| Panel count (typical) | 11 panels at ~440 W each |
| Inverter | 5 kW |
| Installed price, before rebates | $5,300-$7,000 |
| After the STC rebate (Sydney) | $3,952-$5,652 |
| Annual generation | ~7,250 kWh / yr |
| Daily generation | ~20 kWh / day |
| Roof area needed | About 25 m² of north-facing roof |
| Suits | 1-2 people, Under $300 / quarter |
| Payback, bill savings only | 6.0 to 10.5 years (at a $250 quarterly bill) |
5 kW solar system price by capital city
The installed price is much the same across the capitals; the federal STC rebate is not, because it depends on the STC zone. Here is a 5 kW system after the rebate in each capital, for a 2026 install:
| Capital city | STC zone | Federal STC rebate | Price after STCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney · NSW | Zone 3 | −$1,348 | $3,952-$5,652 |
| Melbourne · VIC | Zone 4 | −$1,150 | $4,150-$5,850 |
| Brisbane · QLD | Zone 3 | −$1,348 | $3,952-$5,652 |
| Adelaide · SA | Zone 3 | −$1,348 | $3,952-$5,652 |
| Perth · WA | Zone 3 | −$1,348 | $3,952-$5,652 |
| Hobart · TAS | Zone 4 | −$1,150 | $4,150-$5,850 |
| Canberra · ACT | Zone 3 | −$1,348 | $3,952-$5,652 |
| Darwin · NT | Zone 2 | −$1,507 | $3,793-$5,493 |
Installed band: Per-kW band of $1,050 to $1,390 before rebates: the cheapest (Perth 7 kW) and dearest (Hobart 6 kW) capital-city prices at 6 to 10 kW in the index, Darwin excluded, with each city's STC discount added back. Sizes above 10 kW are scaled at the same per-kW rates; smaller systems usually cost more per kW. Index checked 10 October 2026. Darwin's own index prices run well above the other capitals, so treat the Darwin row as a floor. State solar rebates come off on top where you qualify: VIC $1,400 (income-tested).
How long a 5 kW system takes to pay for itself
On a $250 quarterly bill, the middle of the range this size suits, our savings engine puts the bill saving at $540-$660 a year, a payback of 6.0 to 10.5 years on the price after STCs. A smaller bill means a longer payback, because solar alone can only offset the daytime share of it.
Assumptions: Sydney (STC zone 3), a $250 quarterly bill, grid power at 32c/kWh, 1,450 kWh a year per kW, price after the federal rebate only, bill savings only (no VPP income), savings ±10%. General information, not financial advice. The solar cost calculator runs the same calculation for your postcode and bill.
How a 5 kW system performs day to day
At the national average yield a 5 kW system makes about 20 kWh a day, more in summer and in the sunnier northern zones, less in a southern winter. The 2026-27 default electricity offers price a typical household at about 11.9 kWh a day, so the question is rarely total output: it is how much of the generation you use while the sun is up. Power you use yourself avoids the full grid rate; exports earn only the feed-in tariff, and a battery moves more of the day's output into the evening.
Who a 5 kW system suits
A rule of thumb based on quarterly bill size:
- 5 kW, Under $300 / quarter · 1-2 people
- 6 kW, $250-$500 / quarter · 2-4 people
- 6.6 kW, $300-$600 / quarter · 3-4 people
- 8 kW, $500-$800 / quarter · 4-5 people
- 10 kW, $700-$1,000 / quarter · 4-6 people
- 13.2 kW, $900+ / quarter · Large families, all-electric homes, or EV households
- 15 kW, $1,000+ / quarter · All-electric homes, usually three-phase
- 20 kW, $1,400+ / quarter · Very large homes, dual occupancies and small business premises
These are starting points. Other factors that move you up or down: daytime usage (pool, EV, electric hot water), planned future loads (an EV in the next couple of years pushes you up a size), shading, and roof orientation. Compare every size side by side on what size solar system do I need.
