Six kilowatts of solar power

You may be looking into a 6 kilowatt (kW) — aka 6,000 watt (W) solar power system because it fits your budget or available roof space configurations. Installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system is a great way to create your own renewable energy and save money on monthly utility bills.

As the cost of solar panels continues to decline, 6 kilowatt (kW) solar PV systems are becoming a more popular option for homeowners. In many states, a 6kW PV system will be enough to power an entire house, but it depends on your location and energy needs.

On average, a 6 kW system will produce roughly 750 kilowatt-hours (kWhs) of electricity per month, or between 8,000 and 10,000 kWhs a year. Just like with cost, the amount of energy your solar system produces will vary depending on where you live.

6kW solar installations cost about $12,500 on average after a 30% tax credit. An average 6kW solar panel system can save you enough on utility bills to pay for itself in just under a decade. How big is a 6kW solar system? If you look at the wide range of solar panel system sizes in the U.S., a 6kW array is essentially right in the middle.

Kilowatts (kW) measure the peak capacity of your solar panel system. In the U.S., the majority of 6kW solar systems are grid-tied, meaning they send the excess electricity they produce back to the utility grid.

A 6kW energy system has 15 solar panels. Depending on the wattage of the solar panels you choose to go with, the actual number of solar panels for your 6kW system will vary. Most solar panels today have a wattage of about 400 watts. For example, if you install 350-watt solar panels, you'll need about 17 panels to make a 6kW system.