Choosing a home battery in 2026 The best solar battery for your home
The best battery is the one that fits how you use electricity, works with your inverter, and comes with a warranty from a company that will be there to honour it. That last point matters more than most people think. Here's what to compare.
In this guide
What to compare
- Usable capacity (kWh). How much energy you can actually use. Always lower than the headline figure, because batteries keep a reserve; the Energy Saving Trust gives around 20% as an example.
- Power (kW). How much it can supply at once. A small output limit means it can't run the kettle, oven and shower together, and the rest comes from the grid.
- Coupling. An AC-coupled battery has its own inverter and suits most existing systems. A DC-coupled battery shares a hybrid inverter with the panels. Some all-in-one products have a solar inverter built in.
- Backup in a power cut. Most batteries don't power the house in a power cut without extra equipment. Some systems offer it built in, so ask what's included.
- Expandability. Modular batteries let you add capacity later, handy if you might get an electric car or heat pump.
- Warranty. Length in years, any limit on energy throughput, and the capacity guaranteed at the end.
- The app and tariff features. Good software charges the battery at the cheapest times automatically.
- The company. Its UK presence, support record and how long it's been trading.
Prices and warranties
| Published figure | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | £1,500 to £10,000 | Energy Saving Trust |
| Typical buy and install | Usually upwards of £2,000 | Which? |
| Average installation in 2025 | About £9,000 | MCS data |
| Warranty | Often 10 years; some installer guides list batteries with 5 years | Which?, Heatable |
A cheaper battery with half the warranty can cost more in the end, so read the terms, not just the brochure. Our page on what a solar battery costs breaks prices down by size.
The warranty question
Batteries last 10 to 12 years, according to the Energy Saving Trust, and warranties are often 10 years. A warranty that long is only worth something if the company is still there.
A battery warranty is only as good as the company behind it. Ask who stands behind yours, and what happens if the manufacturer or the installer stops trading.
- Ask who backs the warranty: the manufacturer, a UK distributor, or the installer.
- Ask how long the manufacturer has supported products in the UK.
- Check the capacity guaranteed at the end of the warranty, not just its length.
Which battery suits you?
| If you... | Look for |
|---|---|
| already have panels and a working inverter | An AC-coupled battery with its own inverter |
| are fitting new panels at the same time | A hybrid inverter and battery designed to work together |
| want power during power cuts | Built-in backup, or a system designed for it, and enough output (kW) |
| plan an electric car or heat pump | A modular battery you can add to, and good tariff software |
| have limited space | A wall-mounted unit, placed outdoors or in a garage where possible |
And size it to your evenings, not your whole day. Our guide on what size battery you need shows how.
Questions people ask
What is the best solar battery in the UK?
There's no single best. The right one fits your evening use, works with your inverter, offers backup if you want it, and has a warranty from a company with a solid UK record.
How much does a good solar battery cost?
Published UK prices run from about £1,500 to £10,000, according to the Energy Saving Trust, depending mostly on capacity. Compare usable capacity, power and warranty, not just price.
Which battery works in a power cut?
Only ones designed or set up for backup. Most don't power the house in a power cut as standard. Ask specifically.
How long is a solar battery warranty?
Often 10 years, but some are 5. Check the capacity guaranteed at the end and any limit on energy throughput.
Read next
Sources
Figures and rules on this page were checked on 11 October 2026. Schemes, tariffs and prices change, so check the latest before you decide.
- Energy Saving Trust: Battery storage, updated 6 October 2026
- Which?: Solar panel battery storage, 15 May 2026
- MCS: Battery storage, updated 8 July 2026
- Heatable: Solar battery storage prices UK (installer marketplace guide prices), updated 9 June 2026
- BSI: PAS 63100:2024, fire protection of home battery systems, March 2024
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