Panels & Sizing
Solar panel types, sizing and how many panels you need.
Choosing panels and sizing the array is where solar gets concrete — and where a surprising amount of marketing noise creeps in. The good news: the decisions that matter most are few. How many panels you need, what type makes sense, and how efficiency really affects you cover the vast majority of the choice.
This hub brings those together independently, so you can size for your home rather than for an installer's standard package.
How many, and what type
Start with how many solar panels you need, driven by your electricity use, roof space and local sun. Then weigh panel types in monocrystalline vs polycrystalline panels — a choice that's narrowed a lot as mono has become the default.
What efficiency actually buys you
Efficiency is the spec most oversold to homeowners. Higher-efficiency panels fit more power into less roof, which matters when space is tight — and matters far less when it isn't. Our guide on solar panel efficiency explained shows when paying for premium efficiency is worth it and when it's just a bigger number. Read these three before comparing equipment lists, and the spec sheets stop being intimidating.