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Written and reviewed by Elaine Bliss, Technical Manager, PestFix
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Not when the right clip is fitted correctly. Solar panel mesh clips are designed to fit without drilling, so nothing is fixed into the panel or its frame, and they hold pigeon mesh around the array by gripping the frame. The clip you need depends on the frame. If the underside of the panel has a return lip, the Premium Adjustable Solarguard clip (£27.36 for 60) or the Push Fit clip (£32.55 for 60) hooks on to it, spaced no more than 450mm apart. If there is no lip, the Solar Mesh Speed Clip (39p each, in 30mm, 35mm or 40mm to match the frame depth) clips on to the side of the frame, at 5 per metre. No drilling reduces one common warranty risk; check your panel and mounting system warranties before fitting.
Prices and stock checked on 26 October 2026 and taken from the EnviroGuard shop, subject to change. All prices include VAT.
How each clip attaches
Every clip in the range holds the mesh by gripping the panel frame, not by fixing into it. The difference between them is what they grip, and whether you can take them off again.
| Clip | Panel frame | How it holds the mesh | Removable | Spacing | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar Mesh Speed Clip (30mm, 35mm or 40mm, clear or black) | No lip needed; clips on to the side of the frame | Passes through the mesh apertures | Yes, by reversing the fitting | 5 per metre of mesh, every 200mm | 39p each |
| Premium Adjustable Solarguard Mesh Clip | Needs a return lip on the underside (our installation guide gives 10 to 20mm) | Speed washer plus a locking nut on a threaded shaft, tightened by hand | Yes, can be removed for servicing | No more than 450mm apart, 50mm from corners and joints | £27.36 for 60, or 57p each |
| Solarguard Mesh Clip Push Fit | Needs a return lip on the underside (10 to 20mm) | Ratchet washer that works like a cable tie | No, single use; cut to remove | No more than 450mm apart | £32.55 for 60, or 55p each |
| Premium C-Clip (30mm or 35mm internal height) | No return lip required | Clip legs grip the panel edge; UV stabilised nylon | The product page does not say | The product page does not give a spacing | 63p each |
The Premium Adjustable and Push Fit product pages state that these UV stable polycarbonate clips will not scratch anodised panel frames. The Speed Clip is also UV stabilised polycarbonate, and the C-Clip product page says it is designed to handle expansion and contraction with temperature. On 26 October 2026 every clip and kit on this page was in stock.
How to tell which clip your panels need
- Look under the edge of a panel. If the frame has a return lip on its underside, the Premium Adjustable or Push Fit clip hooks on to it. If the underside is flat or has nothing to hook on to, choose the Speed Clip or the C-Clip.
- Measure the frame depth for a Speed Clip. Speed Clips come in 30mm, 35mm and 40mm. Measure the depth of the panel frame and choose the size that matches it; our solar mesh installation guide shows where to measure.
- Decide whether you will want the mesh off again. If you expect to remove the mesh to clean or service the panels, choose the Premium Adjustable clip or the Speed Clip, which can both be taken off. The Push Fit clip is quick to fit but single use.
- Match the colour. Speed Clips come in clear or black; black sits well with black PVC coated mesh against dark panels.
How to fit solar mesh clips without damaging your panels
Work safely. Roof work and work near solar PV wiring can be dangerous. Use a competent installer unless safe access and fall protection are in place, and never stand on the panels.
1. Check for nests and clear under the panels
Look under the array before you start. If a nest is in use or being built, wait until it is no longer in use. Clear out old nesting material and droppings before the mesh goes on, so nothing is sealed in behind it.
2. Check the frame and choose your clip
Check for a return lip on the underside of the panel and, for Speed Clips, measure the frame depth. This decides which clip and which kit you buy.
3. Measure the perimeter and work out quantities
Measure each outside edge of the array and add them up for the perimeter. Our installation guide recommends 1 to 2 metres of extra mesh for joints and corners. Allow at least 5 Speed Clips per metre (the installation guide gives 5 to 6), so a 20 metre perimeter needs at least 100. Premium Adjustable and Push Fit clips go no more than 450mm apart, so work out each straight edge separately: divide its length in metres by 0.45, round up and add one. A 20 metre perimeter with edges of 6m, 4m, 6m and 4m needs 15 + 10 + 15 + 10 = 50 clips, which one box of 60 covers.
4. Fit the clips at the recommended spacing
Fix Speed Clips every 200mm, passing them through the mesh apertures on to the side of the frame. Slide Premium Adjustable and Push Fit clips as far on to the lip as they will go, no more than 450mm apart and 50mm from corners and joints, with the shaft angled upwards so it keeps downward pressure on the mesh.
