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Solar planning

RV solar calculator

Start with your daily energy use, expected sun hours, and how many buffer days you want. The calculator estimates a practical solar and battery setup for that usage pattern.

Quick answer

A useful answer has watts, reserve, and the next check.

The calculator points at the setup range, then the roof and battery plan confirm whether it is buildable.

Installed solar

600W

Battery

350Ah

Next check

Roof fit

1

Enter daily watt-hours and real sun assumptions.

2

Check the recommended panel and battery range.

3

Use the roof planner before buying panels or drilling holes.

Preview roof planner
Start from a real solar use case
Custom plan

Solar calculator

Estimate the solar array and battery reserve that make your daily power budget realistic.

Trip and sun assumptions

Start with where the rig lives most often and the daily power budget the array is actually trying to recover.

Why this section matters

The array target moves fastest when daily watt-hours climb or reliable sun hours drop.

Battery reserve and current system

Use this section to set the storage buffer and check whether the current panel count is close enough to keep or too small to matter.

What-if checks Stress-test the solar answer before you buy parts. The main card gives the recommendation. These scenarios show how the answer moves when sun, loads, or buffer goals change.

Check the result before you buy

These scenarios show how the recommended build shifts when your real campsites, loads, or buffer goals are less forgiving than the base case.

What-if scenarios

Current inputs

Base build

Closest to the exact usage and weather assumptions you entered above.

Panels

600W

Battery

350Ah

Harvest

2,350Wh

Cloudier stretch

One less good sun hour

Helpful if shoulder seasons or mixed campsites are more common than ideal summer sun.

Panels

600W

Battery

350Ah

Delta

0W

Usage creep

Add 25% more daily load

Closer to real life once laptops, fans, monitors, or longer evenings start creeping in.

Panels

600W

Battery

425Ah

Inverter

1100W

Biggest answer movers

Lose 1 sun hour

0W solar

Sun hours move the panel answer faster than almost any other input in the calculator.

Add 1 buffer day

+150Ah battery

Autonomy mostly changes storage, not the panel target, so it is the cleanest way to buy reserve.

Add 500Wh/day

0W and +100Ah

A modest workday or comfort-load increase pushes both the array and the bank upward together.

Build paths Compare parts paths after the sizing answer feels right. Keep the product and cost details collapsed until the result has passed the roof, reserve, and wiring sanity checks.

Three compatible builds from your inputs

These plans turn the calculator result into actual purchase-and-install paths, so you can compare cost, effort, and margin without opening another spreadsheet.

Budget$3,700 estimate

Budget starter array

This version clears the target with a tighter parts budget and fewer extras, so it works best when you are comfortable managing heavy loads.

Install difficulty
Moderate
Time
1 long Saturday

Cost model

$3,700 planned total
Solar panels
$750
3 roof-ready 200W-class panels for 600W total.
Battery bank
$2,100
4 x 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries sized for the autonomy target.
Inverter
$275
Inverter allowance for this result. Linked upgrade-class examples may be larger than the calculator target and must be wired for their full rating.
Charge controller
$275
70A MPPT controller allowance with headroom.
Balance of system
$300
Mounts, fuses, breakers, busbars, lugs, cable, sealant, and install consumables.

Planning estimate reviewed April 2026. Merchant pricing, coupons, freight, and availability can move quickly, so confirm the linked product pages before buying.

Best fit

Best for weekend boondocking, lighter appliance lists, and a first solar install that still honors the math.

Parts list

  • 3 x 200W roof-ready panelsMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    600W total solar, sized for about 1,800Wh/day at 5 sun hours.

    Current listing

    Rich Solar MEGA 200 Solar Panel

    Checked model
    RS-M200
    Specs checked
    2026-04-24
    Fit reason
    A straightforward 200W panel card that keeps panel-count math aligned with 200W calculator increments.
    Skip if
    Skip it if the roof layout cannot fit a 58.7-inch panel or if shade behavior matters more than simple watt-per-panel math.
    Check Rich Solar MEGA 200 priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • 70A MPPT charge controller

    Keeps the controller large enough for the array size plus normal hot-weather derating; verify the final controller against string voltage, output current, and wire run before buying.

  • 4 x 100Ah LiFePO4 batteriesMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    350Ah nominal storage to support 2 days of autonomy.

