Choosing the right dimensions for your plug and play solar panel directly determines the efficiency of your installation and your ability to optimize available space. Current kits vary from 1.7 m² to 2.5 m² depending on models, with formats adapted to balconies, terraces and gardens.

Quick Answer: Standard Dimensions

• Typical size: 170-190cm length × 110-120cm width
• Average surface: 1.7 to 2 m² per individual panel
• Standard weight: 18 to 22 kg, thickness 3.5 to 4 cm
• Associated power: 300 to 580 Wp depending on surface and technology
• Regulatory limit: 900Wp maximum per circuit (2 panels of 450Wp)
• Necessary ground space: count 2.5 m² with tilting supports
• Electrical outlet distance: maximum 20 to 100 meters depending on models

These dimensions allow flexible installation on most outdoor spaces. Detailed guide below.

Standard Dimensions of Plug and Play Panels

A standard plug and play solar panel measures between 170 and 190 cm in length by 110 to 120 cm in width. This size corresponds to a total surface of 1.7 m² to 2.3 m² depending on manufacturers.

Dimension comparison by model:

Brand	Length	Width	Surface	Power	Weight
Ekwateur	172 cm	120 cm	2.06 m²	425 Wp	21 kg
Sunethic F800	187 cm	117 cm	2.19 m²	400 Wp	20 kg
Sunology Play	227 cm	113 cm	2.56 m²	580 Wp	25 kg
Bring the Sun	175 cm	115 cm	2.01 m²	450 Wp	19 kg

Standard thickness ranges between 3.5 and 4 cm for all models, allowing discreet integration against a wall or on the ground. The average weight of 18 to 22 kg makes handling accessible to a single person during installation.

These dimensions correspond to panels with 60 or 120 monocrystalline photovoltaic half-cells, the dominant technology on the current market. Bifacial panels maintain the same dimensions but capture energy from both sides for a 10 to 15% higher yield.

To choose the optimal model according to your specific needs, consult our plug and play solar panel what to choose guide.

Necessary Surface for Installation

The occupied surface exceeds the raw panel dimension due to supports and the tilt required to optimize yield.

Calculation of real necessary space:

• On ground with tilting supports: count 2.5 to 3 m² per 2 m² panel. The rear feet for tilting add 60 to 80 cm of additional depth.
• On vertical balcony: the panel dimension alone suffices, i.e. 1.7 to 2 m². Check the maximum load authorized by the railing (generally 30 kg minimum required).
• On terrace or flat roof: plan 30 cm safety margin on all sides to resist strong winds and facilitate cleaning access.
• Wall installation: exact panel dimensions plus 10 cm gap with wall for rear ventilation (crucial for bifacial panels).

For two panels side by side on the ground, count minimum 5 to 6 m² of continuous well-sunlit space. This configuration maximizes production while respecting the regulatory limit of 900Wp per outlet circuit recommended by ADEME.

Spacing constraints:

Panels installed on flat roofs require spacing between rows to avoid mutual shading. Leave 1.5 times the height of the tilted panel between each row. For a 170 cm panel tilted at 30°, plan 85 cm of free space behind before the next panel.

Dimension vs Power: The Determining Ratio

The watt-peak per square meter ratio measures the energy efficiency of your panel. The higher this ratio, the more your installation produces electricity on a reduced surface.

Yield ratios by technology:

Panel Type	Power/m²	Efficiency	Annual Production (south France)
Standard monocrystalline	176-200 Wp/m²	17-19%	290-330 kWh/m²
High-performance monocrystalline	220-240 Wp/m²	21-23%	360-395 kWh/m²
Bifacial	240-290 Wp/m²	23-25% + rear side	400-480 kWh/m²
Polycrystalline	150-170 Wp/m²	15-17%	245-280 kWh/m²

A 2 m² panel with 400 Wp displays a ratio of 200 Wp/m², standard performance of the current market. Bring the Sun models reach 225 Wp/m² thanks to latest generation monocrystalline technology.

This data becomes critical if your space is limited. A 3 m² usable balcony will benefit more from a compact high-performance panel (450 Wp on 1.7 m²) than an economical model of equivalent power but bulkier.

To compare the performance of different available kits, refer to our best plug and play solar kit ranking.

How to Calculate Your Surface Needs

The optimal dimensioning of your plug and play installation relies on three essential parameters.

