Maloomati
Use this free Pakistan Solar & UPS Load Calculator to size your complete solar system — hybrid inverter, 585W panels, tubular or lithium battery bank, and total cost in PKR. Pre-loaded with standard Pakistani household appliances; edit wattages, quantities, and operating hours to match your actual usage. All calculations include a 20% safety buffer for motor surge currents and summer derating.
| Appliance | Watts | Qty | Day Hrs | Night Hrs | Subtotal (W) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard AC Ceiling Fan | 320 | |||||
| LED Bulb (12W) | 96 | |||||
| 1.5 Ton Inverter AC | 1200 | |||||
| Inverter Refrigerator | 90 | |||||
| 1 HP Water Pump | 750 | |||||
| Electric Dry Iron | 1000 | |||||
| 32" LED TV | 45 | |||||
| Wi-Fi Router | 15 | |||||
| Total Running Load | 3,516 W | |||||
Hybrid Inverter
Solar Panels (585W)
Battery Bank
How to Use This Calculator
- Review pre-loaded appliances — the table starts with a typical Pakistani household setup. Edit wattages, quantities, and operating hours to match your actual usage.
- Add or remove appliances — use the dropdown to add more items. Delete any row you don’t need. Inverter and non-inverter versions are listed separately with accurate default wattages.
- Choose battery settings — select tubular lead-acid or lithium LiFePO4, backup hours (2–8), and system DC voltage. Results update instantly.
- Read your sizing — the calculator shows the recommended hybrid inverter (with 20% safety buffer), number of 585W solar panels, and battery bank capacity in Ah/kWh.
- Check estimated costs — two cost breakdowns: day-only solar (net metering) and full day+night backup with battery bank.
Inverter vs Non-Inverter Appliances — Why It Matters
The single biggest factor in your solar system size is whether your appliances use inverter technology. A 1.5 Ton Inverter AC draws 1,200W when stabilized, compared to 2,000W for a conventional unit — a 40% reduction that directly shrinks your inverter, panel count, and battery bank.
The same applies to refrigerators: an inverter fridge runs at roughly 90W average vs 180W for conventional. And BLDC inverter ceiling fans pull just 35W instead of 80W. When sizing a solar system for load shedding in Pakistan, switching to inverter appliances before installation saves lakhs in total system cost. For a deeper look at how solar fits into the broader landscape of renewable energy sources, see our full guide.
Battery Sizing Guide — Tubular vs Lithium
Battery capacity is calculated as: (Total Watts × Backup Hours) ÷ (System Voltage × DoD × Efficiency).
- Tubular Lead-Acid (Phoenix, AGS, Osaka): 50% usable depth of discharge, ~1,200 cycle life, cheaper upfront (Rs 55,000–75,000 per 200Ah unit), heavier and bulkier. Best for budget installations with 4–6 hour backup.
- LiFePO4 Lithium: 90% usable DoD, 4,000+ cycle life, Rs 70,000–75,000 per kWh. Lighter, longer warranty, and better long-term value. Ideal for heavy loads and 6–8 hour backup.
A 48V system is recommended for loads above 3 kW — it reduces cable losses and supports higher-capacity inverters available in the Pakistani market (Fronius, Solis, Growatt, InfiniSolar). Learn how solar and battery systems qualify as green energy sources with zero environmental impact.
What Size Solar System Do You Need?
There are two ways to size a system. The calculator above works load-first — it totals your actual appliance wattage, which is how installers size hybrid and off-grid systems. You can also size bill-first using your monthly units as a shortcut: 1 kW of solar generates roughly 120 units (kWh) per month in Pakistan, so dividing your monthly units by 120 gives the system size that offsets most of your usage.
| Monthly bill | Approx. units/month | Recommended system | Panels (585W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rs 15,000–25,000 | 300–500 | 3–4 kW | 6–8 |
| Rs 25,000–45,000 | 500–850 | 5–6 kW | 9–11 |
| Rs 45,000–70,000 | 850–1,300 | 7–10 kW | 12–18 |
| Rs 70,000+ | 1,300–2,200 | 10–15 kW | 18–26 |
Units per rupee vary by DISCO tariff slab (LESCO, K-Electric, IESCO, MEPCO and others bill differently), so read your actual units off the bill rather than relying on the rupee figure alone.
Solar System Prices in Pakistan (2026)
Panel prices have fallen sharply over the last two years, so a complete system now costs far less per kilowatt than it did in 2023. The figures below are indicative installed prices for 2026 — they move with the dollar rate, panel brand (Jinko, Longi, Canadian Solar), inverter choice, and whether you add a battery. Always get two or three written quotes before buying.
| System size | On-grid (no battery) | Hybrid (with battery) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kW | Rs 3–5 lakh | Rs 6–8 lakh |
| 5 kW | Rs 5–8 lakh | Rs 10–13 lakh |
| 10 kW | Rs 10–16 lakh | Rs 18–24 lakh |
| 15 kW | Rs 15–24 lakh | Rs 26–34 lakh |
On-grid systems are cheapest because they skip the battery bank; hybrid systems cost more but keep essential loads running during load shedding. The calculator above shows a live cost split for both day-only (net metering) and day-plus-night (battery backup) setups.
On-Grid vs Hybrid vs Off-Grid Solar Systems
The system type decides your battery cost, your backup during load shedding, and whether you can use net metering.
| Feature | On-Grid | Hybrid | Off-Grid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery bank | None | Yes (backup loads) | Yes (large) |
| Works during load shedding | No | Yes | Yes |
| Net metering | Yes | Yes | No |
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Medium | Highest |
| Best for | Stable grid + net metering | Load shedding + savings | No or unreliable grid |
Net Metering in Pakistan
An on-grid or hybrid system can connect to net metering under NEPRA rules (for systems from 1 kW up to 1 MW). Surplus units your panels export during the day are credited against the units you import at night, so you effectively bank daytime generation and pay only for the net difference.
- You need a bidirectional meter and a net-metering agreement approved by your DISCO.
- Credits are settled on your monthly bill; unused credit typically carries forward.
- 2026 note: the net-metering policy is under review, with proposals to move toward a net-billing model that buys back exported units at a lower rate. Confirm the current buyback terms with your DISCO before sizing a system for heavy export.
How Much Electricity Will Your Panels Generate?
Pakistan averages about 4–4.5 peak sun hours per day, higher in the south (Karachi, interior Sindh, Balochistan) and lower in winter and the north. After real-world losses of roughly 20–25% from heat, dust, wiring and inverter efficiency, a good rule of thumb is:
- 1 kW ≈ 4 units/day ≈ 120 units per month on average across the year.
- Summer output is noticeably higher than winter; keep panels clean, as dust and high temperatures cut output.
Best Angle and Direction for Solar Panels in Pakistan
Face panels toward true south and set a fixed tilt roughly equal to your city's latitude for the best year-round output. Tilt a few degrees lower to favour summer generation, or higher to favour winter. Keep a minimum tilt of about 10° so rain washes dust off.
| City | Recommended fixed tilt |
|---|---|
| Karachi | ~25° |
| Multan / Quetta | ~30° |
| Lahore / Faisalabad | ~31° |
| Islamabad / Rawalpindi / Peshawar | ~34° |
Solar Payback Period in Pakistan
For an on-grid, net-metered system the payback period is typically 3–5 years, after which the electricity is effectively free for the 25-year panel life. Hybrid systems pay back more slowly because the battery adds cost and needs replacing every few years (lead-acid) or after 8–10 years (lithium). Payback is fastest when your bill sits in a high tariff slab, your roof gets full sun, and net metering credits your daytime surplus.