    Current listing

    SOK SK12V100P 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery

    Checked model
    SK12V100P
    Specs checked
    2026-05-02
    Fit reason
    A 100Ah LiFePO4 building block for smaller 12V banks when the calculator result is framed around modular battery count and charger compatibility.
    Skip if
    Skip it when the target bank needs higher per-battery current, heated low-temp behavior, or exact tray dimensions that have not been verified.
    Check SOK SK12V100P 12V 100Ah priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • 900W inverter planning target

    Large enough for the loads implied by your daily-use profile without forcing a dramatic upgrade later.

  • Mounting, fuse, and cable kit

    Budget for roof hardware, branch fusing, battery protection, and clean cable runs as part of the same build.

Why it fits

  • This plan assumes lithium storage and keeps the build compatible with the calculator target instead of dropping below it.
  • If your travel includes more shade or shoulder-season weather than average, the budget build is most accurate when paired with the next larger solar option.
Balanced$5,200 estimate

Balanced everyday array

This build gives the array, battery reserve, and inverter a little more breathing room than the raw target so the rig feels less fragile in real campsites.

Install difficulty
Moderate
Time
Weekend install

Cost model

$5,200 planned total
Solar panels
$1,175
4 roof-ready 200W-class panels for 800W total.
Battery bank
$2,700
4 x 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries sized for the autonomy target.
Inverter
$400
Inverter allowance for this result. Linked upgrade-class examples may be larger than the calculator target and must be wired for their full rating.
Charge controller
$425
90A MPPT controller allowance with headroom.
Balance of system
$525
Mounts, fuses, breakers, busbars, lugs, cable, sealant, and install consumables.

Planning estimate reviewed April 2026. Merchant pricing, coupons, freight, and availability can move quickly, so confirm the linked product pages before buying.

Best fit

Best for regular off-grid travel, mixed weather, and a setup that feels calm instead of edge-of-range.

Parts list

  • 4 x 200W roof-ready panelsMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    800W total solar, sized for about 1,800Wh/day at 5 sun hours.

    Current listing

    Renogy ShadowFlux 200W N-Type Solar Panel

    Checked model
    RSP200DC-ASR-G1
    Specs checked
    2026-04-24
    Fit reason
    A 200W-class panel card that can be multiplied cleanly when the calculator copy says 3 x 200W, 4 x 200W, or similar.
    Skip if
    Skip it when the controller voltage window cannot accept the final series string, especially on power-station-style inputs.
    Check Renogy ShadowFlux 200W N-Type priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • 90A MPPT charge controller

    Keeps the controller large enough for the array size plus normal hot-weather derating; verify the final controller against string voltage, output current, and wire run before buying.

  • 4 x 100Ah LiFePO4 batteriesMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    400Ah nominal storage to support 2 days of autonomy.

    Current listing

    Epoch 12V 105Ah Essential Series Battery

    Checked model
    12105A-H Essential Series heated Bluetooth LiFePO4
    Specs checked
    2026-05-02
    Fit reason
    A 105Ah heated Bluetooth LiFePO4 option for balanced 12V banks when low-temperature charging and monitoring are part of the planning conversation.
    Skip if
    Skip it if the exact tray fit, BMS limits, charger profile, or series/parallel compatibility has not been verified.
    Check Epoch 12V 105Ah Essential priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • Upgrade-class inverter optionMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Your calculator target is about 1100W. This linked example is larger than the target and should be treated as an upgrade-class comparison, not a one-to-one match. Size the battery bank, fuse, disconnect, and DC cable for the full inverter rating before buying.

    Current listing

    Xantrex Freedom X 3000

    Checked model
    817-3000
    Specs checked
    2026-04-24
    Fit reason
    A serious RV-first inverter option when the buyer wants transfer-switch behavior and is willing to size the DC side for the full 3000W unit.
    Skip if
    Skip it when the calculator target is under about 1500W and the copy does not clearly say this is oversized but compatible.
    • Oversized but compatible: this listing is an upgrade-class inverter option, so size the battery bank, fuse, disconnect, and DC cable for the full inverter rating rather than only the calculator target.
    Check Xantrex Freedom X 3000 priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • Mounting, fuse, and cable kit

    Budget for roof hardware, branch fusing, battery protection, and clean cable runs as part of the same build.

