Solar Panel Size Guide (with 4 Charts)

Solar panel sizes are measured in two ways: watt output and physical dimensions. Physical dimensions refer to the height, length and width of the solar array. The wattage refers to how much power the panel can produce.

Regular solar panels come in 60 cell panels or 72 cell panels. Each cell is 6 x 6 inches square. 72 cell panels are taller by 12 inches. The average solar panel is 5.4 x 3.25 feet or 65 inches b 39 inches. The average weight is 40 lbs. Average depth is 1.8 inches. Portable solar panels are smaller, often half the size of regular solar arrays.

Solar panels for homes average 250 to 400 watts. Many portable solar panels for RV are in the 100 to 300 watt range. The physical size of the panels often correlate to the watts, the bigger the panels the more watts it can generate.

Portable Solar Panel Size Chart (Popular Brands)

Here are the sizes for some of the more popular portable solar panels. Portable panels are undergoing numerous changes and improvements, so the sizes are not as standardized as residential solar panels.

Brand	Folded Dimensions	Weight	Wattage
Renogy 100 Watt Foldable Portable Solar Panel	19.9 x 27.2 x 2.8 inches	26.6 lbs.	100
Jaackery SolarSage 100W Portable Solar Panel	26 x 22.5 x 2.5 inches	11.6 lbs.	100
OUTAD Portable Solar Panel	32.5 x 19.9 x 2.8 inches	33 lbs.	102
HQST Off Grid 100W Solar Panel	20 x 27.3 x 3.1 inches	21.7 lbs.	100
Goal Zero Nomad 20	8.5 x 13 x 1 inches	2 lbs.	20

Solar Panel Size Chart For Residential and Commercial Use

Here are the sizes for some of the most popular solar panels for residential and commercial use. These refer only to the specific products, as the manufacturer may have other solar panels available in other sizes.

Brand	Dimensions	Weight
Q CELLS 60 Cell Solar Panel	65.8 x 39.4 inches	41 lbs
Q CELLS 72 Cell Solar Panel	78.5 x 39.4 inches	52.9 lbs
Hyundai PERL Monocrystalline Solar Panel 60 Cells 60 cells	64.5 x 39.29 inches	42 lbs
Hyundai PERL Monocrystalline Solar Panel 72 Cells 72 cells	77.17 x 39.29 inches	52 lbs
LG 60 Cell Solar Panels	65 x 40 inches	37.5 lbs
LG 72 Cell Solar Panels	80 x 40 inches	46 lbs
SunPower XSeries 72 Cell Solar Panels	61.3 x 31.4 inches	41 lbs
TrinaSolar TSM 260 PD05	65 x 39	40 lbs
Jinko Solar JKM250P-60	65 x 39	38 lbs

Commercial and Residential Solar Panel Size Comparison

Solar panel specs for residential use are standard, and it is not that much different for commercial properties. Some of the larger homes in the US and elsewhere actually use the same types of solar power systems as commercial establishments.

Type	Typical Number of Solar Cells	Length	Wdith	Depth
Residential	60	65 inches	39 niches	1.5 to 2 inches
Commericial	72	78 inches	39 inches	1.5 to 2 inches

Solar Panel Weight Guide

Standard solar panels weigh 35 to 60 lbs. The panels’ weight is influenced by the materials used for construction. Portable solar panels weigh from 10 to 30 lbs. The 5 watt panels are the lightest at 2 to 5 lbs. These lightweight solar panels are used to charge mobile phones and other devices.

A single person can lift portable solar panels without any problems. With standard solar panels it is better if you have someone help you out. While one person can lift a 40 solar panel, the shape makes it difficult especially if you want to mount it on a roof. 72 cell solar panels are over 6 ft high so two people need to carry it.

Do not take chances with solar panels, especially if you have to mount them on the roof of your RV or house. Get someone to help you or seek aid from a professional installer. Solar panel manufacturers offer professional instillation so you don’t have to do it yourself. This comes at an extra cost, but it’s cheaper than buying another solar panel because you dropped it.

What Solar Panel Size Do I Need?

There are two factors to consider: the physical dimensions of the solar panel and the wattage power. The bigger the solar panels, the more power it can produce. However there are cases when getting the largest solar panel isn’t possible. Also, it comes down to what you really need and what you plan to do with solar power.

Portable solar panels are best suited for:

• RVs
• Boats
• Backpacking
• Hiking
• Camping

As you can see from the chart earlier, portable solar panels are more varied in size. A good rule of thumb is portable panels for RVs are in the 32 x 62 inch range, sufficient for any camper. They’re also lighter than standard solar arrays so it won’t stress your RV roof.

Please keep in mind that size should not be your only consideration. Yes it’s important, but make sure the panel provides the power you need. If you live in your RV then you may have to sacrifice some portability to get the power needed to run your appliances.

If you don’t need a lot of solar power then get a light panel. The solar panels available today should meet the needs of most light travelers. If you’re a hiker and just want a solar charger for your phone, those ultra light solar panels will be sufficient.

Standard solar panels are for:

• A house
• Large RV that uses a lot of appliances
• Commercial establishments
• Industrial complexes

A typical US home consumes 877 kWh monthly. To replace everything with solar, you need a 6.5 kWh solar panel. 60 cell solar panels come in different sizes, ranging from 285 watts to 375 watts. For example:

• 6500W – 375W 18 panels
• 6500W – 340W 20 panels
• 6500W – 315W 21 panels
• 6500W – 285W 23 panels

The solar cells vary, but the size of the individual cells are always 6 x 6 inches. Because the number of panels differ, some solar power systems will be larger and heavier than others.

The typical American home will need a solar array that occupies 375 to 429 square feet. You can place it on the roof or anywhere on your property. Most US homes need a kW system. If you install a 6 kilowatt solar panel, you’ll require 20 cells. If they are average sized cells, the system will be 13 feet long and 27 feet wide, or 352 square ft. This measurement assumes all the panels are lined on your roof adjacent.

Before buying any solar panel, determine how much power / watts you will need. If you want to convert your home into full solar power, get as accurate an estimate as possible of the power a solar panel must produce.

Aside from the solar panel, you must make sure the other components like the battery, inverter and charge controller are compatible and can match your panel power. By doing your homework first, you will be able to save yourself a lot of trouble later on.

Solar Panel Size and Wattage Chart

If you want to solar power your house, the wattage is more important than the physical dimensions. Your roof should have ample space for a residential solar array, and the weight won’t be an issue. For RVs, the physical specs is just as important because real estate is limited. Do not forget to check the solar panel’s weight and if your roof can handle it.

Watts	Physical Dimensions/ Space Required
250 watts	65 x 39 inches
300 watts	77 x 39 x 1.9 inches
3KW solar panel	176 square feet
6kW solar panel	Up to 352 square feet

These dimensions are meant to give you a general idea of how large these solar panels are going to be. The actual dimensions may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer. Portable solar panels usually have two measurements, one folded and one for unfolded. Take this into account if you have limited roof space on your RV. You can also use these charts to find how many solar panels you need for a mobile home.

Conclusion

The fact that solar panels come in a variety of sizes should not be a cause for concern. As you can see, solar panels for home have been standardized size more or less. With portable panels physical dimensions are less of an issue since they’re going to be easy to set up and use either way. Once you’re got an idea of how much power you need, figuring the right dimensions is simple.