How many solar panels for 600 kWh per month in Arizona?11 panels

Turn your electricity use into system capacity using a cached PVWatts production estimate.

Your starting point

11 panels

4.40 kW DC · 400 W panels

Planning range

9–12 panels

A screening estimate under the assumptions below. The range is a shopping guide, not a guarantee.

Planning estimate. A licensed contractor must confirm the final size, installation and local code requirements. Electrical work needs a licensed electrician.

Location Phoenix, AZMonthly use 600 kWhPanel rating 400 W
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In area mode, monthly kWh is derived from the state average and the area; the bill field is ignored.

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The calculation, step by step.

Annual target kWh / cached PVWatts kWh per kW-year, divided by panel kW, rounded upward.

Solar panels load calculation
Input or stepCalculated amount
Monthly consumption600 kWh
Annual offset target7,200 kWh
PVWatts production factor1,788 kWh/kW/year
Unrounded system4.03 kW DC
Rounded panel system4.40 kW DC
Panel footprint231 sq ft
Usable roof600 sq ft
9.0 panels12.0 panels

What moves this number?

Electricity use

Use 12 months of bills. Floor area is only an optional consumption proxy.

Roof conditions

This snapshot assumes south-facing 30-degree roof mounting, 14% losses, and no property-specific shade model.

Panel wattage

Higher-wattage panels reduce the panel count, not the required energy.

Your location and assumptions.

Solar uses a representative-city weather snapshot for Arizona. It is not a statewide average or a property-specific shade assessment.

  • Representative city: Phoenix; not a statewide average.
  • PVWatts v8; 1 kW DC, standard modules, roof mounted, 30-degree tilt, 180-degree azimuth, 14% system losses.
  • Snapshot retrieved 2026-10-01. Weather: NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0.
  • Panel footprint 21 sq ft each is a user assumption; code setbacks and access paths need extra roof space.
  • +/-15% production band is a screening sensitivity, not PVWatts statistical uncertainty.

What might it cost to run?

Annual energy matching estimates capacity, not savings. A savings estimate needs your import/export tariff, fixed charges, installation quote and consumption timing.

Before you choose equipment.

Annual generation matching does not guarantee bill elimination, off-grid operation or outage power. Roof shade, orientation, utility rules and seasonal weather can change production.

Bring this calculation to your installer. They will check the measured load, manufacturer performance, distribution or connections, installation conditions and local requirements.

A few more sizing questions.

How many panels for 600 kWh per month?

The default screen gives 11 panels, with a planning range of 9–12 panels. Change the inputs above to reflect your actual home. At 400 W each, the rounded system is 4.40 kW DC.

Does square footage determine solar size?

Electricity use is the stronger input. Area mode scales the EIA Arizona household average relative to a 2,000 sq ft reference home; this is an illustrative proxy, not measured usage.

Is this production for my exact roof?

No. The cached PVWatts snapshot uses Phoenix weather, south-facing 30° roof mounting and 14% losses. Shading, orientation and actual weather can change the result.

Will these panels eliminate my bill or power an outage?

Matching annual generation does not guarantee either. Export rates, fixed charges and timing affect bills. Outage power requires suitable battery and islanding equipment.

Will the panels fit?

Their assumed footprint is 231 sq ft compared with 600 sq ft of usable roof. That passes this simple footprint check. Setbacks, access paths, structure and layout need a site assessment.

Is this a final equipment size?

No. A licensed contractor must measure your building or actual loads, check manufacturer performance and local code, and confirm the final selection.

Sources for this estimate

Model assumptions · Full source register

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A starting point for the conversation with your contractor.

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