Solar Installation Cost Calculator
Estimate what a home solar system costs from your electricity use, your bill or a system size, using current installed prices.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Installation labor is only about 7% of a typical system price; sales, marketing, overhead and profit add up to 40%. Quotes with the same equipment can differ a lot.
How it works
Size (kW) = monthly kWh × 12 × share covered ÷ yearly kWh per kW. Cost = size in watts × price per watt + batteries − rebates.
Example: 7.6 kW (19 × 400 W) at $2.60 per watt costs about $19,760 and makes about 10,389 kWh a year.
At a glance
Same settings as the calculator, changing only the monthly use.
| Monthly use | Size | Cost | kWh a year | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 kWh | 4.4 kW | $11,440 | 6,015 | 10.5 yrs |
| 750 kWh | 6.8 kW | $17,680 | 9,296 | 10.5 yrs |
| 1,000 kWh | 8.8 kW | $22,880 | 12,030 | 10.5 yrs |
| 1,250 kWh | 11.2 kW | $29,120 | 15,310 | 10.5 yrs |
| 1,500 kWh | 13.2 kW | $34,320 | 18,044 | 10.5 yrs |
| 2,000 kWh | 17.6 kW | $45,760 | 24,059 | 10.5 yrs |
Common questions
How much do solar panels cost in 2026?
EnergySage marketplace quotes average $2.60 per watt nationally, or about $20,800 for an 8 kW system, before incentives. State averages run from $2.12 in Florida to $3.72 in Alabama.
What size solar system do I need?
Divide your yearly use in kWh by the yearly output of 1 kW of panels where you live. The average U.S. home used 865 kWh a month in 2024, which takes about 7.6 kW at the national average output.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit?
Not for homeowners who buy their system. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Leased systems and PPAs can still carry a business credit (48E) that the installer claims.
Why do solar quotes vary so much?
Equipment is only about a third of the price. Sales, marketing, overhead and profit make up about 40% in EnergySage's breakdown, so installers' prices differ widely.
Sources
- EnergySage, Solar panel cost by state (updated November 6, 2026): https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (residential price, Jan–Aug 2026): https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_b
- NREL PVWatts v8 (20° tilt, south-facing, 14% losses), state results compiled by TheGreenWatt: https://thegreenwatt.com/average-peak-sun-hours-by-state/
- EnergySage, Solar battery backup cost (H1 2026): https://www.energysage.com/energy-storage/solar-battery-backup/