A 3.5kVA inverter in Nigeria costs about ₦300,000 to ₦720,000 for the inverter alone in October 2026, depending on brand and whether it has a built-in solar charger. A complete 3.5kVA solar setup with batteries and 4–6 panels usually costs about ₦1,900,000 to ₦3,600,000.

Quick answer

Inverter only: about ₦300,000–₦720,000 for hybrid models (Felicity, Luminous, generic 24V hybrids); older non-solar units can be cheaper.
Usable power: about 2,800 W (3,500VA × 0.8); some models, like the Felicity IVPS3524, are rated 3,000 W.
Battery voltage: usually 24V (two 12V batteries); some Luminous, Prag and Lithion models are 48V (four batteries).
Runs: fridge, TV, fans, lights, laptops and Wi-Fi, plus one 1hp AC for a few hours or a small pumping machine on its own.
Full setup: about ₦1,900,000–₦2,600,000 with tubular batteries, or ₦2,800,000–₦3,600,000 with lithium.

Our solar inverter price list covers every size from 1kVA to 20kW. This page goes deeper on 3.5kVA only. It is a popular size for flats and small bungalows, and for shops that need steady light and a fridge when NEPA supply is poor, without paying for a 5kVA setup.

How much is a 3.5kVA inverter in Nigeria by brand?

We checked Zit, Jumia, Jiji (Lagos) and recent 2026 Nigerian price guides. These are prices for the inverter alone, with no batteries or panels. Some popular brands, such as Must and Growatt, sell a 3kW model rather than a true 3.5kVA, so we list their nearest size.

Brand / model	Battery	Price range	Notes
Felicity 3.5kVA (IVPS3524)	24V	₦540,000 – ₦720,000	Zit ₦544,000; Jumia ₦720,000. Rated 3,500VA / 3,000 W.
Luminous 3.5kVA (Cruze)	48V	From about ₦335,000	Zit listing out of stock; confirm whether it has a built-in solar charger.
Luminous HPV 3.6kVA hybrid	24V	About ₦455,000	Jiji, Lagos. Slightly bigger than 3.5kVA, with solar charging.
Generic 3.5kW 24V hybrids (e.g. Zenith)	24V	About ₦300,000	Jiji listing claims 500V PV input and 100A MPPT; check the warranty.
Lithion 3.5kVA hybrid	48V	About ₦660,000	Uses a PWM charger, not MPPT. Out of stock at Zit.
Prag 3.5kVA	48V	From about ₦200,000	Lowest price in an April 2026 guide; older inverter/charger style. See our Prag guide.
Must 3kVA hybrid (PV1800, nearest size)	24V	About ₦456,000	Zit. 80A MPPT. See our Must guide.
Growatt 3kW hybrid (SPF 3000TL-HVM-24, nearest size)	24V	About ₦432,000	Zit. Maximum 1,500 W of panels. See our Growatt guide.

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

Why such a wide spread? A cheap 3.5kVA is often a plain inverter/charger that charges from NEPA or a generator only. A ₦500,000+ unit usually has a built-in MPPT solar charger, lithium battery settings and a better warranty. For Felicity’s other sizes and batteries, see our Felicity price guide.

Should I buy a hybrid or non-hybrid 3.5kVA inverter?

A hybrid 3.5kVA has the solar charge controller built in. You connect panels, batteries, NEPA and your generator to one box. A non-hybrid (inverter/charger) only charges from the grid or a generator, so for solar you must add a separate charge controller.

	Hybrid 3.5kVA	Non-hybrid 3.5kVA
Inverter price	About ₦300,000 – ₦720,000	From about ₦200,000
Solar charging	Built in (MPPT or PWM)	Needs a separate controller
Best for	Homes adding solar now	Grid/generator backup only, or an existing solar controller
Wiring	Simpler, one box	More parts, more joints

Our estimates from October 2026 listings; prices change often with the exchange rate.

For most homes adding panels, a hybrid with MPPT is the better buy. A 60A MPPT controller bought separately adds cost and another point of failure. Compare prices in our solar charge controller guide. MPPT is better than PWM: it harvests more from the same panels, especially in the hot afternoon.

What can a 3.5kVA inverter carry?

kVA is not watts. Multiply by a power factor of about 0.8: 3,500VA × 0.8 = 2,800 W. To keep the inverter cool and healthy, plan on about 2,000–2,400 W of continuous load.

Appliance	Approx. running watts	OK on 3.5kVA?
Fridge or small chest freezer	150 – 250 W	Yes
43″–55″ LED TV + decoder	100 – 150 W	Yes
3 standing fans	200 W	Yes
10 LED bulbs	100 W	Yes
2 laptops + Wi-Fi router	150 W	Yes
1hp split AC (inverter type)	750 – 1,000 W	Yes, but drains the battery fast
0.75hp pumping machine	550 W running, 2–3× at start	Yes, with little else on
Electric iron or kettle	1,000 – 2,000 W	Only for short use, ideally on NEPA or sun
Two ACs at once	1,800 W+	No; choose 5kVA

Typical ratings; check the label on your own appliance.

Worked example (a 2-bedroom flat in Lagos): fridge (200 W) + TV and decoder (150 W) + fans (200 W) + lights (100 W) + laptops and router (150 W) = 800 W. That is well inside 2,800 W. Add a 1hp AC (900 W) and you are at 1,700 W, still fine for the inverter. The real limit is the battery, as the next section shows.

