In the present paper, a novel single phase multilevel inverter using switched capacitor units is proposed. Switched capacitor unit (SCU) is used in the suggested multilevel inverter will boost the dc supply voltage at the input without using transformer by switching the capacitors in parallel and series. The proposed topology generates more number of voltage levels with less number of switches, isolated dc sources, and diodes in comparison with existing topologies. The recommended structure generates the output voltage waveform of 17-levels (8 positive, 8 negative and one zero level) with 2 capacitors, 2 diodes, 2 dc sources and 10 switches. This 17-level multilevel inverter generates the maximum output voltage and current about 80 V and 950 mA respectively, with 10 V and 30 V dc sources. Further, this topology can be extended to 49-level by including just four power switches and one more switched capacitor unit to the basic structure of proposed multilevel inverter. The feasibility and performance of the suggested multilevel converter have been assessed with simulation and experimental tests of 17-level multilevel inverter.