Step 1: Identify your consumption baseline

Record the permanent consumption of your 24/7 operating appliances:

• Refrigerator: 100-150 W
• Freezer: 80-120 W
• Internet box + decoders: 20-35 W
• Standby systems: 30-50 W
• CMV or ventilation: 15-25 W
• Typical total: 250-380 W continuous consumption

A 400 Wp panel covers 25 to 35% of this need depending on sunshine. Two 400 Wp panels (800 Wp total) ensure 50 to 70% coverage of the annual consumption baseline.

Step 2: Evaluate available space

Measure usable surface taking into account:

• Minimum solar exposure 5 hours per day without shading
• Access to an electrical outlet within a 20-meter radius (100 meters with adapted extension)
• Support stability for minimum 20 kg weight per panel
• Local regulatory constraints (condominium, historic monuments, protected areas)

Step 3: Calculate number of panels

Simplified formula: Number of panels = (Target annual consumption in kWh) ÷ (Panel unit production)

Concrete example:

• Objective: cover 1200 kWh/year
• Production per 400 Wp panel: 588 kWh/year (south France)
• Number of panels: 1200 ÷ 588 = 2.04 panels → round to 2 panels
• Total necessary surface: 2 × 2 m² = 4 m² minimum on ground (6 m² with tilted supports)

This method guarantees realistic dimensioning adapted to your situation. The advantages and limitations of each configuration are detailed in our plug and play solar panel advantages disadvantages article.

Dimensions According to Installation Type

Each configuration imposes specific dimensional constraints.

Ground Installation with Tilting Feet

Required dimensions:

• Length: panel dimension + 60 to 80 cm (rear feet)
• Width: panel dimension + 20 cm on each side (stability)
• Minimum surface for 1 panel: 2.5 to 3 m²
• Minimum surface for 2 panels side by side: 5 to 6 m²

Bring the Sun kits include adjustable supports allowing tilt adjustment according to season (30° in summer, 60° in winter) to maximize annual production. Feet fold for easy storage during a move.

Wall or Facade Installation

Vertical or slightly tilted mounting depending on supplied supports. The dimension corresponds exactly to that of the panel: 170-190 cm height × 110-120 cm width.

Technical constraints:

• Load-bearing wall capable of supporting minimum 25 kg per fixing point
• South, south-east or south-west orientation imperative
• Installation height between 1.50 m and 3 m from ground (facilitates cleaning)
• 10 cm gap between wall and panel for ventilation

This configuration is particularly suitable for houses without garden or with limited ground space.

Balcony Installation

Specific supports for railings:

• Compatible railing width: 8 to 15 cm thickness
• Adapted panel dimension: favor compact models 170 × 110 cm
• Maximum weight: check balcony load limit (consultation with management recommended)
• Orientation: south or south-west balcony exclusively

Balcony panels install vertically against the railing, exposed surface toward outside. Some foldable models like Sunology Play can be stored in winter to protect the installation from bad weather.

Flat Roof Installation

Dimensional specifics:

• Spacing between rows: 1.5 × height of tilted panel
• Perimeter safety margin: minimum 30 cm on all sides
• Necessary ballast: bins of 20 to 40 kg per panel (sand or water)
• Usable surface: approximately 40-50% of total roof surface

For a 15 m² flat roof, actual usable surface of approximately 6 to 7 m², allowing installation of 2 to 3 panels with optimal spacing.

Weight and Portability

The weight of plug and play panels conditions their mobility and the structural constraints of installation.

Weight distribution:

• Panel alone: 18 to 22 kg
• With ground supports: 25 to 30 kg (aluminum feet)
• With ballast: 45 to 70 kg total (sand bins)
• Complete kit for 2 panels: 60 to 90 kg

This relative lightness allows:

• Handling by a single person (with precautions)
• Seasonal movement to optimize sunshine
• Car transport (foldable models in trunk)
• Installation without structural reinforcement of support

Bifacial models generally weigh 2 to 3 kg more due to double-sided glass, but offer superior yield justifying this extra weight.

Dimensions and Regulations

Dimensions influence certain legal and administrative obligations.

French regulatory thresholds:

Criterion	Limit	Obligation
Total power	< 800 Wp	Simplified Enedis declaration
Total power	≥ 800 Wp	Declaration + CONSUEL
Ground surface	All	No building permit
Wall/facade height	< 1.80 m	No authorization
Wall/facade height	≥ 1.80 m	Prior town hall declaration possible

Plug and play panels generally benefit from building permit exemption as they do not constitute a permanent building modification. However, protected areas and condominiums sometimes impose specific restrictions on dimensions visible from public roads.