Why it fits

  • This plan assumes lithium storage and keeps the build compatible with the calculator target instead of dropping below it.
  • If your travel includes more shade or shoulder-season weather than average, the balanced build is most accurate when paired with the next larger solar option.
Premium$8,600 estimate

Premium stay-longer array

This build spends more to buy back weather tolerance, recharge speed, and cleaner inverter headroom for the loads that usually grow over time.

Install difficulty
Advanced
Time
Full weekend plus commissioning

Cost model

$8,600 planned total
Solar panels
$1,700
5 roof-ready 200W-class panels for 1000W total.
Battery bank
$4,625
5 x 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries sized for the autonomy target.
Inverter
$700
Inverter allowance for this result. Linked upgrade-class examples may be larger than the calculator target and must be wired for their full rating.
Charge controller
$650
110A MPPT controller allowance with headroom.
Balance of system
$900
Mounts, fuses, breakers, busbars, lugs, cable, sealant, and install consumables.

Planning estimate reviewed April 2026. Merchant pricing, coupons, freight, and availability can move quickly, so confirm the linked product pages before buying.

Best fit

Best for shoulder-season stays, daily work loads, and travelers who want fewer compromises once the system is installed.

Parts list

  • 5 x 200W roof-ready panelsMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    1000W total solar, sized for about 1,800Wh/day at 5 sun hours.

    Current listing

    Rich Solar MEGA 200 Solar Panel

    Checked model
    RS-M200
    Specs checked
    2026-04-24
    Fit reason
    A straightforward 200W panel card that keeps panel-count math aligned with 200W calculator increments.
    Skip if
    Skip it if the roof layout cannot fit a 58.7-inch panel or if shade behavior matters more than simple watt-per-panel math.
    Check Rich Solar MEGA 200 priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • 110A MPPT charge controller

    Keeps the controller large enough for the array size plus normal hot-weather derating; verify the final controller against string voltage, output current, and wire run before buying.

  • 5 x 100Ah LiFePO4 batteriesMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    475Ah nominal storage to support 2 days of autonomy.

    Current listing

    Battle Born 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery

    Checked model
    BB10012 non-heated standard
    Specs checked
    2026-05-02
    Fit reason
    A premium 100Ah LiFePO4 building block when the calculator result calls for a modular bank and the buyer values installer familiarity.
    Skip if
    Skip it when the system needs built-in heat, higher per-battery discharge behavior, or a lower-cost battery path.
    Check Battle Born 100Ah 12V priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • Upgrade-class inverter optionMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Your calculator target is about 1300W. This linked example is larger than the target and should be treated as an upgrade-class comparison, not a one-to-one match. Size the battery bank, fuse, disconnect, and DC cable for the full inverter rating before buying.

    Current listing

    Victron Inverter Smart 12/3000

    Checked model
    PIN123020000
    Specs checked
    2026-04-24
    Fit reason
    A premium standalone inverter option when the buyer values Victron monitoring and is prepared for the larger installation envelope.
    Skip if
    Skip it for a small inverter target unless the copy labels it as an upgrade-class oversized option.
    • Oversized but compatible: this listing is an upgrade-class inverter option, so size the battery bank, fuse, disconnect, and DC cable for the full inverter rating rather than only the calculator target.
    Check Victron Inverter Smart 12/3000 priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

    Merchant handoff may earn OffGridRVHub an affiliate commission. Verify the checked model, current specs, and fit notes before buying.

  • Mounting, fuse, and cable kit

    Budget for roof hardware, branch fusing, battery protection, and clean cable runs as part of the same build.

Why it fits

  • This plan assumes lithium storage and keeps the build compatible with the calculator target instead of dropping below it.
  • If your travel includes more shade or shoulder-season weather than average, the premium build is most accurate when paired with the next larger solar option.

Not sure whether the result fits your exact rig?

Send this setup as a reader question so it can become a Q&A answer or future calculator example.

Ask about this result
More context Follow one next path after the main result is clear. Open this if you want the margin options and the best guides that match the current result.

How this setup changes when you want more margin

Lean

400W / 275Ah

Works when you watch heavy AC loads and expect better-than-average recharge conditions.

