How many solar panels for a 1,200 sq ft house?
About 11 solar panels for a 1,200 sq ft home — that's a 4.4 kW system, assuming average US electricity use of about 6,000 kWh per year. That array produces roughly 6,039 kWh a year and costs around $12,936 before incentives.
A 1,200 sq ft house by the numbers
Modeled national-average figures at $3/W and 4.7 peak sun hours per day, using 400-watt panels.
| Home size | 1,200 sq ft |
| Assumed annual use | 6,000 kWh |
| Assumed monthly use | 500 kWh |
| System size | 4.4 kW |
| Number of 400W panels | 11 |
| Estimated roof space | 193 sq ft |
| Annual energy produced | 6,039 kWh |
| Estimated gross cost | $12,936 |
| Estimated annual savings | $1,020 |
| Simple payback period | 12.7 years |
Modeled national-average estimate, June 2026; see methodology. Not a quote.
Why your number may differ
A 1,200 sq ft house is just a proxy for usage. A family running electric heating, AC, and an EV in the same house needs more panels; a well-insulated, efficient home needs fewer. The real driver of how many panels you need is your kWh, not your floor area. For an exact figure, run your last 12 months of bills through the savings calculator.
2026 incentives
The 30% federal tax credit for solar purchases ended on December 31, 2025, so a cash or loan buy no longer subtracts a federal credit. A lease or PPA can still capture a 30% credit — the third-party owner claims it and passes the benefit on through lower payments, worth about $3,881 on a system this size. State and local incentives vary; see solar incentives by state.
Compare real solar quotes
See actual prices from vetted local installers — including lease and PPA options that still capture the 30% credit in 2026. Free, no obligation.