000
5 kW	₹2,75,000–₹3,75,000	₹78,000 (capped)	₹1,97,000–₹2,97,000

*Indicative 2026 ranges — verify current pricing with local quotes.

Note: the subsidy stays ₹78,000 whether you install 3 kW or 10 kW, so anything above 3 kW is paid at near-full price. Important: new PM Surya Ghar registrations closed on 6 June 2026 after 1 crore-plus registrations and 40 lakh-plus homes solarised — check the portal or your DISCOM for any reopening or state top-up before assuming subsidy availability.

How much will you actually save each month?

A 3 kW system produces roughly 360 units a month (~12 units/day). At typical residential slab tariffs of ₹7–₹9 per unit, that’s about ₹2,500–₹3,200 wiped off your bill every month, or ₹30,000–₹38,000 a year. On the subsidised ₹87,000–₹1.47 lakh net cost, that’s a payback of about 3–4 years — after which you get ~20 more years of near-free power (indicative 2026 — verify current). Run your own numbers on a solar savings calculator using your last bill before you commit.

Roof space and shading — the reality check

You need roughly 100 sq ft of shadow-free roof per kW, so about 300 sq ft for a 3 kW system. South-facing, unshaded roof is ideal; a water tank, parapet or neighbour’s tree shading even one panel drags down the whole string. Elevated structures can recover terrace usage underneath. If your roof is genuinely small or crowded, higher-wattage TOPCon panels squeeze more kW into less area.

On-grid vs battery: which should you buy?

On-grid (grid-tied): No battery. Surplus daytime power is exported to the grid via net metering and adjusted against night-time draw. Only on-grid systems qualify for subsidy and net metering. Cheapest, best payback. It shuts off during a grid outage.
Hybrid/battery: Adds a lithium (LFP) or tubular battery for backup during cuts. Costs significantly more and batteries don’t earn subsidy. LFP lasts longer than tubular but costs more upfront.

Recommendation: if your grid is reasonably stable, go on-grid — the economics are far better. Add a small battery or hybrid inverter only if you face frequent, long outages.

Choosing panel type and brand

Panel type: Mono PERC is the reliable mainstream choice; TOPCon/N-type offers slightly higher efficiency and better low-light performance for tight roofs. For subsidy you must use ALMM-listed modules with DCR (Domestic Content Requirement) cells.
Brands: Stick to established, ALMM-approved Indian makers with local service. Prioritise a brand with a service technician in your city over a marginally cheaper unknown.
Warranties: Panels carry ~25-year performance and ~10–12-year product warranty; inverters 5–10 years. Verify these are written into your contract.
Installer: Choose an empanelled vendor with genuine reviews. Get at least 3 free quotes and compare component brands line by line, not just the bottom-line price.

The install process and timeline

Assessment & quote — vendor surveys roof, sanctions load, sizes system.
Registration & DISCOM application — apply for net metering and (where available) subsidy.
Feasibility approval — DISCOM clears the sanctioned capacity.
Installation — mounting, panels, inverter, wiring: typically 1–3 days for a home system.
Net meter & inspection — DISCOM installs a bidirectional meter and inspects.
Commissioning & subsidy — system goes live; subsidy (if eligible) is credited to your bank account.

Net metering is deemed feasible up to 10 kW for homes under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. End-to-end timelines run ~4–8 weeks, with DISCOM approval alone taking ~15–45 days. Settlement is usually monthly carry-forward with annual final settlement (indicative — verify with your DISCOM).

A realistic example: 2-BHK vs 3-BHK

2-BHK in Jaipur, ₹2,800/month bill: A 3 kW on-grid system fits ~300 sq ft of terrace, produces ~360 units/month, and nearly zeroes the bill. Net cost after ₹78,000 subsidy: roughly ₹90,000–₹1.3 lakh. Monthly saving ~₹2,600 → payback ~3.5 years (indicative 2026 — verify current).

3-BHK in Pune with ACs, ₹5,500/month bill: A 5 kW on-grid system needs ~500 sq ft. Subsidy still caps at ₹78,000, so net cost is roughly ₹2–₹3 lakh. Monthly saving ~₹4,500 → payback ~4–4.5 years, then two decades of cheap power.

Common mistakes to avoid

Oversizing beyond your consumption — you don’t get paid well for large exports.
Skipping ALMM/DCR modules and losing subsidy eligibility.
Choosing the cheapest inverter — it’s the part most likely to fail early.
Ignoring shading from tanks, parapets and future construction.
Not confirming net-metering policy with your DISCOM before signing.

The bottom line

For most Indian homes, a 3 kW ALMM/DCR on-grid system is the smartest buy: it maxes out the subsidy, fits an average terrace, and pays back in 3–4 years. Get three genuine quotes, compare components, confirm your DISCOM’s net-metering process, and you’ll be generating your own power well within two months.