1kW Solar Panel Price List (2026)
| System type | Installed price | Subsidy | You pay |
|---|
| On-grid | ₹52,200 – ₹63,800 | ₹30,000 | ₹22,200 – ₹33,800 |
| Hybrid (with battery) | ₹64,800 – ₹79,200 | ₹30,000 | ₹34,800 – ₹49,200 |
| Off-grid | ₹76,500 – ₹93,500 | ₹0 | ₹76,500 – ₹93,500 |
A fair 1kW quote covers two 550 W panels, a 1 kW inverter, the mounting structure, DC and AC wiring, earthing and installation. Delhi adds ₹10,000 and Uttar Pradesh and Assam ₹15,000 on top of the central subsidy at this size. Expect DISCOM net-metering fees to be extra.
A Day on 3.8 Units: What 1kW Actually Powers
One kilowatt of panels makes about 3.8 units on an average day. Here is a realistic day that fits inside it:
| Appliance | Use | Units |
|---|
| 2 ceiling fans | 10 hours | 1.5 |
| 6 LED bulbs | 6 hours | 0.36 |
| Refrigerator | all day | 1.2 |
| LED TV | 4 hours | 0.4 |
| Wi-Fi and phone/laptop charging | all day | 0.3 |
| Total | | about 3.8 |
A 1.5 ton AC running for 8 hours needs about 9.6 units on its own, so 1kW is for homes without air conditioning. Build your own list with the solar load calculator.
Who Should Buy 1kW, and Who Should Not
1kW fits a monthly bill of about ₹700 to ₹1,100, which is roughly 100 to 140 units, in a home or small shop with no AC. It is the smallest size most DISCOMs will net-meter and, after the subsidy, the cheapest way into rooftop solar. Skip it if an AC is already in the house, if your summer bill reaches ₹1,500, or if you expect either within two years; small systems cost more per kW, so buying 2kW once is cheaper than 1kW twice.
Kochi Example: About ₹28,000 for Two Panels
A Kochi family pays about ₹58,000 for a 1kW on-grid system and gets ₹30,000 back as subsidy, so the system costs them about ₹28,000. Kochi's 4.2 peak sun hours give about 3.4 units a day (101 a month), worth up to ₹591 a month at the city's ₹6.5 tariff, so the system pays for itself in about four years.
Small-System Traps
- Buying 1kW when the bill says 2. Two separate 1kW purchases cost noticeably more than one 2kW system.
- Expecting it to run an AC. One evening of AC use takes a whole day's generation.
- Confusing a 12 V "1kW kit" with a rooftop system. Battery gadget kits are not net-metered and earn no subsidy.
- Ignoring fixed costs. Net-metering fees and structure minimums weigh most at this size; get an all-inclusive written quote.
A 1kW system runs on any single-phase domestic connection, and you apply for the subsidy on the national portal before installing, through a registered vendor.
Where These 1kW Figures Come From
Daily units = 1 kW × Peak sun hours × 0.8
You pay = Installed price − Subsidy
Monthly saving ≈ Monthly units × Your tariff × 0.9
Inputs held constant
- Price: ₹58,000 per kW on-grid, ±10%
- Output: your city's peak sun hours × 0.8
- Saving: about 90% of generation offsets billed units