Is a 3.5kVA inverter 24V or 48V, and how many batteries does it need?

Most 3.5kVA inverters sold in Nigeria are 24V. Some Luminous, Prag and Lithion models are 48V. Check the label before you buy batteries, because you cannot change it later.

24V model: two 12V 200Ah or 220Ah tubular batteries in series, or one 24V lithium pack. At full load it draws about 117 A (2,800 ÷ 24), so use thick, short cables.
48V model: four 12V batteries in series, or one 48V lithium pack. Current is about half (about 58 A), which is easier on cables and batteries.
Do not mix: never mix old and new batteries, or different brands, in one bank.

Battery bank (24V)	Stored energy	Safely usable	Backup at 800 W	Approx. cost
2 × 12V 220Ah tubular	5.3kWh	About 2.6kWh (50%)	About 3 hours	About ₦680,000
24V 3.5kWh lithium	3.5kWh	About 3.1kWh (90%)	About 4 hours	About ₦610,000 – ₦850,000
24V 5kWh lithium	5kWh	About 4.5kWh (90%)	About 5.5 hours	About ₦1,200,000 – ₦1,750,000

Our estimates. Lithium prices from Nigerian listings collected in 2025–2026; prices change often with the exchange rate.

The maths: 2.6kWh ÷ 0.8kW ≈ 3.2 hours. That is enough to get through a typical evening outage, but not a whole night. For all-night fans and the fridge, go for 5kWh of lithium. See current options in our solar battery price guide.

How many solar panels does a 3.5kVA inverter need?

Most installers fit 4–6 panels of 550W (2.2–3.3kW). With about 4.5–5 good sun hours in most of Nigeria, 4 × 550W makes roughly 2,200 W × 4.5 h ≈ 9.9kWh on a clear day, before losses. That is enough to refill a 5kWh battery and run daytime loads.

Check the inverter’s solar input limit first. The Growatt SPF 3000TL-HVM-24, for example, accepts only 1,500 W of panels. That is about 2–3 × 550W. A 24V hybrid with a 500V input can take 4–6 panels in one string. Panels cost about ₦120,000–₦200,000 each for 550W; see current solar panel prices.

How much is a complete 3.5kVA solar system in Nigeria?

Item	Budget (tubular)	Lithium
3.5kVA hybrid inverter	₦300,000 – ₦550,000	₦450,000 – ₦720,000
Batteries	2 × 220Ah tubular: about ₦680,000	24V 5kWh lithium: ₦1,200,000 – ₦1,750,000
Panels	4 × 550W: ₦480,000 – ₦800,000	4–6 × 550W: ₦480,000 – ₦1,200,000
Cables, breakers, surge protection, mounting, labour	₦300,000 – ₦500,000	₦350,000 – ₦550,000
Total	About ₦1,900,000 – ₦2,600,000	About ₦2,800,000 – ₦3,600,000

Our estimates from October 2026 Nigerian retailer prices; prices change often with the exchange rate.

Against a petrol generator, the sums add up fast. A small generator running 5 hours a day on 1.5–2 litres burns about ₦45,000–₦60,000 of petrol a month at about ₦1,000 per litre, before servicing. Prices vary by city and month, so plug in what you pay at your filling station. For a side-by-side of system sizes, see how much a complete solar system costs in Nigeria.

Is 3.5kVA enough for my house, or should I buy 5kVA?

3.5kVA suits a self-contain, a 1–2 bedroom flat, or a shop or office that needs lights, fans, TV, a fridge and laptops. Pick a 5kVA inverter if you want to run one AC most evenings plus a pumping machine, or if you are on Band A and want solar to carry most of the house. Pick a 10kVA inverter for a duplex with two or three ACs. If you are still choosing a brand, read our best solar inverter in Nigeria guide.

Need a quote? Visit our shop or contact us.

How do you spot a fake 3.5kVA inverter?

Check the serial number with the brand: photograph the serial on the unit and box, then confirm it with the brand’s Nigerian office or website before you pay. “London-used” or refurbished units often have mismatched or scratched-off serials.
Buy from an authorised dealer: ask the brand which dealers in your city are authorised, and avoid roadside sellers who can’t show proof.
Insist on a warranty card: it should carry the serial number, date of purchase and the dealer’s stamp. No card usually means no warranty.
Be wary of prices far below the market: a “new” hybrid 3.5kVA offered well under about ₦300,000 is likely used, refurbished or fake.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 3.5kVA inverter carry a 1.5hp AC?

An inverter-type 1.5hp AC uses about 1,100–1,400 W once running, so the inverter can carry it. With an 800 W base load as well, a 2.6kWh tubular bank would last only about 1–1.5 hours (2.6kWh ÷ about 2kW). Run ACs in the afternoon on solar, or step up to 5kVA.

How many batteries does a 3.5kVA inverter take?

Two 12V batteries for a 24V model, four for a 48V model, or a single lithium pack of the matching voltage.

Can a 3.5kVA inverter run a pumping machine?

A 0.5–0.75hp pump, yes, if little else is running when it starts. The start-up surge can be 2–3 times its running watts. A 1hp pump is better on a 5kVA.

What is the difference between 3kVA and 3.5kVA?

About 400 W of usable power (2,400 W vs 2,800 W). In practice, battery size and the solar charger matter more than this small step. Compare a good 3kW hybrid against a basic 3.5kVA before choosing on the number alone.