Consult condominium regulations or Architects of French Buildings (ABF) in classified areas before installing panels visible on facade.

Optimize Production According to Dimensions

The arrangement and orientation of panels maximize energy yield.

Optimization rules:

• Geographic orientation: full south favored, south-east and south-west acceptable (-10% production)
• Optimal tilt: 30 to 35° in annual average. Adjust to 60° in winter to capture low sun, 20° in summer for high trajectory.
• Avoid shading: even partial 10% shadow reduces production by 40 to 60%. Analyze shadow cast by trees, buildings, chimneys at different hours and seasons.
• Rear ventilation: spacing minimum 10 cm from support (wall or ground) improves yield by 5 to 8% by avoiding overheating.
• Regular cleaning: dust, pollen and bird droppings reduce production by 15 to 25%. Standard dimensions facilitate access for quarterly maintenance.

The modularity of plug and play kits allows adjusting arrangement according to seasons. In winter, tilt more to compensate for low sun. In summer, favor reduced angle to maximize capture at peak hours (10am-4pm).

Dimensions and Energy Storage

Adding a storage battery modifies the dimensional constraints of your installation.

Storage options according to dimensions:

• Battery integrated into panel: adds 15 to 25 cm thickness and 8 to 12 kg to total weight. Final dimensions: approximately 190 × 120 × 20 cm.
• Remote ground battery: typical dimensions 40 × 30 × 20 cm, weight 15 to 30 kg depending on capacity (1 to 3 kWh). Indoor or protected outdoor installation.
• Solar station with battery: total footprint 2.5 to 3 m² including panel and electronic box.

Recent lithium batteries store 1 to 2 kWh for a volume of 30 liters, sufficient to power nighttime consumption baseline (refrigerator, internet box) for 4 to 8 hours.

For a detailed comparison of storage solutions adapted to different panel dimensions, consult our what battery for plug and play solar panel guide.

Dimension and Budget: What Relationship?

The size of panels directly influences acquisition cost and profitability.

Price grid by dimension:

Surface	Power	Average Price	Price/Wp	Payback
1.5 m²	300 Wp	€450-550	€1.50-1.83	6-8 years
1.7 m²	350-400 Wp	€550-700	€1.57-1.75	5-7 years
2 m²	425-450 Wp	€700-850	€1.65-1.89	5-6 years
2.3 m²	500-580 Wp	€850-1100	€1.70-1.90	4-5 years

Intermediate size panels (1.7 to 2 m²) offer the best cost/power/handling compromise. Large models (>2 m²) reduce price per watt but impose installation constraints and two-person handling.

Profitability calculation including dimension:

2 m² panel at €750 producing 588 kWh/year × €0.20/kWh = €118 annual savings. Payback: 750 ÷ 118 = 6.3 years

Over 25 years guaranteed lifespan:

• Total savings: €118 × 25 = €2950
• Net profit: €2950 - €750 = €2200

Each square meter of properly dimensioned and installed panel generates approximately €1100 net profit over its lifespan in metropolitan France.

Dimensioning Errors to Avoid

5 common errors compromising efficiency:

1. Underestimate required space: forgetting the additional 60-80 cm of tilting feet leads to purchase unsuited to actual available surface.
2. Oversize vs consumption: installing 1600 Wp (4 panels) for a 200W consumption baseline creates non-valorized surplus of 60-70% of production.
3. Neglect evolving shading: a tree casting 2 hours of shadow in summer can cover the panel 6 hours in winter with foliage and low sun.
4. Ignore weight constraints: an old balcony may only support 100 kg/m². A 22 kg panel + supports + ballast exceeds this limit.
5. Choose solely on price/m²: an economical panel of 150 Wp/m² at €250/m² produces less than a premium model of 230 Wp/m² at €350/m² over 25 years (profitability difference: €800).

Conclusion

Key points for choosing the right dimensions:

• Standard dimensions: 170-190 cm × 110-120 cm, surface 1.7 to 2.3 m² per panel
• Real necessary space: 2.5 to 3 m² per panel on ground with tilting supports
• Regulatory limit: 2 panels maximum of 450 Wp per circuit (900 Wp total)
• Optimal ratio: aim for 200-240 Wp/m² to maximize production on limited surface
• Manageable weight: 18-22 kg allows individual installation and seasonal mobility

Dimensions condition both the technical feasibility and economic profitability of your plug and play project. Bring the Sun offers a range of formats optimized for balconies, terraces and gardens, with 25-year warranty on energy production.