A home battery does one job: it moves cheap electricity to expensive hours. Spare solar in the day, or off-peak units overnight, get used at 6pm when the grid wants 27p. Everything else — the app, the spec-sheet cycle count, the badge — is secondary to how much shifting a pound buys you.
That is why this table leads with installed price per usable kWh. It is the number installers rarely quote and the fairest way to compare a £3,800 Enphase against a £7,900 Powerwall. Prices are typical fitted costs from real UK quotes, including 0% VAT.
The comparison
| Battery | Usable | Installed cost | £/kWh | Warranty | Backup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enphase IQ 5P | 5.0 kWh | £3,800–£4,500 | £760–£900 | 15 years | Yes (with controller) | Smaller homes, modular |
| Fox ESS EP11 | 10.4 kWh | £4,500–£5,600 | £433–£538 | 10 years | Yes (with EPS) | Best value per kWh |
| GivEnergy 9.5 | 9.5 kWh | £5,200–£6,500 | £547–£684 | 12 years | Yes (EPS) | UK support and app |
| Sunsynk 10.6 | 10.6 kWh | £5,000–£6,200 | £472–£585 | 10 years | Yes | Solar + battery packages |
| Tesla Powerwall 3 | 13.5 kWh | £7,500–£9,000 | £556–£667 | 10 years | Yes (full backup) | Whole-home backup |
| GivEnergy All in One | 13.5 kWh | £6,500–£8,000 | £481–£593 | 12 years | Yes (EPS) | All-in-one simplicity |
| Pylontech Force H2 | 7.1 kWh | £3,800–£5,000 | £535–£704 | 10 years | With inverter | Modular expandability |
| Duracell Dura5 | 5.0 kWh | £3,500–£4,800 | £700–£960 | 10 years | No | Brand trust, simplicity |
What matters more than the badge
Warranty length, usable capacity (not nominal), and whether backup mode costs extra to enable — those three things matter more than who makes the box. Every battery here is lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which is the chemistry you want: safe, long-lived and tolerant of daily cycling. Not sure what size you need? Use the battery size finder to match a battery to your actual usage.
Installed price varies by postcode, scaffolding needs and whether you are adding storage to existing solar or starting fresh. The figures above are mid-range retrofit costs. Adding a battery during a solar install typically saves £500–£1,000 on labour and paperwork. If you are buying without solar, see our guide to battery storage without solar panels.
Don't overlook the inverter
Some batteries (Tesla Powerwall, GivEnergy AIO) have the inverter built in. Others need a separate hybrid or battery inverter — that is £800–£1,500 extra if you do not already have one. If you see a battery price that looks too good to be true, check whether the inverter is in the quote.
Frequently asked questions
Most UK homes with 4–5 kWp of solar do well with 9.5–10.5 kWh of storage. That covers the evening peak and leaves headroom for a cloudy day. Use the battery size finder to get a number for your actual usage.
Yes — this is called a retrofit or AC-coupled install. You will need a battery inverter in addition to your solar inverter. Expect to pay £500–£1,000 more than installing both together.
Most can, but it is rarely automatic. Look for "EPS" (Emergency Power Supply) or "backup" in the spec. Tesla Powerwall and GivEnergy do proper whole-home backup. Others need a separate backup circuit wired in — budget £300–£600 extra for the electrician.
LFP batteries are typically warrantied for 10 years or 10,000 cycles — whichever comes first. At one cycle a day, that is 27 years. Most will hit the calendar limit first. Expect 70–80% of original capacity at year 10.
Yes — since February 2024, all battery storage installed in UK homes qualifies for 0% VAT, whether or not you have solar. The prices in our table all include this. If an installer quotes you a price plus VAT, push back.
Right size first. Quotes second.
Usage in, recommended capacity out. Then, if you want them, up to three quotes from vetted installers.