What Size Battery Do I Need for My Florida Home?
Short answer: it depends entirely on which circuits you want backed up and for how long, not a generic per-square-foot number. Most Florida homes land on one or two batteries in the 10-13.5 kWh range.
Quick answer: Start by listing the circuits you actually want backed up during an outage — refrigerator, some lighting, outlets, medical equipment — then size the battery to run that specific load list for your target number of hours, rather than trying to power the entire house.
Battery sizing is a different exercise than solar panel sizing. Panels are sized against your annual usage; batteries are sized against your outage priorities, which is a much more personal decision.
A simple sizing approach
| Step | What it does |
|---|---|
| 1. List essential circuits | Refrigerator, some lighting, outlets, medical equipment, garage door, internet/router |
| 2. Estimate combined load | Add up typical running watts for those circuits |
| 3. Multiply by target hours | Florida hurricane-season outages commonly run 24-72 hours |
| 4. Compare to usable battery capacity | A single 13.5 kWh battery has roughly 12 kWh usable; stack multiple batteries for longer runtime or heavier loads |
What Florida households often prioritize
- Refrigeration. Food spoilage is one of the most common post-storm costs, and it’s a relatively light, steady load to back up.
- Medical equipment. CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, and similar devices are frequently top priority.
- Well pumps and sump pumps. These draw significant surge power at startup, so the inverter rating matters as much as battery capacity.
- HVAC. Air conditioning is the heaviest common load and often requires a larger battery configuration if you want it backed up, given how much power cooling draws in Florida.
Why we size against your specific list
A battery sized for “the essentials” for one household looks very different from another’s, depending on medical needs, whether there’s a well, and how long you’re typically without power after a storm in your area. We build the load list with you rather than assuming a standard package fits every home.
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Frequently asked questions
How many batteries does a typical Florida home need?
Most homes land on one or two batteries in the 10-13.5 kWh range, but the right number depends on which circuits you want backed up and for how long, not a fixed rule.
Can a battery back up my whole house, including air conditioning?
It’s possible, but air conditioning is a heavy load, so backing up your whole home including HVAC generally requires a larger battery configuration than backing up essential circuits alone.
How long does a home battery typically last during an outage?
It depends on the load connected and the battery’s usable capacity, but a single battery running essential circuits like a refrigerator and some lighting can often last well over 24 hours.
Should I size my battery around Florida’s hurricane season?
Yes, that’s a common priority for Florida homeowners, since outages of 24-72 hours are common after major storms, and we factor typical outage duration into sizing recommendations.
What loads draw the most power and need special attention when sizing a battery?
Well pumps, sump pumps, and air conditioning draw significant power, including startup surges, so the inverter’s surge rating matters as much as the battery’s total capacity for these loads.
Related guides
- How does solar battery storage work?
- What happens to solar panels during a hurricane?
- Home solar, battery and EV charging in Florida
- Solar systems
- Battery storage
- Florida solar by city
Figures on this page are typical industry averages for planning purposes and assume Florida’s 14.5¢/kWh average residential rate and 5.5 peak-sun hours per day. Your actual numbers will differ based on your utility, roof, and system — request a free evaluation for figures specific to your home.