Caravan Solar Panel Sizes And Dimension Guide
A caravan solar panel is typically 1.0m to 1.6m long and 0.6m to 1.0m wide, with common wattages running from 100W to 200W per panel. Most caravans use one panel in that range, or two to three panels wired together for 300W to 400W total.
Picking the right one for your van comes down to two simple questions: will it actually fit on your roof, and will it make enough power for what you use? Get either one wrong and you'll end up with panels that don't charge your battery properly, or worse, don't fit at all.
This guide walks through the common panel types sold in Australia, how much roof space they need, and how much power you actually need for the way you camp. You'll also find our caravan awning sizing guide and caravan cover sizing guide handy if you're kitting out the rest of the van at the same time.
Most caravans use one solar panel between 150W and 200W, or two to three panels adding up to 300W to 400W if you camp off-grid a lot. A basic setup with a 100Ah battery, small fridge and a few lights only needs 150W to 200W. A bigger 200Ah battery with a full-size fridge and device charging usually wants 300W to 400W. If you're free camping for weeks at a time with a 400Ah or bigger battery, look at 400W to 600W or more, often split across a few panels.
Caravan Solar Panel Types Compared
Typical wattage, size and price range across the three common panel types
| Type | Wattage Range | Typical Size | Indicative Price (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rigid mono | 80W - 200W per panel | 1.0m - 1.6m x 0.7m - 1.0m | |
| Portable folding | 120W - 200W | Folded: approx. 0.6m x 0.5m x 0.1m. Unfolded (200W kit): approx. 1.6m x 1.0m | |
| Flexible / semi-flexible | 100W - 200W per panel | 1.0m - 1.6m x 0.5m - 0.7m, 3mm - 5mm thick |
Note: Prices are a general guide for standalone panels only, not full kits with a controller and wiring. Full-size caravans commonly run two or three rigid panels together to reach 300W to 400W or more.
Rigid mono panels are the panel most caravans have. They're glued or bracketed flat onto the roof and stay there for good. They're the toughest and most efficient of the three types, but you can't move them to chase the sun, and they add a permanent bump to your roof.
Portable folding panels sit on legs on the ground, well away from the van, so you can point them straight at the sun. They cost more per watt than a fixed panel, but they're the better choice if you often park under trees or at an awkward angle to the sun.
Flexible panels bend to fit curved or oddly shaped roof spots and barely add any weight. They're popular on pop-tops and camper trailers for that reason. The trade-off is that they run hotter than rigid panels, because there's no air gap underneath them to cool them down, which can mean lower output and a shorter working life in full Australian sun.
Will a Solar Panel Fit Your Caravan Roof?
Before you buy anything, check how much clear roof space you actually have. Roof vents, hatches, air conditioners and awning rail brackets all eat into the space a panel can sit on, so the caravan's overall length doesn't tell you the whole story.
| Caravan size | Roof space to expect | Panels that typically fit |
|---|---|---|
| Camper trailer / pop-top | Small and often broken up by hatches | 1 panel, 150W to 200W |
| Mid-size caravan (16ft to 19ft) | Room for two panels once vents and hatches are worked around | 2 panels, 300W to 400W combined |
| Full-size caravan (20ft to 23ft+) | The most clear roof space, though aircon units and skylights still cut into it | 2 to 3 panels, 400W to 600W combined |
To check your own fit, measure the clear, flat sections of your roof, keeping well clear of vents, hatches, the air conditioner and any awning rail brackets. Rigid panels generally run 1.0m to 1.6m long, so a tape measure and a bit of masking tape to mark out the panel's footprint on your roof will tell you exactly what fits before you order anything.
How Much Solar Wattage Do You Actually Need?
Wattage needs scale with your battery size and how much you use while off-grid. A simple rule of thumb many installers use is around 1W to 1.5W of solar for every amp-hour of lithium battery you have, if you camp off-grid regularly.
| Battery bank size | Typical usage | Recommended solar wattage |
|---|---|---|
| 100Ah | Lights, water pump, small 12V fridge, phone charging | 150W to 200W |
| 200Ah | Fridge, device charging, occasional inverter use for laptops/CPAP | 300W to 400W |
| 400Ah or more | Extended free camping, induction cooktop, larger fridge, multiple devices | 400W to 600W+ |
How to Choose the Right Solar Panel Size
- Work out how much power you use in a day. Add up what your fridge, lights, water pump and any charging devices use over a full day. Then size your battery to cover at least one or two cloudy days without much sun.
