It’s time to shed light on your backyard’s solar potential
Whether you use your backyard shed as a home office or gym—or keep it simple and use it for storage—you can harness the power of the sun with shed solar panels. Homeowners who install solar panels on a shed can generate renewable energy and reduce electricity bills.
Here’s a guide for everything you need to know about installing solar panels on a shed, including how to DIY, the pros and cons, and how much it typically costs.
If you need electricity in your shed, be it for recharging batteries, plugging in tools, or simply giving yourself some light to work, installing solar panels can save money and help the environment. If you have a large shed with a sturdy roof, it's even possible to outfit it with enough panels to supply power to your main property.
Here’s what to consider before installing solar panels on your shed:
If you use your shed to house gym equipment, charge batteries, or plug in power tools, you'll need a fairly powerful system to cover the amount of electricity you use. Keep in mind that your lowered energy bills will offset your upfront solar installation cost. You should determine how much electricity you’ll need by figuring out how many watts and lumens you require. A 60-watt bulb emits around 750-850 lumens of light. Bring an extension cord to your shed to power a work light to figure out how many watts you need. If one bulb feels too dim, look into solar kits that offer more than 60 watts (or 850 lumens).
Here are some common shed items and the wattage they require per hour:
Electric drill: 600 watts
Table saw: 1,800 watts
Electric leaf blower: 2,500 watts
Hedge trimmer: 250 watts
Modem: 20 watts
Coffee machine: 600 watts
Electric heater: 2,000 to 3,000 watts
Solar panel kits come with everything you need to install the panels and related equipment yourself. They help take the guesswork out when determining which parts will work together; it can otherwise be challenging to match collectors, charge controllers, and batteries.
In general, kits range in cost from $100 (just enough power to light the shed) to over $3,000 (enough energy needed for tools or charging batteries), depending on your needs. Higher-end models will likely include:
Solar collector panel: These panels convert photons into electrical currents
Charge controller: This device monitors the current to prevent battery damage
Battery: Stores the DC electricity
Inverter: Transforms DC electricity into AC electricity
AC Outlet: Plug-in tools or other items that need recharging
Lights: DC LED lights offer illumination and conserve the DC electricity
Less expensive options may only come with a small solar collector panel and a light to illuminate your shed. These kits (around $100) will provide light for about one hour.
Your shed's roof must be large enough and able to withstand the weight of the solar panels, especially if you require larger ones. A 250-watt panel weighs about 40 pounds and measures approximately 65 by 39 inches. Suppose your shed is old, or looks to have some roof damage. In that case, you should consider buying a new shed or repairing the roof before proceeding with a solar panel installation. FYI, your shed's roof isn't the only place you can install solar panels—you can look into ground mounts, carports, or solar pergolas and gazebos.
Time for a bit of math! If your shed needs 3,000 watts to function, a 250-watt panel can create up to 1,500 watts if there are six hours of sunlight. With a second panel, you’re up to 3,000. However, this assumes the panels are receiving 250 watts every hour—something that will likely only happen on days with idyllic, sunny weather. If you live in a place with less sunshine (Seattle, for instance), give yourself a buffer and install panels with 20% more wattage than you will need on average. For example, if you need those 3,000 watts, install two panels with 300 watts to provide 3,600 on those clear days. You might need to use a backup power source (such as a generator) on rainy or dark days.
Solar panel kits let homeowners go the DIY route and install panels themselves. If you opt to use a kit, be sure you're comfortable handling electrical work. If that's not your thing, consider hiring a solar contractor or an electrician specializing in solar work.
The more solar panels you need, the more expensive the upfront costs. DIY solar panels range greatly in price, from $100 (for 100 watts) to $20,000 (10,000 kilowatts). Hiring an electrician or solar panel contractor will cost approximately $1,000 per 2,000 kilowatts installed.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of shed solar panels.
Saves you money on your energy bill
Great ROI; while you’ll front money on installation, you’ll save on energy costs
Environmentally friendly
Can be a backup power source if an event like a natural disaster causes an outage
Can add value to your home, should you choose to sell
Easy maintenance
Initial investment can be costly, depending on how much power you need
The shed’s structure must be able to support the weight and size of the panels
Might be difficult to generate power in locations with less sun
The price to install solar panels on a shed varies greatly depending on several factors; here are a few to consider.
Solar panels range in cost depending on how much wattage you need. Grape Solar, a popular solar kit seller which retails in big stores such as Home Depot and Costco, sells a 300-watt kit for $355 and a 600-watt kit for just under $1,000.
Should you wish to build a new shed, expect to pay between $100 and $750 for a plastic shed kit or hire a contractor to build a custom shed for $2,000 to $3,000.
Expect to pay $0.70 to $1.50 per watt; including labor, solar panel installation costs $2.50 to $3.50 per watt. You should only install panels if you own the property, or have permission from the property owner. In addition, you should check with your city and state to file any necessary permits. Finally, you should only go the DIY route if you have experience with electrical work.
