How Much Solar Do You Need for Off-Grid Camping?

Running out of power two days into a week-long outback trip is no fun. Whether you're keeping the fridge cold, charging a CPAP, or just making sure your phone doesn't die in the middle of nowhere, getting your solar setup right before you leave makes all the difference.

Australia is one of the sunniest countries on the planet. Annual average peak sun hours across our capital cities range from around 4.0 in Melbourne up to 5.7 in Alice Springs. And if you're heading outback, you're sitting in prime solar territory. The sun is on your side.

Quick Answer

• Start by calculating your daily watt-hours (Wh) (add up everything you're running)
• Most couples camping off-grid need 200–400W of solar to keep up with daily use
• Always add a 30–40% buffer for cloudy days and real-world panel output
• Pair your panels with a decent lithium battery bank for overnight storage
• Portable solar blankets or folding panels suit most campers and don’t require a fixed install 

Work Out What You're Using

Before you buy anything, list every device you run and its wattage. A 12V camping fridge draws roughly 30–50Wh per hour (around 40–60Ah per day). Add phone charging, a laptop, LED lighting, a water pump, and maybe a CPAP machine, and a typical two-person setup lands somewhere between 400–800Wh of daily use.

Once you know your daily Wh, the sizing formula is simple:

Daily Wh ÷ peak sun hours = panel wattage needed

So if you're using 600Wh a day and you're camping somewhere with 5 peak sun hours, you'd need around 120W of panels, before accounting for losses. In practice, real-world output from a portable panel runs at 60–80% of its rated wattage due to heat, angle, and cloud. So always size up.

A Rough Guide to Solar Sizing

Portable Panels vs. Fixed Panels: Which is Better for Camping?

For most campers and caravanners, portable is the smarter choice. Fixed roof-mounted panels charge while you're driving, but you're stuck pointing the van at the sun. Portable setups let you park in the shade and angle the panel to catch the best light, which can add 20–30% more output on its own.

Portable solar blankets for camping are especially popular with grey nomads and serious bush campers. They fold up small, roll out fast, and handle Aussie conditions well. For bigger rigs or extended off-grid stays, portable solar panels for camping in the 200–400W range give you the grunt to keep everything running comfortably.

A Few Tips to Get More Out of Every Panel

Point your panel north and tilt it toward the sun. Even a small angle adjustment can noticeably improve output. Keep panels out of the shade (a single shadow across a single cell can significantly reduce output). And on overcast days, plan to use less: cloud cover can cut solar harvest by 50–70%.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, solar exposure varies considerably across Australia depending on cloud cover, season, and latitude, so if you're heading somewhere new, it's worth checking the BOM's solar exposure maps before you go.

Outback SafeTrack stocks a full range of portable solar panels, from compact blankets for weekend getaways to high-output folding kits for extended outback adventures.

Not sure what size you need? Give the team a ring on 1300 902 361 and they'll point you in the right direction.