Home batteries
Keep your power on, and your savings up
A home battery stores solar or grid power for outages and expensive evening hours. Find out if you need one, and how big.
Why add storage
Three reasons homeowners buy batteries
Backup during outages
Keep the lights, fridge, Wi-Fi and medical devices running when the grid goes down.
Beat time-of-use rates
Store cheap midday solar and use it in the evening, when power costs the most.
Keep more of your solar
Where exported power earns little, a battery lets you use more of what you make.
Battery sizer
What do you want to keep running?
Choose the essentials you'd power during an outage. Daily use figures are typical averages.
Assumes 10-15 kWh per battery unit, 90% usable energy, and roughly $1,000-$1,300 per kWh installed. With solar, batteries recharge daily, so real backup can last much longer.
Battery chemistry
Not all batteries are built the same
| Chemistry | What to know | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| LFP (lithium iron phosphate) | Now the most common home battery chemistry. Very safe, long cycle life (often 6,000+ cycles), slightly heavier. | Most homes |
| NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) | Compact and energy dense. Fewer cycles than LFP and more sensitive to heat. | Tight spaces |
| Lead-acid | Old, cheap technology that needs maintenance and wears out quickly. Rare in new installs. | Off-grid cabins on a budget |
AC-coupled
The battery has its own inverter and can be added to almost any existing solar system. Easiest for retrofits.
DC-coupled
Solar charges the battery directly through a hybrid inverter, losing a little less energy. Best for new installs.
Battery questions
How long does a home battery last?
Most come with 10-year warranties and are expected to last 10 to 15 years. LFP batteries typically handle more charge cycles than older chemistries.
Can a battery power my whole house?
It can, but whole-home backup with central AC usually needs two or more batteries. Most people back up essential circuits only.
Is a battery worth it without solar?
Sometimes. On time-of-use rates, charging from the grid overnight and using the power in the evening can save money, and you still gain backup power.
Do utilities pay battery owners?
A growing number of utilities run programs that pay you to share stored power during peak demand. Ask installers what's available locally.
Price out a battery
Compare battery-only or solar-plus-storage quotes from vetted installers.