# Compare home batteries with the Battery ROI calculator Kilowatts Academy # Compare home batteries with the Battery ROI calculator A step-by-step guide for homeowners looking at battery storage, with or without solar. ## Watch the walkthrough [Download the video walkthrough](https://kilowatts.uk/media/academy/2026-11-07/videos/battery-compare-home.mp4) [Read the English captions](/media/academy/2026-11-07/videos/battery-compare-home.vtt) The Battery ROI calculator asks a few questions about your home and your bill, then ranks the batteries in the Kilowatts shop. The figures below are **example rates** and example figures used for this guide, not recommendations. Use the numbers on your own bill. As the page says, results are a guide, not a quote. --- ## Step 1: Start at the Battery ROI calculator Go to **Batteries** on kilowatts.uk and select **Choose a calculator**. [![Step 1: Battery ROI calculator](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-01.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-01.png)Step 1: Battery ROI calculator## Step 2: Choose Home Under **Home, business or industrial**, select **Open the home calculator**. [![Step 2: choose Home](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-02.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-02.png)Step 2: choose Home## Step 3: Solar panels **Do you have solar panels, or are you installing them with the battery?** This example chooses **Yes**: already installed, or going in with the battery. If you don't have solar, choose **No** and the solar question is skipped. [![Step 3: solar question](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-03.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-03.png)Step 3: solar question## Step 4: Solar generation Enter your solar system's **average daily generation** in kWh/day. You can check it on your inverter app, and a hint under the box gives a typical range. This example uses **10**. Select **Continue**. [![Step 4: daily generation](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-04.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-04.png)Step 4: daily generation## Step 5: Annual electricity use Enter your **total annual household electricity consumption** in kWh/year from your bill or smart meter. This example uses **2700**. Your answers so far appear as chips above each question. [![Step 5: annual use](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-05.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-05.png)Step 5: annual use## Step 6: When you use electricity Choose how much you use in the evening and overnight. This example uses **A normal mix**. [![Step 6: usage pattern](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-06.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-06.png)Step 6: usage pattern## Step 7: Your example rates Enter your **normal day rate** in p/kWh (example: **28**), then your **off-peak or night rate** (example: **7**). If you only have one rate, enter the same number twice. [![Step 7: day rate](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-07.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-07.png)Step 7: day rate[![Step 7: off-peak rate](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-08.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-08.png)Step 7: off-peak rate## Step 8: Export rate Enter what you are **paid per kWh for electricity you export** (example: **15**). Enter 0 if you are not paid for export. [![Step 8: export rate](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-09.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-09.png)Step 8: export rate## Step 9: Backup gateway **Do you want a backup gateway?** This example chooses **No**, which means using the battery for bill savings only. [![Step 9: backup gateway](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-10.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-10.png)Step 9: backup gateway## Step 10: Best batteries for this home The results show **Best batteries for this home**, ranked from the 15 models in the Kilowatts shop. Tiles summarise your home: **Daily usage**, **Solar daily avg**, **Surplus to store**, **Self-consumption** and **Night demand**. Below them are a **10-year cumulative return** chart and a **Top 5 comparison** chart. Select **New comparison** to start again. [![Step 10: results](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-11.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-11.png)Step 10: results## Step 11: Change how batteries are ranked Use **Best ROI**, **Fastest Payback**, **Best Fit**, **Lowest Cost** and **Longest Life** to reorder the battery cards. Each card shows the battery, its usable kWh and the calculator's estimates for your figures. [![Step 11: ranking buttons](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-12.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-12.png)Step 11: ranking buttons[![Step 11: ranked by Longest Life](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-13.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-13.png)Step 11: ranked by Longest Life## Step 12: See one battery's 10-year estimate Select **Show 10-year ROI** on a card to open a panel under it. The example shows a Sigenergy SigenStor 8 kWh battery. The panel has a short explanation and a table of the calculator's estimates from **Year 1** to **Year 10**. From the panel you can also **Add to cart**, **View product** or **Get installation quote**, but none of these are used in this guide. Select **Hide 10-year ROI** to close it. [![Step 12: 10-year panel](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-14.png)](/media/academy/2026-11-07/images/battery-compare-home-14.png)Step 12: 10-year panel> All figures are calculator estimates based on the numbers you entered. They are not advice or a quote. --- **Also see:** [Business battery calculator](/academy/customer/battery-compare-business/) ยท [Industrial: tell us about your project](/academy/customer/battery-compare-industrial/) Questions? Call **0800 009 6058**.