How Many Solar Panels Do You Need in Arizona? A Guide to System Sizing and Custom Design

Are you considering solar energy for your home in Phoenix? Now is the perfect time to harness the power of the sun and take advantage of significant savings through federal and state tax credits. Our team at Phoenix Valley Solar can help you navigate these incentives and maximize your savings. You can also use our Arizona Solar Calculator to get an estimate of your potential benefits.

If you’re thinking about installing solar on your Arizona home, one of the first questions you’ll ask is:

“How many solar panels do I need?”

The answer isn’t just about roof space — it depends on your energy habits, utility rates, roof direction, and whether you plan to add things like an electric vehicle or battery storage.

Here’s a complete guide to solar system sizing in Arizona, including how factors like APS and SRP billing plans, summer electricity use, and roof layout affect your design.

1. The Average Arizona Home Uses a Lot of Power

Arizona ranks among the highest energy-use states in the U.S., thanks to:

• Long, hot summers with constant A/C

• Swimming pools, backyard features, and EV charging

• Single-story homes with large square footage

• High peak pricing from APS and SRP during afternoon and evening hours

The average Arizona home uses about 12,000–15,000 kWh per year, but larger homes or families with EVs can easily use 20,000+ kWh annually.

2. Solar Panels Produce Differently in Arizona

Thanks to 300+ days of sunshine, a properly installed system in Phoenix can produce:

• 1,500–1,700 kWh per year per installed kilowatt, depending on tilt and shading

• That means a 6 kW system might produce around 9,500–10,000 kWh/year

• Production is highest in spring and summer, and lower in December–January

Your installer should run a detailed solar production estimate using tools like PVWatts or Aurora Solar to match your location and roof design.

3. What Impacts the Number of Panels You Need?

To size your solar system correctly, we consider:

• Your Electric Bill

We look at 12 months of usage to design for your true annual consumption, not just an estimate.

• Your Utility Provider (APS or SRP)

• APS allows larger system sizes and pays more for exported power

• SRP has size limits and very low export credits, so we focus on offsetting usage, not exporting

• Roof Size and Tilt

• South- and west-facing panels perform best in Arizona

• Flat roofs may require racking systems to tilt panels at the right angle

• Planned Upgrades

• Planning to buy an EV? Add ~3–4 kWh/day to your usage

• Adding a pool or home addition? Build it into your solar estimate

4. Typical Solar System Sizes in Arizona

Home Size	Annual Usage Estimate	Suggested System Size (kW)	# of Panels (400W)
1,500 sq. ft.	~9,000 kWh	6 kW	15–16 panels
2,000 sq. ft.	~12,000 kWh	8 kW	20 panels
2,500+ sq. ft.	~15,000+ kWh	10–12 kW	25–30 panels

Note: SRP customers may be limited to systems exporting 15 kW AC or less. APS allows up to 150% of your home’s historical usage.

5. Don’t Just Max Out Your Roof — Maximize Your ROI

Oversizing your system might seem like a good idea — but under Arizona’s net billing rules, excess energy isn’t worth as much as it used to be.

We design your system to:

• Match usage patterns and avoid over-exporting

• Optimize your rate plan under APS or SRP

• Save you the most money, not just generate the most kWh

With battery storage, we can also design a system to:

• Store excess solar for nighttime use

• Avoid APS peak rates (4–7 p.m.)

• Increase self-consumption under SRP’s export penalties

6. Future-Proofing Your System

Smart solar homeowners are planning ahead for:

• EVs and electric water heaters

• Home additions or accessory dwelling units (ADUs)

• Battery upgrades or full off-grid capability

We can install battery-ready inverters, conduit for future panels, and leave space in your main panel to expand your system later — saving you from rework and permit fees down the road.

7. Why Trust Phoenix Valley Solar for Custom System Design?

We design solar systems that are:

• Matched to your utility plan and usage

• Customized for your roof orientation and layout

• Built with premium panels and inverters

• Designed with room to grow (or shrink) depending on your goals

Our team has installed thousands of systems across Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, and beyond — each one tailored for real-life use, not just sales targets.

Ready to Find Out How Many Panels You Actually Need?

Contact Phoenix Valley Solar today for a personalized quote and usage analysis. We’ll help you understand your power use, plan for the future, and get the most value from every panel on your roof.

Are you considering solar energy for your home in Phoenix? Now is the perfect time to harness the power of the sun and take advantage of significant savings through federal and state tax credits. Our team at Phoenix Valley Solar can help you navigate these incentives and maximize your savings. You can also use our Arizona Solar Calculator to get an estimate of your potential benefits.