The 7-step home battery buying journey

Updated 17 October 2026 · General information only, not personal financial or electrical advice.

Australians installed about 276,000 home batteries in the first half of 2026 (Clean Energy Council). Most of the buyers who end up unhappy skipped one of the steps below.

The steps

1. Decide whether a battery suits you.
2. Batteries pay off best when you export a lot of solar and use a lot of power in the evening.
3. The government's own guidance warns that savings may not cover the cost within the battery's lifetime for every household.
4. Get your data.
5. Download a year of smart-meter interval data, or gather your last four bills.
6. Size it.
7. Match the battery to your after-sunset use and your spare solar. See What size battery do I need?.
8. Understand the rebate.
9. It's tiered by size and steps down every six months. See Rebate explained.
10. Shortlist products.
11. Use our reliability guide.
12. Vet installers and get three or more quotes.
13. Use the installer vetting guide and quote red flags.
14. Install, hand over, and keep your records.
15. Use the install-day checklist and warranty checklist.

Watch out along the way

• Sales red flags

Want expert help? SortedDIY gives you an automated report from A$79 (Basic), plus the Kit (Mid, A$99), plus a Quote Review by a licensed electrician (Pro, A$349). Or get a full SortedDesign (A$695). Add an on-site Solar Health Check (A$425, Gold Coast / SE QLD) to either.