5. Joint the mesh lengths
Overlap each joint by three mesh apertures, put a clip through the middle aperture and secure the lengths together with stainless steel corner ties. Take the mesh right into both internal and external corners, leaving no gaps.
6. Tension by hand and trim
On Premium Adjustable clips, slide on the speed washer and tighten the locking nut by hand until the mesh is taut between the roof and the panel. Trim any mesh above the top edge of the array and cut the clip shafts flush, then make a final check that every clip and joint is secure.
Which clip or kit should you buy?
Each 30 metre kit contains the mesh roll, the clips, stainless steel corner ties and a cutting tool. Safe access equipment and PPE are not included. The speed clip kits include 150 clips, enough for 30 metres at 5 per metre. The push fit and premium adjustable kits include 60 clips, which at 450mm spacing covers a four-sided array of up to about 25 metres, so add a box of 60 clips for a full 30 metre perimeter.
| Your panels | Kit (30 metres) | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Return lip on the underside | PVC coated mesh kit with push fit clips | £68.12 |
| Return lip on the underside | Galvanised mesh kit with push fit clips | £71.69 |
| Return lip, mesh you can remove | PVC coated mesh kit with premium adjustable clips | £70.98 |
| Return lip, mesh you can remove | Galvanised mesh kit with premium adjustable clips | £74.58 |
| Return lip, near the coast | Stainless steel mesh kit with premium adjustable clips | £98.10 |
| No lip | PVC coated mesh kit with 150 speed clips (30mm, 35mm or 40mm) | £90.12 |
| No lip | Galvanised mesh kit with 150 speed clips (30mm or 35mm) | £93.72 |
For a larger or awkwardly shaped array, buy mesh by the roll and clips separately: a 30 metre roll is £30.48 in black PVC coated, £34.08 in galvanised or £56.52 in stainless steel, all 25mm by 12.5mm weldmesh. To compare the full cost, including having it fitted, see how much it costs to pigeon proof solar panels.
Mesh clips and your panel warranty
None of these systems involve drilling into the panel frame, which reduces one common warranty risk, but check your panel and mounting system warranties before fitting. Terms vary between manufacturers, so ask the panel manufacturer or your installer if you are unsure.
Solar mesh and the law
Solar panel exclusion closes the gap under an array without piercing the panel or its frame, and preventing birds from landing, roosting or nesting is not a licensable activity, provided the method does not injure them or trap them. All wild birds are protected, including feral pigeons: under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take a wild bird, or to take, damage or destroy its nest while it is in use or being built, so check for active nests under the panels first. Feral pigeons can nest in any month, given shelter and food. Our guide to bird control and the law sets out the position for England in 2026; the rules in Scotland and Wales differ.
Need it installed? Request an installation quote and we will arrange it through our recommended installer, JG Pest Control.
Common questions
Do solar panel mesh clips damage the panels?
Not when the right clip is fitted correctly. The clips grip the panel frame and hold the mesh without drilling into the panel or its frame. The Premium Adjustable and Push Fit product pages state that their UV stable clips will not scratch anodised panel frames. Fit them at the recommended spacing and tension the mesh by hand.
Will fitting mesh clips affect my solar panel warranty?
The clips hold the mesh without drilling into the panel frame, which reduces one common warranty risk. Warranty terms vary, so check your panel and mounting system warranties, and ask the manufacturer or installer if you are unsure, before fitting.
What clips should I use for pigeon mesh?
If your panels have a return lip on the underside, use the Premium Adjustable clip, which you can remove later, or the Push Fit clip, which is single use. If there is no lip, use the Solar Mesh Speed Clip in the size that matches your frame depth.
How many solar mesh clips do I need?
Measure each edge of the array. You need at least 5 Speed Clips per metre, so a 30 metre perimeter needs at least 150, the number in a speed clip kit. Premium Adjustable and Push Fit clips go no more than 450mm apart: for each straight edge, divide the length in metres by 0.45, round up and add one. A 30 metre perimeter needs at least 67 even as one continuous run, and an array with edges of 10m, 5m, 10m and 5m needs 24 + 13 + 24 + 13 = 74, so buy two boxes of 60, or a 30 metre kit plus one box of 60.
What size speed clip do I need?
Measure the depth of your solar panel frame and choose the Speed Clip that matches it: 30mm, 35mm or 40mm.
Can I take the mesh off to clean the panels?
Yes, with Speed Clips or Premium Adjustable clips. Speed Clips come off by reversing the way they were fitted, and the Premium Adjustable clip’s threaded shaft lets you remove it and reset the tension. Push Fit clips are single use and are cut to remove the mesh.
Read our solar mesh installation guide and our comparison of solar panel mesh vs spikes, or browse the full solar panel bird proofing range.
