Key takeaways
- In India “solar inverter” means three different products: a solar UPS (PCU) with a battery, an on-grid inverter for rooftop systems, and a hybrid solar inverter that does both. Only the last two qualify for PM Surya Ghar and net metering.
- A 3 kW on-grid solar inverter costs about ₹20,000 to ₹32,000. A 3 kW hybrid costs ₹44,000 to over ₹1 lakh before you add a battery.
- If a solar UPS has a PWM charger, it can use only small 12 V-style panels. Big rooftop panels need MPPT.
- The inverter is the part you will most likely replace. Look for at least an eight-year warranty and a service centre in your city.
A solar inverter converts the DC power from solar panels into the AC power your home uses. That sounds like one product, but the shop down the road, the rooftop installer and the online listing may each mean something different by “solar inverter for home”. Pick the wrong one and you can lose the subsidy, net metering or most of your panels’ output. This guide starts with that choice, then covers solar inverter price, hybrid vs on-grid, MPPT vs PWM, sizing and warranty.
Three kinds of solar inverter, side by side
| Solar UPS / PCU | On-grid inverter | Hybrid solar inverter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A home inverter with a solar charger built in | Feeds panel power to your home and the grid | On-grid inverter plus battery charger in one box |
| Battery | Always | None | Yes |
| Works in a power cut | Yes | No, it switches off | Yes, for chosen circuits |
| Net metering | No | Yes | Yes |
| PM Surya Ghar subsidy | No | Yes | Yes, on the panels |
| Usual size | 1 to 5 kVA, 12 to 48 V | 1 to 10 kW | 3 to 10 kW |
| Best for | Backup for lights and fans with a few panels | Cutting the bill where cuts are rare | Cutting the bill and keeping power during cuts |
If you want lower electricity bills and the ₹78,000 PM Surya Ghar subsidy, you need an on-grid or a hybrid solar inverter installed with a rooftop system. If you mainly want backup during cuts and have space for only a few panels, a solar UPS is the cheaper route. The full comparison of the three system types, with battery costs, is in on-grid vs off-grid vs hybrid solar.
Solar inverter price in India, October 2026
| Solar inverter | Size | Price, October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Solar UPS / PCU | 1 kVA, 12 V | ₹6,000–12,000 plus GST |
| Solar UPS / PCU | 3 kVA | ₹18,000–30,000 plus GST |
| Solar UPS combo with battery and panels | 1.4 kVA, 150 Ah tubular, 6 × 170 W | About ₹28,000 (Luminous NXG 1450e) |
| On-grid inverter | 3 kW, single phase | ₹20,000–32,000 |
| On-grid inverter | 5 kW, single phase | ₹26,000–45,000 |
| Hybrid solar inverter | 3 kW | ₹44,000–1,02,000 |
| Hybrid solar inverter | 5 kW | ₹64,000–1,36,000 |
| Hybrid solar inverter | 10 kW | ₹1,42,000–2,58,000 |
Two things stand out. Hybrid prices for the same kW vary by more than double between brands, so get at least two quotes. And the inverter is a small share of a rooftop system: a 3 kW on-grid inverter is roughly a tenth of the 3 kW system price. Saving ₹5,000 on an unknown brand rarely makes sense when the inverter is the part most likely to fail. Compare models side by side on compare solar inverters.
On-grid solar inverter: the default for rooftop solar
An on-grid inverter, also called a grid-tie or string inverter, has no battery. It powers your home from the panels, sends the surplus through the net meter, and shuts down within a fraction of a second when the grid fails, so it cannot push power into lines being repaired. Most PM Surya Ghar systems use one. It is the cheapest per unit of electricity and the right pick if your area rarely loses power.
Hybrid solar inverter: when it is worth paying for
A hybrid solar inverter does the on-grid job and also charges a battery and runs your essential circuits during a cut. A 3 kW hybrid with a 5 kWh lithium battery typically keeps fans, lights, the fridge and Wi-Fi going for about eight hours. Hybrid systems still get the PM Surya Ghar subsidy, worked out on the panels only.
- Worth it: cuts of an hour or more on most days, or work from home that cannot stop.
- Worth it later: cuts are rare now but getting worse. Buying a hybrid now costs less than swapping inverters later.
- Not worth it: a steady grid and no backup need. Net metering already acts like free storage.
Check the battery voltage before you buy. Most 3 kW hybrids run on 24 V or 48 V; 48 V keeps current lower and suits lithium. Size the battery for your backup load with the battery backup calculator and compare batteries on compare solar batteries.
Solar inverter with battery: the solar UPS route
A solar UPS, sold as a PCU or “solar inverter with battery”, is a regular home inverter with a solar charge controller inside. It charges the battery from panels in the day and from the grid if the sun is not enough. It never exports power, so there is no net metering and no subsidy. It suits homes that mainly want backup, small shops, and places with long cuts and little roof.