Balanced

600W / 350Ah

The closest match to the assumptions you entered above.

Buffer-heavy

800W / 450Ah

Friendlier for clouds, shoulder seasons, and the extra devices that tend to creep into a rig.

Best next guides from this result

Read the full solar installation guide

Move from rough sizing into roof layout, controller choice, and wiring decisions.

Read the RV solar installation guide

Compare beginner-friendly solar kits

See which kit styles fit starter, balanced, and hybrid solar setups.

Compare beginner RV solar kits

Check the battery-bank guide

Make sure the storage side of the system supports the same travel pattern as the array.

Read the battery bank sizing guide
Compare build paths

Solar math

How the solar calculator thinks about the system

The tool turns daily energy use into a panel target, battery target, inverter range, controller size, and first-pass wiring check. These notes explain the assumptions so the number is easier to trust.

Daily energy

Start with watt-hours per day. A 60W fridge running effectively 10 hours is about 600Wh/day before inverter or weather margin.

Installed solar target

Panel watts roughly equal daily watt-hours divided by peak-sun hours, then increased for heat, flat mounting, wiring loss, and cloudy-day recovery.

Battery target

Battery amp-hours come from daily watt-hours times buffer days, divided by system voltage and usable depth of discharge.

Avoid these traps

Common mistakes before buying

Treating rated panel watts like real harvest

Panel ratings are measured under lab conditions. Flat RV roof mounting, heat, dust, clouds, and partial shade commonly reduce real output.

Sizing solar without checking roof space

A calculator can recommend 800W, but vents, skylights, AC shrouds, antennas, and safe walking paths decide what actually fits.

Forgetting the charge controller and wire path

The array only works if controller amperage, wire gauge, fusing, and disconnect placement match the current and distance.

Treat the calculator result as a planning range, then verify the relevant manufacturer guidance, safety limits, installation requirements, and local rules before changing the rig.See assumptions

Gear to compare after the math

Spec-checked products to compare after the math.

These handoffs match the calculator family, not a one-click prescription. Verify fit, specs, clearances, and install limits before buying.

Rich Solar MEGA 200 Solar Panel

Best for

Expanding a roof-first array in 200W-class increments

Use this kind of panel when roof layout, controller limits, and wiring runs support adding more fixed wattage.

Current listing

Rich Solar MEGA 200 Solar Panel at Rich Solar.

Checked model
RS-M200
Spec fit
A straightforward 200W panel card that keeps panel-count math aligned with 200W calculator increments.
Check panel priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

Renogy 400W 12V Solar Premium Kit

Best for

A 400W starter kit when the calculator result is modest

Use this as a 400W kit, not a silent substitute for a larger array. For a 600W answer, treat it as the base kit plus another 200W panel and a fresh controller check.

Current listing

Renogy 400W 12V Solar Premium Kit at Renogy.

Checked model
400W 12V Solar Panel Kit with Rover 40A MPPT Charge Controller
Spec fit
Useful as a self-contained 400W starter kit when the calculator target is near 400W or the copy clearly explains the remaining wattage gap.
  • This is a 400W kit, so add another 200W panel or choose a larger array package to meet a 600W calculator target.
Check 400W kit priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30

Best for

Controller planning for smaller RV solar arrays

A controller-class handoff for calculator results where panel wiring and current limits need a real hardware check.

Current listing

Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 at Victron.

Checked model
SmartSolar MPPT 100/30
Spec fit
A controller-class handoff for smaller arrays where the target stays inside its 12V nominal PV rating.
Check controller priceMerchant link. Direct merchant or retailer listing.

Frequently asked

Questions RVers usually ask next.

Why does the calculator add margin above the exact solar wattage?

RV solar rarely operates at perfect lab output. Margin helps cover heat, flat mounting, wire loss, partial shade, and the cloudy morning that shows up right when batteries are already low.

Should I use flat-mounted or tilted panel assumptions?

Use flat-mounted assumptions for normal roof installs because they match how most RVs are actually used. Tilted assumptions are useful for winter basecamping only if you will really climb up, tilt, and re-stow panels.

Can I just add a portable panel instead of more roof solar?

Yes, especially in shade-heavy sites, but only if you will deploy it consistently. Portable solar adds flexibility, but it also adds setup friction, storage needs, and theft/weather management.