Large size, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) have been prepared on silver grid embedded, transparent conductive oxide (TCO) glass substrate by screen printing method. Under one sun condition (AM 1.5, P-in 100 mW cm(-2)), achieved active area energy conversion efficiency of 5 cm x 5 cm device approaches that of small-size DSSC prepared at similar condition. To improve the accuracy of efficiency measurement. current-voltage characterizations were carried out with shadow mask and different light reflective backgrounds. It was found that transparent and stripe-like non-active area, arising due to current collector and overcoat layer, of large size DSSC does not strongly influence the energy conversion efficiency. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.