Sizes are in VA and battery voltage: a 1 kVA, 12 V unit runs lights, fans and a TV; 2.5 to 3 kVA on 24 V adds a fridge or a small pump. Work out your backup load first with the home load calculator.
MPPT vs PWM: the spec that decides how much solar you get
Every solar UPS has a charge controller, and it is either PWM or MPPT. PWM is cheap and simply connects the panel to the battery, pulling the panel down to battery voltage. MPPT tracks the panel’s best operating point and converts the extra voltage into charging current. All on-grid and hybrid inverters use MPPT; with solar UPS units you must check.
| Panel on a 12 V battery | With PWM | With MPPT |
|---|---|---|
| 170 W “12 V” panel (about 18 V) | About 127 W, roughly 75% | About 160 W |
| 540 W rooftop panel (about 41 V) | About 178 W, roughly a third, if the controller even accepts it | About 510 W |
This is why PWM solar inverter combos ship with small 165 to 170 W panels. If you want to use modern 540 to 600 W rooftop panels, or may add panels later, buy an MPPT solar inverter. A standalone MPPT charge controller for a 12 or 24 V system costs about ₹1,800 to ₹6,000 for 20 to 60 A.
Can you add solar to your existing home inverter?
Yes, in two ways. For a small top-up, an MPPT charge controller between a few panels and your existing battery lets the sun do some of the charging, though most home inverters are 12 V and limited to a few hundred watts of panels. For a real cut in your bill, install a rooftop on-grid system on its own and keep the old inverter for backup. Many homes run exactly this pair: solar lowers the bill by day, and the old inverter and battery cover cuts.
How to size a solar inverter
- Match the inverter kW to the panels. A 3 kW solar inverter with 3.2 to 3.6 kW of panels is normal. Indian heat keeps panels below their rating most of the time, so a small oversize loses almost nothing.
- Single or three phase. Most homes up to 5 kW use single phase. Larger systems, or homes already on three-phase supply, need a three-phase solar inverter.
- MPPT inputs. Two independent MPPT inputs help when panels face two directions or part of the roof is shaded, and when you add a different panel type later.
- Room to grow. If an EV or more ACs are coming, size for that load now.
Not sure of your system size yet? Start with the solar calculator.
Warranty, replacement and service
Panels last 25 to 30 years; inverters usually last 10 to 15. For PM Surya Ghar systems, MNRE asks for a product warranty of at least eight years from commissioning and BEE-labelled inverters. Brand warranties run from 5 to 10 years, and some can be extended for a fee. Plan on one inverter replacement over the life of your panels, about ₹20,000 to ₹35,000 at today’s prices for 3 kW on-grid.
Service matters more than the badge. Ask the installer which brands they can get repaired in your city within a week, and make sure the inverter’s Wi-Fi or app monitoring is set up on day one, so you notice when output drops.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Is this on-grid, hybrid or a solar UPS, in writing?
- Is the charge controller MPPT? How many MPPT inputs?
- Is the model BEE-labelled and accepted for PM Surya Ghar?
- What is the warranty, and who honours it: the brand or the installer?
- Where is the nearest service centre?
- Is app monitoring included and set up at installation?
Which solar inverter should you buy?
- Steady grid, want lower bills: on-grid solar inverter with a rooftop system.
- Regular cuts, want lower bills too: hybrid solar inverter with a lithium battery sized for essentials.
- Only backup, little roof: MPPT solar UPS with a few panels.
- Already have a home inverter: add an on-grid rooftop system and keep the old inverter for cuts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a solar inverter?
A solar inverter converts the DC electricity from solar panels into AC electricity for your home. On-grid models also send surplus power to the grid, hybrid models also charge a battery, and solar UPS models charge a battery and run the home from it.
What is the price of a solar inverter for home?
In October 2026, a 3 kW on-grid solar inverter costs about ₹20,000 to ₹32,000, a 3 kW hybrid solar inverter about ₹44,000 to ₹1,02,000, and a 1 kVA solar UPS about ₹6,000 to ₹12,000 plus GST. Batteries and panels are extra.
Which is better, a hybrid inverter or an on-grid inverter?
On-grid is better value where power cuts are rare, because it costs roughly half as much and still gets net metering and the subsidy. A hybrid inverter is better if you lose power for an hour or more on most days, because it runs essential loads from a battery.
Can I use a solar inverter without a battery?
Yes. An on-grid solar inverter has no battery at all. It works only while the grid is on and switches off during a power cut.
Is MPPT better than PWM?
Yes. An MPPT charge controller gets about 95% of a panel’s power into the battery and works with large rooftop panels. PWM loses around a quarter even with small 12 V panels and wastes most of the output of a modern 540 W panel.
What size solar inverter do I need for a 3 kW system?
A 3 kW solar inverter, paired with about 3.2 to 3.6 kW of panels. Choose single phase unless your home already has three-phase supply or the system is larger than about 5 kW.