How many solar panels do I need in Florida?

1. 1

   Find your yearly use

   Add up the last 12 months of kWh. FPL bills show a chart of the last 13 months of use, and every utility's online account lists monthly kWh.

2. 2

   Divide by local output

   Divide your yearly kWh by what 1 kW of panels makes in your area each year. That gives the system size in kW.

3. 3

   Divide by panel size

   Divide the system size in watts by the panel wattage. Our estimates use 400 W panels.

For example, a home using 12,000 kWh a year in Orlando needs about 8.1 kW, or 21 panels of 400 W, on an unshaded south-facing roof. Florida's full-retail net metering means the goal is to cover about a year of your use, not more.

South Florida gets the most sun, so the same use needs a slightly smaller system there than in the Panhandle. Shade, a west- or east-facing roof and a flatter tilt all lower output.

Shade lowers these numbers; see trees and solar panels in Florida.

The same bill buys different amounts of electricity on each utility, because their rates differ. In our estimate:

Your actual kWh is on your bill, and it's a better starting point than the dollar amount. Try your own numbers in the savings calculator.

An electric car. Federal fuel economy data put the average 2023 electric vehicle at 37.5 kWh per 100 miles, so 10,000 miles of driving a year uses about 3,750 kWh. In Tampa Bay that's about 2.5 kW more, or 7 more panels.

A pool pump. A single-speed pool pump can be one of a Florida home's biggest loads. ENERGY STAR notes that running a pump at half speed uses about one-eighth as much energy, so switching to a variable-speed pump before you size solar can shrink the system you need.

Code setbacks from roof edges and ridges, especially in Miami-Dade and Broward's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, reduce the usable area. Higher-wattage panels fit more on a small roof. See can solar panels survive a hurricane for wind rules.

Flat roofs need tilt racks and rows spaced for shade; see solar on a flat roof.

Only if your use calls for it. Under Florida's net metering rule, systems up to 10 kW are Tier 1, with no utility fee and no required liability insurance. Over 10 kW is Tier 2, where utilities can charge an application fee and require up to $1 million in liability coverage.

Oversizing doesn't pay either: credits left at the end of the year are paid out at only a few cents per kWh. See how Florida net metering works and solar and home insurance.

Batteries are sized for backup, not bill savings, because net metering already credits exports at the full rate. One 13.5 kWh battery covers essentials like the fridge, lights and internet; running central air usually takes more. See solar battery backup for hurricanes and the best home batteries for Florida.