--- title: "Off-Grid Solar System Price in India (2026): What 3kW and 5kW Really Cost" url: "https://kondaas.com/off-grid-solar-system-price/" type: "post" published: "2026-10-16T13:13:45+05:30" modified: "2026-10-16T13:14:39+05:30" author: "siva sankar" --- An off-grid solar system with batteries costs about ₹2.8–3.4 lakh for 3 kW and ₹4.5–5.5 lakh for 5 kW in India in 2026. The battery is the biggest line item, usually 40–55% of the total, and off-grid systems do not qualify for the PM Surya Ghar subsidy because they are not connected to the grid. Most online prices for “off-grid solar” leave out the battery, and the battery is the part that decides the bill. This guide shows what a complete system costs, where the money goes, and how to size the battery before you ask any installer for a quote. If your home or estate still has a KSEB or TANGEDCO connection, read the hybrid section below first, because it is often cheaper. ## Off-grid solar system price by size (2026) These are installed prices for a complete system: panels, off-grid inverter with charge controller, battery bank, mounting and wiring. | System size | Daily generation | Typical backup | Installed price with battery | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 3 kW | 12–15 units | 4–6 hours on essential loads | ₹2.8–3.4 lakh | | 5 kW | 20–25 units | 6–8 hours, full home plus one AC for limited hours | ₹4.5–5.5 lakh | | 10 kW | 40–50 units | 8–12 hours | ₹8–10.5 lakh (estimate) | The 3 kW and 5 kW ranges are the prices we publish for off-grid systems. The 10 kW row is an estimate built from our 10 kW on-grid price and our 10 kWh battery storage price. Final quotes depend on battery size and chemistry, brand and site conditions. ### Where the money goes in an off-grid system | Component | Share of total cost | | --- | --- | | Battery bank | 40–55% | | Solar panels | 20–25% | | Inverter and charge controller | 15–20% | | Mounting, wiring and installation | 10–15% | That is why the battery decision matters more than the panel decision. Doubling your backup hours can nearly double the total bill, even though the panel and inverter prices barely change. > Our [off-grid installation service in Tamil Nadu](https://kondaas.com/off-grid-solar-installation-in-tamil-nadu/). ## Battery type changes the price more than anything else | | Tubular lead-acid | LiFePO4 lithium | | --- | --- | --- | | Installed cost per usable kWh | ₹8,000–10,000 | ₹25,000–45,000 | | Usable capacity | About 40–60% of rated | About 80–95% of rated | | Typical life | 3–5 years | 8–10+ years | | Maintenance | Regular water top-up | Minimal | Lead-acid looks cheaper on day one, but you can only use about half of its rated capacity, and you will usually replace it two or three times in the life of one lithium battery. A ₹15,000 lead-acid battery that lasts 3–4 years is not cheap if you replace it three times in a decade. Lithium costs more upfront and often costs less per usable kWh over ten years. > For the full comparison, see our [battery storage cost and backup hours guide](https://kondaas.​com/battery-stor​age-for-home-sol​ar-in-india-2026​-cost-backup-hou​rs-is-it-worth-a​dding/) ### Size the battery before you ask for a quote Use this formula to get a realistic battery size: **Required battery capacity (kWh) = (Load in kW × backup hours) ÷ (usable depth of discharge × system efficiency)** Example: four LED lights, three fans and a TV add up to roughly 500 W. For six hours of backup that is 0.5 kW × 6 = 3 kWh of delivered energy. After inverter losses and a reserve, a 4–5 kWh lithium battery is a sensible starting point. A 5 kW solar array does not automatically need a 5 kWh battery. Match the battery to the loads you want backed up, not to the panel size. Running an air conditioner is a bigger job: you need an inverter with a surge rating of at least 5 kW and a battery bank of 10 kWh or more to keep an AC running for several hours. > Our [lithium battery price and life guide](https://kondaas.com/lithium-ion-battery-for-solar-price-life-is-it-worth-it-in-india-2026/). ## Off-grid or hybrid? Check this before you buy If your home or estate already has a grid connection, hybrid almost always beats pure off-grid on both cost and reliability. On our published ranges, a 3 kW hybrid system costs ₹2.4–2.9 lakh and qualifies for the ₹78,000 PM Surya Ghar subsidy, which brings it to about ₹1.6–2.1 lakh. A 3 kW off-grid system costs ₹2.8–3.4 lakh with no subsidy. Hybrid pricing assumes a standard tubular battery, and a lithium bank adds roughly ₹80,000–1.5 lakh. To check who can claim the subsidy, read the [PM Surya Ghar subsidy guide](https://kondaas.com/solar-subsidy-pm-surya-ghar-guide/). ### What a good off-grid quote should list - Battery chemistry, rated kWh *and* usable kWh, not just the rated figure. - For lithium, the BMS, warranty years and cycle life. - Inverter capacity and surge rating, and whether the charge controller is MPPT. - Panel brand, wattage and number of panels, sized to recharge the battery every day. - What is included: structure, cabling, earthing, installation and commissioning. - The list of backup loads the system was designed for. > For the three-way comparison, use the [on-grid vs off-grid vs hybrid cost guide](https://kondaas.com/on-grid-vs-off-grid-vs-hybrid-solar-cost-guide/). ### Common mistakes to avoid - Sizing the battery to the panel size instead of the loads you actually run. - Comparing a lead-acid quote and a lithium quote on rated kWh instead of usable kWh. - Leaving no panel margin for cloudy and monsoon weeks, so the battery never fully recharges. - Assuming you can connect to the grid later at no extra cost (see the FAQ below). ## Get an itemised off-grid quote Send us your appliance list, the backup hours you want and your location, and our team will prepare an itemised quote with battery size, chemistry and warranty listed separately.  > [Contact Kondaas](https://kondaas.com/contact-kondaas/) to book a free site survey. ### Off-grid solar price FAQs 1. **Is there a government subsidy for off-grid solar in India?** The central PM Surya Ghar subsidy of up to ₹78,000 applies only to grid-connected systems with net metering, so off-grid systems do not qualify under it. 2. **How many hours of backup does a 3 kW off-grid system give?** Typically 4 to 6 hours on essential loads such as lights, fans, a fridge and a washing machine, depending on the battery size and what you connect. 3. **Can an off-grid solar system run an air conditioner?** Only with a large setup: an inverter with a surge rating of at least 5 kW and a battery bank of 10 kWh or more to keep an AC running for several hours. 4. **How long do off-grid solar batteries last?** Tubular lead-acid batteries typically last 3 to 5 years. LiFePO4 lithium batteries typically last 8 to 10 years or more. 5. **Can I connect an off-grid system to the grid later?** Usually not as it stands. Off-grid inverters cannot export power, so you would normally need to replace the inverter with a hybrid or on-grid one.