Home / Calculators / Solar match
Which solar fits me?
Four questions. One clear recommendation, with the next step to take.
Where do you live?
What matters most?
What could you spend up front?
How big is your monthly electric bill?
Rooftop solar
You own your roof and want long-term savings. A rooftop system offers the biggest payoff. In most states it pays back in 8 to 14 years and keeps producing for 25+.
Plug-in or balcony solar
A 400 to 1,200 W kit plugs into an outlet, costs hundreds rather than thousands, and moves with you. Check your state's rules first.
Solar plus a home battery
For reliable outage backup, pair panels with a 10 to 15 kWh battery and a critical-loads panel. Batteries also pay off where exports earn little.
A portable power station
No install, no permission needed. A 1 to 3 kWh station keeps a fridge, Wi-Fi and lights going through most outages, and folding panels recharge it.
RV or van solar
Size panels and a lithium battery to your daily watt-hours. Most part-time setups land between 200 and 600 W of panels.
Off-grid solar
Off-grid means designing for your darkest month, with enough battery for cloudy days and usually a generator backup.
Community solar
Subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and get bill credits, often with 5 to 15% savings and no equipment.