Solar for your home: what it costs and saves
The short answer
For most Indian homes, a 3 kW grid-connected solar system is the sweet spot: it costs about ₹96,000 after the ₹78,000 subsidy, generates 350–380 units a month, and offsets the bill of a typical 2–3 BHK household. Size comes from your monthly bill — not from your roof's capacity.
- recommended size
- 3 kW
- recommended size
- net cost after subsidy
- ₹96,000
- net cost after subsidy
- generated per month
- 354 units
- generated per month
- typical payback
- 3 yrs
- typical payback
Why 3 kW: because the average urban household consuming 300–400 units/month is fully covered by it — and oversizing beyond your consumption rarely pays under net metering.
What it runs: fridge, TV, fans, lights, washing machine and one AC through the summer, with net metering covering night-time draw.
Roof needed: roughly 270–300 sq ft of shadow-free space.
Worth knowing: Sizing to your bill beats sizing to your roof. If an installer quotes a system far bigger than your consumption justifies, ask them to walk through your units line by line.
Subsidy: ₹78,000 under PM Surya Ghar (₹30,000/kW up to 2 kW, capped at ₹78,000 for 3 kW+, residential connections only) — credited after your DISCOM commissions the system.
Get real quotes for this setup
Up to three registered installers quote for your exact requirement — free, with your calculator numbers visible so every quote can be checked.
Open the calculatorFAQ
How do I know the right size for MY home?
Your monthly bill decides it. Roughly 130 units of monthly consumption needs 1 kW. A ₹3,000 bill ≈ 3.5 kW; a ₹1,500 bill ≈ 1.5–2 kW. The calculator on the home page converts your exact bill into a size.
Do I need batteries for a home solar system?
No — for homes, a grid-connected (on-grid) system without batteries is almost always the right choice. The grid acts as your battery through net metering; batteries add ₹40,000–60,000 per kWh and only make sense where power cuts are long and frequent.
What maintenance will I be doing?
Washing the panels every 2–4 weeks (dust cuts output 5–15%) and replacing the inverter once around year 10–12. That's the whole list.
What are the exact numbers for MY bill and MY state?
These figures use the national-average tariff. Your state's tariff and generation numbers — and your exact bill — are on the calculator and your state's page. The maths is identical; only the local rates change.
City-level numbers
Tariffs vary by state — these pages carry your local DISCOM rates and exact cost tables: