A ground-mount plug-in solar kit suits UK homes with a garden, patio or yard and no wish for roof mounting. On 11 November 2026 the cheapest register-listed solar kit with a mount in the box was the Solarfy Solo 455 at £399, and the dearest was the UKSOL Pro Duo 890W ground mount at £979. The kits differ most in weight, ballast and delivery, so we compare those first.
How we picked these
Only plug-in solar kits that ship with a ground, garden or flat mount and match a Compliant entry on the ENA register are in the table. Bare solar panels, bracket-only listings and any solar kit without a mount are out. For the cheapest kits of any mount type, see our balcony kit comparison.
Ground-mount plug-in solar kits compared
The table runs from cheapest to dearest, using each retailer's own price. Solarfy's "flat mount" is sold for gardens, patios and flat roofs, so check it suits your ground. The register reference is the one your seller should be able to quote.
| Kit | Panels | Mount | Price | Delivery | Register ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solarfy Solo 455Solarfy. Panel is 22 kg. | 1 × 455W | Flat mount, 5 m AC lead and 2 m DC cable | £399In stock | Free two-person delivery, 5 to 8 working days | SOLAW/21640/V1 |
| PatioSun LitePatioSun. Maker says a complete kit weighs 85 kg or more. | 1 × 445W bifacial | Fold-out steel ground stand, preinstalled | £449In stock | Free to the mainland (2 Nov), made to order, 10 to 14 days | PATIO/21264/V1/A1 |
| Worldwide Solar garden kitWorldwide Solar. Concrete ballast is not included. | 2 × 460W monofacial | Two 20° steel ballast mounts | £454In stock | £55 at checkout (2 Nov) | WORLD/21447/V1/A5 |
| PatioSun Lite+PatioSun. Same stand as the Lite. | 1 × 465W bifacial | Fold-out steel ground stand, preinstalled | £470In stock | Free to the mainland (2 Nov), made to order, 10 to 14 days | PATIO/21294/V1 |
| Solarfy Duo 910Solarfy. Each panel is 22 kg. | 2 × 455W | Flat mount, four legs for two panels | £549In stock | Free two-person delivery, 5 to 8 working days | SOLAW/21608/V1 |
| UKSOL Pro Compact 460W ground mountUKSOL. Dearer than the 465W PatioSun Lite+. | 1 × 460W | Ground mount only | £679Not marked sold out | Not stated on the listing | UKSOL/21002/V1/A2 |
| PatioSun DuoPatioSun. About 20 minutes to assemble, two people. | 2 × 445W bifacial | Fold-out steel ground stand, preinstalled | £699In stock | Free to the mainland (2 Nov), made to order, 10 to 14 days | PATIO/21026/V1/A2 |
| PatioSun MaxPatioSun. Inverter has two MPPT inputs, for shade. | 2 × 445W bifacial | Fold-out steel ground stand, preinstalled | £749In stock | Free to the mainland (2 Nov), made to order, 10 to 14 days | PATIO/21261/V1/A1 |
| PatioSun Max PlusPatioSun. Register lists it as Max+. | 2 × 465W bifacial | Fold-out steel ground stand, preinstalled | £779In stock | Free to the mainland (2 Nov), made to order, 10 to 14 days | PATIO/21299/V1 |
| UKSOL Pro Duo 890W ground mountUKSOL. City Plumbing lists it at £1,320. | 2 panels, 890W | Ground mount only | £979Not marked sold out | Not stated on the listing | UKSOL/21003/V1/A2 |
City Plumbing also sells the UKSOL ground-mount kits, at £960 for the 460W and £1,320 for the 890W on 11 November. Its listings show a model code that differs from the register, so ask which record applies, and see our City Plumbing review. Our UKSOL review covers the maker's own range.
Ground mount or roof mounting?
Roof mounting means working at height, and rooftop solar on a flat roof raises loading and permission questions that a lawn doesn't. A plug-in kit isn't a full solar installation, because nothing is wired into your consumer unit. A plug-in solar system on the ground is a DIY job in the sense that you don't need an installer: you place the solar panel, add ballast, connect the cable and plug it in. It also keeps the kit within reach for cleaning and for moving it if you relocate. The trade-off is space and shade, because a ground panel sits low and a fence, hedge or shed can block it.
None of these kits includes battery storage, and adding a battery would take the setup off the plug-in route. They produce solar power for the electricity you use while the sun is out, and the register entry covers the panels and inverter exactly as sold.
Ballast and wind: what the sellers say
A ground-mounted solar panel is a sail, so something heavy has to hold it down. We haven't found a UK standard for plug-in ballast, so the figures below are the sellers' own.
- PatioSun says the wind rating "varies by ballast" and gives no weight. Ask it what your exposure needs.
- Worldwide Solar supplies two 20° steel ballast mounts but says concrete ballast must be bought separately. Budget for that on top of the £454 price and £55 delivery.
- UKSOL's supplier told an Argos shopper on 9 November to place its 1260W hybrid-mount kit on the ground only, with ballast weights.
An exposed garden, a coastal plot or a hill needs more than a sheltered yard. UKSOL's own store carries a site-suitability notice that asks you to consult a qualified solar professional before using a kit on a flat roof, wall or anywhere above ground level.
Weight, footprint and delivery
The PatioSun stands arrive built, which is why the maker quotes 85 kg or more for a complete kit and sends a two-person crew to place it at ground level. PatioSun says a kit takes up about 1.8 m by 1 m and stands 1.2 m high, roughly a two-seat sofa. It builds each kit to order, so delivery takes 10 to 14 days.
Solarfy's panels are 22 kg each and 1,762 × 1,134 × 30 mm, and it quotes free UK delivery by a two-person crew in 5 to 8 working days. Check the route from the pavement to the plot, because a side gate or steps change what you can carry.
Cable and socket
Every kit here plugs into a fixed wall socket, so the socket decides where the panels go. PatioSun says to place the inverter within 5 m of a safe outside socket and not to use extension leads. Solarfy sells 5 m, 9 m and 14 m versions, at £399, £424 and £449 for the Solo 455. Our electrician guide explains when to bring one in for an outdoor socket.
Ground, hybrid or flat roof mount?
Sellers use these words loosely. UKSOL sells a ground-mount kit and a hybrid-mount kit at different prices and with different register entries, and Argos titles one hybrid kit "With Ground Mount Bundle" while its own description says Hybrid Mount Kit. Buy the mount you want, then check the register model matches. Our guide to flat-roof plug-in solar covers the roof version, with its 0.6 m planning limit and ballast.
Before you buy
- Match it to your electricity use. A kit only saves what you use while the sun is out, so test your own daytime load in our savings calculator.
- Register it. Tell your network operator through myplugin.solar. Our registration guide has the steps.
- Check one device per circuit. The one-device rule limits how many kits a home can run.
- Check the legal basics. Use our legal kit checklist before you pay.
- Think about the site. Planning and leasehold rules differ. Our planning page has the rules we've confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ground-mount plug-in solar kit in the UK?
On 11 November 2026 the cheapest register-listed kit with a ground or flat mount in the box was the Solarfy Solo 455 at £399. For a built stand that needs no ballast shopping, PatioSun's fold-out steel frame starts at £449 for the Lite. The right one depends on your space, how many people can lift it and how much power you use by day.
Can you put plug-in solar on the ground?
Yes, if the kit is sold with a ground mount and its register entry matches the listing. Ground mounting is the simplest place for a plug-in kit because there's no roof or wall to load. The solar panels still need a socket within reach of the cable, and you need to register the kit with your network operator.
Do ground-mount solar panels need ballast?
Most do. PatioSun says its wind rating varies by ballast, and Worldwide Solar's garden kit comes with steel ballast mounts but no concrete ballast. UKSOL's supplier told an Argos shopper to place its hybrid-mount kit on the ground only, with ballast weights. Ask the seller how much weight your site needs.
How heavy is a ground-mount plug-in solar kit?
PatioSun says a complete kit weighs 85 kg or more, which is why it's delivered by a two-person crew. Solarfy's panels weigh 22 kg each, before the mount. UKSOL and Worldwide Solar don't give a kit weight on the listings we read.
Is a hybrid-mount kit a ground-mount kit?
Not always. UKSOL sells separate ground-mount and hybrid-mount versions with different register entries. Check that the model on the register matches the mount you're buying, and read the seller's own guidance on where it can sit.
How far can the kit be from the socket?
PatioSun says to place the inverter within 5 m of a safe outside socket and not to use extension leads. Solarfy sells 5 m, 9 m and 14 m cable versions, priced £25 apart. Your electrician can fit an outside socket nearer the kit.
Do I need planning permission for ground-mount plug-in solar?
We haven't found one rule that covers every garden. Listed buildings, conservation areas and leasehold gardens can differ, so check with your council and your freeholder. Our planning pages cover what we've confirmed so far.
Related reading
800W plug-in solar kits: every verified kit
Every 800W plug-in solar kit verified on the ENA register, the microinverters inside them, which you can buy now with prices, and what the 800W limit means.
Argos plug-in solar kits
All four UKSOL kits Argos sells, with prices, register status and mounting limits.
City Plumbing Plug-In Solar Kits Review (2026): Worth Buying?
City Plumbing plug-in solar kits reviewed: DMEGC panels, Hoymiles HiFlow, and the ENA register match. Own-brand pages were not found on 13 November 2026.
Modular Solar plug-in unit review
A pre-built 340W or 475W unit on the ENA register. Price, weight, output and where to buy.
