A 5kVA inverter in Nigeria costs about ₦450,000 to ₦1,000,000 for the inverter alone in October 2026, and up to about ₦1,600,000 for a premium Deye hybrid. With a 5kWh lithium battery and 6–8 solar panels, most complete 5kVA setups land around ₦3,000,000 to ₦4,500,000.

Quick answer

Inverter only: ₦450,000–₦1,000,000 for Felicity, Must, Growatt, Luminous and similar; Deye 5–6kW from about ₦480,000 to ₦1,600,000.
Usable power: about 4,000 W (5,000VA × 0.8); some newer units are rated a full 5,000 W.
Battery voltage: almost always 48V, so four 12V batteries in series or one 48V lithium pack.
Runs: fridge, TVs, fans, lights, laptops and one 1hp AC, or a small pumping machine at a different time.
Full setup: about ₦3,000,000–₦4,500,000 with a 5kWh lithium battery and 6–8 panels.

Our solar inverter price list covers every size from 1kVA to 20kW. This page goes deeper on 5kVA only, which is the size most Nigerian homes end up choosing once NEPA supply drops below 12 hours a day and the petrol generator bill becomes painful.

How much is a 5kVA inverter in Nigeria by brand?

We checked Zit, Jiji (Lagos and Abuja), Alabamart, a Lagos Deye dealer and recent 2026 price guides. These are inverter-only prices, with no batteries or panels.

Brand / model	Battery	Price range	Notes
Felicity 5kVA hybrid (IVEM5048)	48V	₦500,000 – ₦990,000	Jiji ₦500k–₦680k; Zit lists ₦986,000. 500V PV input, 100A MPPT.
Growatt SPF 5000ES	48V	₦545,000 – ₦600,000	Zit ₦546,250 (often out of stock); Abuja Jiji ₦550k–₦580k. 450V PV input, Wi-Fi.
Must PV1800 5kVA (PV18-5048 VHM)	48V	₦460,000 – ₦720,000	Rated 5,000 W, 80A MPPT, but only 145V max PV voltage.
Luminous 5kVA (Regalia)	48V	₦580,000 – ₦650,000	6kVA Rayverter Neo Elite seen at about ₦750,000 on Jiji.
Deye 5kW / 6kW hybrid	48V	₦480,000 – ₦1,600,000	Wide spread between dealers; confirm the exact model (e.g. SUN-6K-SG04LP1).
SRNE 5kVA	48V	From about ₦375,000	Few listings; confirm model and warranty.
Prag 5kVA hybrid	48V	About ₦577,000	See our Prag guide.
Other 24V 5kVA units (SMS, Blue Power, Icellpower)	24V	₦420,000 – ₦630,000	Cheaper, but 24V at 5kVA means very high battery current.

Prices checked October 2026 from Nigerian retailers and marketplaces; prices change often with the exchange rate.

Two things explain most of the price gap. First, solar input: a Felicity IVEM5048 accepts up to 500V from the panels, while the Must VHM tops out at 145V, which limits how many panels you can wire in series. Second, lithium communication, Wi-Fi monitoring and warranty support, which push Deye and Growatt up. For model-by-model reviews see our Must and Growatt guides.

How much is a 5kVA inverter with batteries and solar panels?

Sellers in Alaba, Ikeja and on Jiji often say “5kVA” when they mean a package. Always ask what is included. Here is how the cost builds up:

What you buy	Typical cost
5kVA 48V inverter only	₦450,000 – ₦1,000,000
+ four 12V 220Ah tubular batteries	about ₦1,360,000 extra (around ₦340,000 each)
or + one 48V 5kWh lithium battery	₦1,360,000 – ₦1,740,000 extra
or + one 48V 10kWh lithium battery	about ₦2,650,000 extra
+ 6–8 × 550W panels	₦690,000 – ₦1,320,000 extra (₦115k–₦165k per panel)
Installed 5kVA system with 5kWh lithium and panels	roughly ₦3,000,000 – ₦4,500,000

Prices checked October 2026 from Nigerian retailers and marketplaces; prices change often with the exchange rate.

As a real-world check, a Lagos buyer reported in April 2026 paying about ₦3.75 million for a 5kVA inverter, a 5kWh lithium battery and eight 590W panels. Cables, breakers, surge protection, mounting and labour are where quotes differ most. For full system quotes from budget tubular to premium 10kWh lithium, see how much a complete solar system costs in Nigeria.

What can a 5kVA inverter power?

kVA is not the same as watts. Multiply by a power factor of about 0.8: 5,000VA × 0.8 = 4,000 W. Some newer models, like the Must PV1800 5048 and Felicity IVEM5048, are rated a full 5,000 W, but plan on about 3,500–4,000 W of continuous load so the inverter is not running flat out all evening.