- Match your panel wattage to your battery, not just your roof space. A bigger panel doesn't help if your battery can't store the extra charge. Buying more watts than your battery needs is money you didn't need to spend.
- Think about how you actually camp. If you do long free camps in remote spots, go with the higher end of the wattage range and consider a portable panel too, so you can chase the sun on shaded sites. Weekend campers on powered sites can usually get by with a smaller panel as a simple top-up.
- Check your roof space first. Use the fit guide above to work out how many panels will actually go on your roof before you decide on total wattage.
- Be realistic about air conditioning. Running your caravan's air conditioner from solar alone usually isn't practical, even with a decent-sized system. Most caravanners still use 240V power or a generator for aircon, and save solar for everyday 12V gear.
Quick tip: Where your panel points matters as much as how big it is. A van parked side-on to the sun for most of the day will get less out of even a correctly sized fixed panel, which is exactly where a portable folding panel earns its keep on shaded or awkwardly angled sites.
Fitting and Wiring Basics
Most fixed rigid and flexible panels are glued to the roof with a compatible sealant, rather than screwed through the roof skin, to avoid creating leak points. Portable folding panels usually plug in through an Anderson plug on the outside of the caravan, feeding straight through to the battery.
Every panel needs a solar regulator or MPPT controller between it and the battery, to stop the battery being overcharged. This isn't optional, so if you're adding solar to an older caravan, check whether it already has solar-ready wiring and an Anderson plug before assuming you can just plug a portable panel straight in.
Ready to add solar to your caravan?
Browse carac's range of caravan solar panels, folding kits and mounting accessories to find the right size and wattage for your setup.
Shop caravan solar panelsFrequently Asked Questions
What size solar panel do I need for my caravan?
A single 150W to 200W rigid panel suits a basic 100Ah battery setup with lights, a water pump and a small fridge. Regular free campers with a 200Ah or larger battery typically need 300W to 400W or more across a couple of panels.
How many solar panels do I need for a caravan?
Most caravans run one or two rigid panels, added together to reach the wattage your battery needs. Bigger off-grid setups with 400Ah or more of battery often use three panels, or a mix of fixed and portable panels.
What type of solar panel is best for a caravan?
Rigid mono panels are the toughest and most efficient option for a fixed spot on the roof. Portable folding panels suit anyone who needs to point their panel at the sun on shaded sites, and flexible panels are the lightest choice for curved or awkward roof spots, though they don't run as cool or last as long as rigid panels.
Can I use household solar panels on a caravan?
Household solar panels are usually too big, heavy and fragile for a caravan roof, and they aren't built to handle the vibration of towing. Caravan panels use a lighter frame and a 12V output built for a caravan battery, not a household grid-tied system.
Are flexible solar panels good for caravans?
Flexible panels are light and bend to fit curved roofs, which is why they're popular on pop-tops and camper trailers. The trade-off is that they run hotter than rigid panels, since there's no air gap underneath to cool them, which can mean lower output and a shorter lifespan in full Australian sun.
Will solar panels run my caravan's air conditioner?
Running an air conditioner from solar alone usually isn't practical, since air conditioners use far more power than a typical caravan solar and battery setup can keep up with. Most caravanners stick with 240V power or a generator for aircon, and use solar for everyday 12V gear instead.
Getting the right solar setup comes down to two things: checking what actually fits on your roof, and matching the wattage to your battery and the way you camp. Measure first, then buy the panel that suits both.
Wattage ranges, panel sizes and prices reflect general Australian caravan solar market figures as at 2026. Roof space by caravan size is a general guide only [CONFIRM: against carac's own product range or a specific fitment source if available] - actual clear roof space depends on your caravan's own layout, so always measure before buying.