5 kW solar system with a battery: the price
Two rebates stack on a solar-plus-battery install and both are applied at the point of sale: the federal STC rebate on the panels, and the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate on the storage. Below is a 5 kW array with the battery sizes households most often add, priced in STC zone 3.
| Battery | Installed together | Federal STC | Battery rebate | After both |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No battery | $5,300-$7,000 | −$1,348 | none | $3,952-$5,652 |
| + 10 kWh | $15,780-$20,376 | −$1,348 | −$2,696 | ~$13,184 |
| + 13.5 kWh | $19,406-$23,206 | −$1,348 | −$3,608 | ~$15,500 |
Battery installed prices from our battery price table, as of 10 October 2026; the battery rebate is computed from the current Clean Energy Regulator factor of about $270 per usable kWh on the first 14 kWh. "After both" applies the two rebates to the low end of the solar range plus the midpoint of the battery range. NSW and WA add a conditional state battery incentive on top; whether a battery pays for itself is in is a solar battery worth it.
At 5 kW a battery is optional. A small array has little daytime surplus to store, so most households at this size add panels before they add storage.
One timing note: the battery rebate factor drops on 1 January 2027, which takes about $436 off the 10 kWh figure above. The rebate is set by the date the battery is installed, not when you sign. The Cheaper Home Batteries explainer has the full schedule, and the rebate calculator gives the figure for your postcode.
Common questions about 5 kW solar
How much does a 5 kW solar system cost in 2026?
Fully installed, a 5 kW system costs between $5,300 and $7,000 before rebates. After the federal STC rebate, which is $1,348 in STC zone 3 (Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra) and less in Melbourne and Hobart, most households pay roughly $3,952 to $5,652. Installed prices are based on the Solar Choice Price Index, October 2026, checked 10 October 2026.
Is a 5 kW solar system enough to run a house?
For daytime use, usually yes. A 5 kW system makes about 20 kWh on an average day, 1.7 times the 11.9 kWh a day the 2026-27 default electricity offers price a typical household at (AER Default Market Offer and ESC Victorian Default Offer, 2026-27). But most of that arrives in the middle of the day, so without a battery you still buy power after dark. It suits bills in the Under $300 / quarter range; bigger bills or an EV point to a larger system.
How long does a 5 kW solar system take to pay for itself?
About 6.0 to 10.5 years on a $250 quarterly bill, on bill savings of $540-$660 a year. Assumptions: Sydney (STC zone 3), a $250 quarterly bill, grid power at 32c/kWh, 1,450 kWh a year per kW, price after the federal rebate only, bill savings only (no VPP income), savings ±10%. Our solar cost calculator runs the same calculation for your own bill.
How much electricity does a 5 kW solar system generate?
A 5 kW system generates roughly 7,250 kWh per year at the national average yield, about 20 kWh per day. Output varies with location, roof orientation, shading and season.
Who is a 5 kW system suitable for?
1-2 people households with quarterly bills in the Under $300 / quarter range. You need roughly about 25 m² of north-facing roof. The smallest mainstream residential system. Suits couples and small families on modest bills, or apartments and townhouses with limited roof area.
What inverter pairs with a 5 kW solar system?
A 5 kW inverter is the standard pairing. Panel capacity can run up to 133% of the inverter's rating, which captures more STC rebate (calculated on panel capacity) without significant real-world clipping.
How much does a 5 kW solar system with a battery cost?
$15,780-$20,376 installed for the 5 kW array plus a 10 kWh battery, before rebates. The federal STC rebate ($1,348 in STC zone 3) and the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate ($2,696 on 10 kWh) together take $4,044 off at the point of sale, leaving roughly $13,184 out of pocket. Battery prices as of 10 October 2026.
Should I add a battery to a 5 kW system?
Batteries are optional for a 5 kW system and usually not the first upgrade: a small array has little surplus to store. If you're considering one, a larger array with a battery is the more common pairing.
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