Appliance	Approx. running watts
Double-door fridge or chest freezer	150 – 250 W
1hp split AC (inverter type)	750 – 1,000 W
55″ LED TV + decoder	120 – 150 W
3 standing fans	200 W
15 LED bulbs	150 W
2 laptops + Wi-Fi router	150 W
1hp pumping machine (running)	750 W, with a start-up surge of 2–3 times that

Typical ratings; check the label on your own appliance.

Worked example: fridge (200 W) + one 1hp AC (900 W) + TV (150 W) + fans (200 W) + lights (150 W) + laptops and router (150 W) = 1,750 W. That sits comfortably inside a 5kVA inverter, with room to switch on the pumping machine for 20 minutes in the morning. Two ACs plus a pumping machine plus an electric iron at once will overload it.

Avoid heating loads on battery: an electric kettle or iron (1,000–2,000 W) drains a 5kWh battery fast. Use them when NEPA is on or in the afternoon when the panels are producing.

Is a 5kVA inverter 24V or 48V, and how many batteries does it need?

Buy 48V. At 4,000 W, a 48V inverter draws about 83 A from the battery (4,000 ÷ 48); a 24V unit would draw about 167 A, which needs thicker cables and wears batteries faster. Almost every serious 5kVA model in Nigeria (Felicity, Growatt, Must, Deye, Luminous) is 48V.

Tubular option: four 12V 200Ah or 220Ah batteries in series make 48V. Four 220Ah batteries hold about 10.5kWh, but only about half (5.3kWh) is safely usable.
Lithium option: one 48V 100Ah (5.12kWh) LiFePO4 pack, with about 90% usable. Add a second pack later for 10kWh.
Do not mix: never mix old and new tubular batteries, or different brands, in the same string.

Backup time: a 5kWh lithium battery gives about 4,600 Wh usable. At an 800 W night load (fridge, fans, TV, lights) that is about 5.5–6 hours. Run the AC all night as well and you need 10kWh. Compare battery options in our solar battery price guide.

How many solar panels does a 5kVA inverter need?

Most installers fit 6–8 panels of 550W (3.3–4.4kW). With about 4.5–5 hours of good sun in most of Nigeria, that refills a 5kWh battery and also runs daytime loads. Check the inverter’s PV limits first: the Must VHM only accepts two 550W panels in series because of its 145V limit, while Felicity IVEM and Growatt SPF can take longer strings. See current solar panel prices.

How do I know a genuine 5kVA inverter from a fake?

Match the model number: the rating label should show a real model (IVEM5048, SPF 5000ES, PV18-5048 VHM) and the specs on the label should match the brand’s datasheet.
Check the serial number: the serial on the box, the unit and your receipt should be the same. Ask the brand’s Nigerian office or authorised distributor to confirm it before you pay.
Use the monitoring app: Growatt (ShinePhone) and Deye (Solarman) units register by serial number. If the Wi-Fi dongle will not register, ask questions.
Distrust very low prices: a “5kVA hybrid” far under ₦400,000 new is usually a relabelled lower-rated unit or a used one.
Test under load: before paying, run a 2,000 W kettle or heater on battery and check the display shows the load without tripping.

Is 5kVA the right size for my house?

5kVA suits a 2–4 bedroom flat or bungalow that wants to run everything except heavy cooking and more than one AC. If you only need lights, fans, TV and a fridge, a 3.5kVA inverter is cheaper. If you have a duplex with two or three ACs, look at a 10kVA inverter. For which brand to trust, read our best solar inverter in Nigeria guide.

Need help choosing? Contact us or browse our shop.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 5kVA inverter carry a 1.5hp AC?

Yes. An inverter-type 1.5hp AC uses roughly 1,100–1,400 W once running, well within 4,000 W. The limit is battery size: on a 5kWh battery it will run for only a few hours at night alongside your other loads.

How many batteries does a 5kVA inverter take?

Four 12V batteries for a 48V model, or one 48V lithium pack. A 24V 5kVA model takes two 12V batteries, but 24V at this size is not recommended.

Which is the cheapest good 5kVA inverter?

Must and Growatt 48V models start around ₦460,000–₦550,000 and Felicity around ₦500,000. Pick one with enough PV voltage for your panels and a dealer who honours the warranty.

Can a 5kVA inverter run a borehole pump?

A 0.75–1hp pump, yes, if little else is running when it starts, because the start-up surge can be 2–3 times its running watts. Run it in the afternoon when the panels are producing.