Solar Panel Size Calculator for RVs

Quick Answer

Most RVs need 800W of solar panels, a 650Ah LiFePO4 battery at 12V, and a 90A MPPT charge controller. That covers a typical RV load of 2.5 kWh per day with 2-day cloudy weather autonomy. The EcoFlow Delta 2 is the top turnkey pick for RVers who want plug-and-play simplicity. For a DIY build, 4 Renogy 200W panels wired in series with a 40A MPPT controller is the most proven setup.

Pre-Calculated System Specs

Based on 5.5 peak sun hours, 2-day autonomy, and typical RV loads.

ComponentMinimum SizeNotes
Daily Load2.5 kWhRaw before system losses
Adjusted Load3.0 kWh+20% system loss buffer
Solar Panels800W4x 200W or 2x 400W panels
Battery650Ah at 12VLiFePO4, 2-day autonomy (7.4 kWh total)
Charge Controller90A MPPTNEC 1.25x safety factor applied
Inverter1000W continuous1000W surge capacity, pure sine wave

Want to adjust for your exact appliances? Customize these numbers with our solar calculator

Recommended Turnkey Solution

EcoFlow Delta 2

2,048Wh capacity, 1,800W AC output — handles a fridge, TV, microwave, and most RV loads.

2,048Wh

Capacity

1,800W

AC Output

500W

Max Solar In

Buy on EcoFlow.comView Solar Bundle

DIY Component Approach

Prefer to build a custom system? Use these components matched to the calculated specs above. A DIY build typically costs 20-35% less than a turnkey power station for the same energy capacity.

Solar Panels

800W total (4x 200W panels recommended)

Renogy 200W 12V Monocrystalline on Amazon

Battery

650Ah at 12V LiFePO4

LiTime 12V 200Ah LiFePO4 on Amazon

Charge Controller

90A MPPT minimum

Renogy 40A MPPT Rover on Amazon

Inverter

1000W pure sine wave

Renogy 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter on Amazon

RV Solar System Guide

RV solar systems require careful sizing because space and weight are limited. A rooftop panel footprint on a typical Class A or Class C RV accommodates 400–600W of panels, and that ceiling often defines the system before anything else. Monocrystalline panels are the standard choice for RV roofs because they produce more power per square foot than polycrystalline — critical when roof real estate is finite. Flexible panels appeal to some RVers for their lighter weight, but they run 10–15°F hotter than rigid panels and lose efficiency faster over time.

Battery selection matters more for RVs than almost any other application. LiFePO4 batteries charge faster, discharge deeper, and tolerate partial states of charge without sulfation damage. This makes them ideal for RV use where you might get only 3 hours of good sun on an overcast travel day. A 200Ah LiFePO4 bank at 12V stores 2,400Wh of usable energy — roughly one day of typical RV loads. A 400Ah bank provides two-day autonomy and covers most cloud patterns across the US.

The charge controller choice between MPPT and PWM is simple for RV solar: always use MPPT. PWM controllers waste 15–30% of your panel output by reducing voltage to match the battery. An MPPT controller extracts maximum power from the panels regardless of their voltage, which matters especially in morning and evening hours when panels are at partial output. The Renogy Rover 40A MPPT and Victron SmartSolar 100/30 are the two most trusted names in the RV solar community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many solar panels does an RV need?▼
Most RVs run comfortably on 400–600 watts of solar. A typical RV load includes a 12V compressor fridge (1.2 kWh/day), LED lights (300Wh), a laptop (480Wh), a fan (400Wh), and phone charging (30Wh) — about 2.4 kWh total per day. With 5.5 peak sun hours and system losses, that requires 580W of panels. Two 300W panels wired in series is the standard RV setup. Pair with a 200Ah LiFePO4 battery and a 40A MPPT charge controller for a complete system.
What size battery do I need for full-time RV solar?▼
For full-time RV living with 2–3 days of cloudy day autonomy, you need 400–600Ah of LiFePO4 battery capacity at 12V. Two LiTime 200Ah 12V LiFePO4 batteries wired in parallel (400Ah total, 4,800Wh usable) is the standard setup for full-timers. This covers 2 full days of typical RV loads without any solar input. AGM batteries at the same Ah rating are cheaper upfront but provide only half the usable capacity due to the 50% depth-of-discharge limit.
Can I run AC in my RV on solar?▼
Running a 13,500 BTU RV air conditioner on solar requires 2,000W of panels and a 300Ah+ battery bank with a 2,000W inverter — a serious and expensive system. Most solar RV builds either skip AC entirely or use a 12V portable air conditioner like the BougeRV 12V Mini Split, which draws 700W at 12V and can run directly from the battery bank. If AC is critical, the EcoFlow Wave 2 portable AC paired with the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max is the cleanest plug-and-play solution.
What is the best solar setup for an RV?▼
For most RVers, the best setup is two 200W monocrystalline panels, a 200Ah LiFePO4 battery, a 40A MPPT charge controller, and a 2,000W pure sine wave inverter. Renogy and BougeRV panels are reliable and affordable. The LiTime 200Ah self-heating LiFePO4 is the top battery choice for cold-weather camping. EcoFlow Delta 2 with a 220W solar panel is the all-in-one alternative — simpler setup, faster charging, but less expandable than a custom component system.
How long does it take to charge RV solar batteries?▼
Charge time depends on panel size, battery capacity, and sun hours. A 400W array charging a 200Ah LiFePO4 battery (2,400Wh) generates about 2,000Wh on a 5-sun-hour day — fully charging a depleted 200Ah bank in one day. A 200W array takes two full sunny days to recharge the same bank. This is why most full-time RVers run 400W minimum and why an MPPT charge controller (15–30% more efficient than PWM) is worth the extra $50.

Need a custom calculation?

The numbers above use typical rv defaults. Adjust for your exact appliances and location.

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