How Many Solar Panels for a 1 Ton or 1.5 Ton AC? (Inverter and Non-Inverter)

"Can solar run my AC?" is probably the most common solar question in Pakistan, and the honest answer is: yes, during the day, if the system is sized for it. This guide works through 1 ton, 1.5 ton and 2 ton ACs using the same maths as our solar calculator, so the numbers here always match what the calculator shows.

All figures below assume an AC running 8 hours on a summer day, panels of 585 W, and the Pakistan average of about 3.6 units a day from each kW of panels after losses. Your own hours, city and roof will change the result, so treat these as starting points.

Step 1: How many units does an AC use?

An AC's power draw depends on its size and whether it is an inverter model. A normal (non-inverter) AC switches its compressor fully on and off. An inverter AC slows the compressor down once the room is cool, so its average draw is much lower.

Over 8 hours on a summer day, our calculator estimates:

• 1 ton non-inverter AC: about 7.7 units a day
• 1 ton inverter AC: about 5.6 units a day
• 1.5 ton non-inverter AC: about 10.9 units a day
• 1.5 ton inverter AC: about 8.0 units a day
• 2 ton non-inverter AC: about 14.1 units a day
• 2 ton inverter AC: about 10.4 units a day

These are averages. On a 45°C afternoon, with the room in direct sun, or with the thermostat set very low, the AC works harder and uses more. A well-insulated room set to 26°C uses less.

Step 2: How many panels does that need?

Divide the daily units by what 1 kW of panels makes in a day, then round up. Using the calculator's rules, the panels needed for the AC alone are:

• 1 ton: 2.5 kW (5 panels of 585 W) for a normal AC, or 2 kW (4 panels of 585 W) for an inverter AC
• 1.5 ton: 3.5 kW (6 panels of 585 W) for a normal AC, or 2.5 kW (5 panels of 585 W) for an inverter AC
• 2 ton: 4 kW (7 panels of 585 W) for a normal AC, or 3 kW (6 panels of 585 W) for an inverter AC

Remember that the AC isn't the only thing running. Fans, lights, a fridge, a water pump and a washing machine all draw power at the same time. Add them in the solar calculator to get a size for the whole house.

Why inverter ACs matter so much on solar: the difference above is not small. Switching one old AC to an inverter model can cut the solar you need for it by a large share, and it cuts your night-time grid units too. If you are replacing an AC anyway, an inverter model usually pays for itself quickly once you have solar.

Step 3: Get the inverter size right

Panels decide how many units you make in a day. The inverter decides how much you can run at the same moment. Two things matter:

• Running load. Add up everything that might run together: two ACs, fans, lights and the fridge. The inverter's rated power should be comfortably above that.
• Starting surge. Compressors (ACs, fridges) and motors (pumps) draw a burst of power for a second when they start. Our calculator allows for about twice the running watts for compressors and three times for motors. Non-inverter ACs and water pumps are the usual culprits when an inverter trips.

To show how this adds up, take the calculator's typical 3–4 room home (fans, lights, a fridge, a water pump and a washing machine) and add 1.5 ton inverter ACs running 8 hours a day:

• One AC: about 5 kW of panels and an inverter of 6 kW
• Two ACs: about 7.5 kW of panels and an inverter of 8 kW
• Three ACs: about 9.5 kW of panels and an inverter of 10 kW

Your home will differ, so put in your own appliances to get a standard size that fits.

Today, a 6 kW hybrid inverter lists at about Rs 130,000 – 213,000. Compare all sizes on our inverter price page.

The afternoon and evening problem

Solar output follows the sun. Output is strongest around midday and falls through the afternoon. By late afternoon, your panels may no longer produce enough to carry an AC on their own, and the inverter will start pulling the shortfall from the grid or a battery. The exact time depends on your city, the season, which way the panels face and any shading.

Two ways to stretch useful hours:

• A little more panel than inverter. Many installers fit somewhat more panel kW than the inverter's rated kW, staying within the inverter's maximum PV input. This keeps output higher in the morning and late afternoon. Check the inverter datasheet first.
• Pre-cool while the sun is strong. Let the AC cool the house harder in the early afternoon, then ease off in the evening.

Can solar run an AC at night?

Only with batteries, and it takes more battery than most people expect. A 1.5 ton inverter AC averages roughly 1 kW once the room is cool. A 5 kWh lithium battery, of which about 90% is usable, runs that for about four and a half hours with nothing else on. Running two ACs all night needs several batteries, which is a big cost. One 5 kWh unit currently lists at about Rs 222,800 – 260,000.

Most families use solar for daytime cooling and the grid at night, keeping a battery for fans, lights and the fridge during load-shedding. Our lithium vs tubular guide explains battery sizing.

Does net billing change the answer?

It makes AC use during the day even more valuable. Under NEPRA's net billing rules, units you export earn about Rs 8.13, while units you buy cost your full slab rate. Using solar to run your AC instead of exporting it is one of the best ways to get value from your panels. See net metering vs net billing for the details.

What will it cost?

At today's typical panel rate of Rs 38.0–42.2 per watt, the panels are only part of the bill. The inverter, structure, wiring and labour add a lot. For complete estimates built from live prices:

• 3 kW solar system price: currently Rs 271,560 – 358,457
• 5 kW solar system price: currently Rs 399,240 – 572,186
• 6 kW solar system price: currently Rs 473,960 – 670,271

These exclude batteries. When you get quotes, check them line by line with our solar quotation checklist.

Quick checklist

1. Write down every AC: size, inverter or not, and hours used on a hot day.
2. Add the rest of the house in the solar calculator.
3. Make sure the inverter covers everything that runs together, including start-up surges.
4. Decide whether you need backup at night or only during load-shedding.
5. Compare at least three itemised quotes against today's prices.

Prices in this guide update automatically from the dealer listings we track (last refreshed 2 October 2026). They are indicative market ranges, not quotes.

Figures are estimates from our calculator's stated assumptions. Real consumption depends on the AC model, insulation, thermostat setting and weather.