Buying guide · Panels & kits
Solar Panel Kits Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Kit
What's inside a kit, how to size it in kWp, the four kit types, and when DIY is fine versus when you need an MCS installer.
What's actually in a solar panel kit
A solar panel kit bundles the parts that have to be compatible into one purchase: the PV panels, an inverter (or charge controller on a 12V/24V leisure kit), the mounting system, and the DC cabling and connectors. Battery-ready and off-grid kits add storage and the electronics to manage it.
The value of a kit is that the sizing is already done — the inverter is matched to the panel array, and the cabling and clamps suit the panel count. Buying the parts separately gives you more control but puts the compatibility on you.
Sizing: how big a system do you need
Systems are sized in kilowatts-peak (kWp) — the array's output under standard test conditions. As a rough guide, 1kWp needs about 5–6m² of roof, and a typical UK home installs somewhere around 3.5–6kWp depending on roof space and budget.
Bigger isn't always better: the aim is to match generation to what you use during daylight (plus whatever a battery can shift to the evening). An oversized array that exports most of its output at low rates pays back more slowly than a right-sized one.
The four kit types
- 1 Grid-tie kits — panels plus a grid inverter for homes connected to the mains; the most common home setup.
- 2 Hybrid / battery-ready kits — a hybrid inverter so you can add or include storage now or later.
- 3 Off-grid kits — panels, charge controller, battery and inverter for cabins, sheds and standalone loads with no mains.
- 4 Leisure kits — 12V/24V campervan, caravan and motorhome kits built around portability and flexible panels.
DIY versus installer-fit
For off-grid, leisure and outbuilding systems, DIY installation is entirely normal and a kit is designed for exactly that. For a grid-connected home system it's different: connecting to the mains and claiming export payments under the Smart Export Guarantee needs an MCS-certified installer and the correct G98/G99 grid notification.
If you're confident with the mounting and DC side but not the grid connection, a common route is to buy the kit and have a certified electrician handle commissioning and paperwork.
What to check before you buy
- 1 Inverter compatibility — panel voltage and array size must sit within the inverter's input window.
- 2 Panel dimensions and weight — confirm they suit your roof area and structure.
- 3 Roof type — tile, slate, flat or ground mount changes the fixings you need.
- 4 Cable runs — measure the distance from array to inverter so you order enough correctly-sized DC cable.
Once you know your kWp and kit type, browse our solar panels & kits range — and check the mounting and cabling categories for anything a bare kit leaves out.
Still weighing up your options?
Send us your spec or a shortlist and we'll help you compare — no obligation, reply by email.