Key takeaways
- Typical residential panel: 440W, about 1762 × 1134 × 30 mm (Jinko Tiger Neo).
- Weight: about 22 to 25 kg per panel, depending on the version.
- Allow about 2 m² of roof per panel. 6.6kW (15 panels) needs about 30 m²; 10kW about 46 m².
- Arrays over 40 m² need a Chartered Professional Engineer's design to stay consent-exempt.
- Panel 'size' in watts and physical size are different things: a higher-watt panel is not always a bigger one.
How big is a solar panel?
The panels going on most New Zealand homes in 2026 are around 440W, and a common example, the Jinko Tiger Neo 54-cell, measures 1762 × 1134 × 30 mm. That is a little under the size of a single bed. Other brands in the same power class land within a few centimetres of it.
| Measure | Jinko Tiger Neo 440W |
|---|---|
| Length | 1762 mm |
| Width | 1134 mm |
| Depth (frame) | 30 mm |
| Weight | about 22–25 kg, by version |
| Cells | 108 half-cells |
Older and larger commercial panels exist too: 60- and 72-cell panels are longer, at around 2 m or more, and are more common on farm sheds and commercial roofs than on houses. Check the datasheet on your quote for the exact model.
How much roof space do I need for solar?
Allow about 2 m² of usable roof per 440W panel once you include gaps and edge clearances. A 3kW system of 7 panels needs roughly 14 m², 6.6kW (15 panels) about 30 m², and 10kW about 46 m². The how many panels guide sizes the system from your power bill first.
| System size | Panels (440W) | Approx. roof area |
|---|---|---|
| 3kW | 7 | about 14 m² |
| 5kW | 11 – 12 | about 22 – 24 m² |
| 6.6kW | 15 | about 30 m² |
| 10kW | 22 – 23 | about 46 m² |
Does panel size affect building consent?
Yes, through the array's total area. Since 23 October 2025, roof-mounted panels are generally exempt from building consent, but arrays over 40 m² need a design carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer to keep the exemption. At about 2 m² a panel, that line falls at roughly 20 panels. See the consent guide.
Will my roof take the weight?
Most sound residential roofs carry panels without trouble: a 440W panel is about 22 to 25 kg spread over around 2 m², plus rails and fixings. The installer should check the roof structure, fixings and wind zone at the survey, and the work has to meet the Building Code even when it's consent-exempt.
Is a bigger panel better?
Not on its own. Watts per panel tell you output; dimensions tell you what fits. On a small or awkward roof, fewer high-output panels can fit more kW. On a large simple roof, the price per watt of the whole system matters more than any one panel's size. Compare quotes on total kW, price per watt and warranties.
Our solar cost guide has typical installed prices by system size, and the payback calculator shows what a system of a given size could save.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a 440W solar panel?
About 1762 × 1134 × 30 mm for a Jinko Tiger Neo 440W, a common residential panel. Other brands of the same power are within a few centimetres.
How much does a solar panel weigh?
A typical 440W home panel weighs about 22 to 25 kg, depending on whether it's single- or double-glass (Jinko datasheet).
How many solar panels fit on a roof?
Divide the usable, unshaded roof area by about 2 m². A 30 m² north-facing section takes about 15 panels, or 6.6kW.
How many panels do I need for 6.6kW?
15 panels at 440W, needing about 30 m² of roof. See the 6.6kW package.
Do I need a building consent for a big array?
Arrays over 40 m² need a Chartered Professional Engineer's design to stay exempt. At about 2 m² per panel, that's around 20 panels.
Sources
- Jinko Solar, Tiger Neo JKM425-450N-54HL4R-BDB datasheet (PDF) (checked Oct 2026)
- Solar Scout, How many solar panels do I need (updated 1 Apr 2026) (checked 1 Apr 2026)
- building.govt.nz, Solar panel and boundary setback building consent exemption changes (checked Sept 2026)
- EWRB, Solar panel consent exemption changes (checked Sept 2026)
General information, not financial advice. Prices and rates change; each figure shows where it came from and when it was checked.