Tiny House Solar Calculator

Solar system sizing for tiny homes. Choose off-grid, mobile, or on-grid. Select appliances by category — your complete system specs appear instantly.

How to Use This Calculator

Choose your tiny house type

Off-grid means no utility connection — all power comes from solar and battery storage. You'll need larger batteries and enough panels to survive cloudy periods. Mobile tiny houses travel and can plug into shore power occasionally — a somewhat smaller battery is sufficient since you recharge on hookups. On-grid means the tiny house is on a permanent lot with a grid connection — solar reduces your electric bill, but no battery is required (unless you want backup power).

Select your appliances

Check every electrical device you'll power. The appliances are grouped by category: Essential (always-on needs), Comfort (entertainment and convenience), Cooking (electric vs propane), and Climate Control (heating/cooling). Notice how climate control — especially a mini-split — dramatically increases daily energy consumption. Many tiny house dwellers use propane for cooking and heating to minimize solar system size.

Consider propane alternatives

Choosing propane for cooking and/or heating instead of electric appliances is the single biggest decision for tiny house solar sizing. A propane range + propane on-demand water heater can reduce your solar system cost by $3,000-$8,000 by eliminating the largest electrical loads. The tradeoff is propane cost and tank refilling logistics.

Tiny House Energy by System Type

Minimal off-grid (propane cooking/heating)1–2 kWh/day → 600W–1 kW panels

Comfortable off-grid (propane heating)2–4 kWh/day → 1–1.6 kW panels

All-electric off-grid (mini-split)5–15 kWh/day → 2–6 kW panels

Mobile THOW (shore power backup)1.5–3 kWh/day → 400W–1.2 kW panels

On-grid (grid-tied)No battery needed — grid is the backup

FAQ

How many solar panels does a tiny house need? ▼

A typical off-grid tiny house with propane cooking and heating uses 2-4 kWh/day. At 5 peak sun hours and 85% efficiency, that requires 0.5-1 kW of panels — just 2-3 × 400W panels. Add a mini-split for heating and cooling and daily usage jumps to 8-15 kWh, requiring 2-4 kW of panels (5-10 panels). Roof space is often the constraint for tiny homes on wheels — 400W panels (about 22 sq ft each) are the standard choice for maximum power per square foot.

Can a tiny house run AC on solar? ▼

Yes, but it's the most demanding load. A small mini-split (8,000-12,000 BTU) draws 600-900W running. Running it 6-8 hours per day adds 4-7 kWh to your daily budget — more than doubling the load of a typical tiny house. This requires 2-4 additional panels and significantly more battery capacity. For off-grid tiny houses, mini-split heating/cooling is absolutely achievable but requires careful system design. The advantage over a window AC is the much lower startup surge — mini-splits are inverter-driven and nearly surge-free.

What's the best battery for a tiny house on wheels? ▼

LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) is the clear choice for mobile tiny houses: it's safe (no thermal runaway risk like other lithium chemistries), handles vibration well, has no off-gassing, can be mounted in any orientation, and lasts 10+ years with daily cycling. The most popular options for tiny house applications are Battle Born, Renogy, and EG4 LiFePO4 batteries. 100Ah 12V and 200Ah 12V units are common building blocks. A 200-400Ah @ 24V (5-10 kWh) system handles most tiny house needs.

How do I power a tiny house while traveling? ▼

Mobile tiny houses typically use a combination of rooftop solar panels, shore power hookups at RV parks or campgrounds (30A or 50A), and sometimes a small generator. The solar provides daytime power and charges the battery while parked. Shore power provides overnight charging and covers high loads. Most mobile tiny house builders choose a Victron or Schneider inverter-charger that automatically switches between solar, shore power, and generator as each becomes available.

Is induction cooking practical in an off-grid tiny house? ▼

Induction is efficient but draws 1,200-2,000W during cooking — requiring a 2,000W+ inverter and adding 0.4-0.8 kWh per cooking session. For an off-grid tiny house with an otherwise modest load (2-3 kWh/day), adding electric cooking raises daily usage by 20-40%. This is manageable if you size the battery bank accordingly. The convenience of all-electric cooking (no propane tanks, no gas lines) appeals to many tiny house dwellers. For fixed-location tiny houses with good sun, all-electric cooking on solar is very practical in 2026.