A typical home solar system costs about $21,000 in cash before incentives. Over its 25+ year life, the savings on your electric bill can add up to tens of thousands of dollars.
See what solar costs for your home
National averages are a starting point. Your ZIP code shows local prices and installers.
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Solar panel cost per watt by state
Labor rates, permit costs and installer competition move the price, so states run from $2.39 to $3.83 per watt. Tap your state to see its price per watt and what a typical system there costs.
Pick a state on the map to see its cost per watt and open its full cost guide.
Solar price per state: all 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico
9.95 kW | $3.18 | $31,641 | |
7.25 kW | $3.14 | $22,765 | |
7.21 kW | $2.39 | $17,232 | |
9.04 kW | $2.51 | $22,690 | |
3.54 kW | $2.77 | $9,806 | |
4.88 kW | $3.04 | $14,835 | |
6.45 kW | $2.77 | $17,867 | |
7.80 kW | $2.81 | $21,918 | |
5.48 kW | $3.06 | $16,769 | |
8.52 kW | $2.39 | $20,363 | |
9.08 kW | $2.72 | $24,698 | |
3.66 kW | $3.19 | $11,675 | |
7.52 kW | $3.09 | $23,237 | |
6.22 kW | $3.09 | $19,220 | |
7.92 kW | $3.06 | $24,235 | |
7.05 kW | $3.05 | $21,503 | |
6.71 kW | $2.90 | $19,459 | |
9.09 kW | $2.63 | $23,907 | |
9.68 kW | $2.68 | $25,942 | |
4.81 kW | $3.00 | $14,430 | |
7.78 kW | $2.73 | $21,239 | |
5.07 kW | $3.03 | $15,362 | |
5.62 kW | $3.14 | $17,647 | |
6.12 kW | $3.11 | $19,033 | |
9.73 kW | $2.58 | $25,103 | |
8.59 kW | $2.66 | $22,849 | |
7.25 kW | $2.81 | $20,373 | |
7.74 kW | $3.48 | $26,935 | |
6.20 kW | $2.52 | $15,624 | |
5.63 kW | $3.03 | $17,059 | |
5.92 kW | $2.92 | $17,286 | |
4.30 kW | $2.79 | $11,997 | |
5.20 kW | $2.97 | $15,444 | |
8.66 kW | $2.62 | $22,689 | |
8.46 kW | $3.83 | $32,402 | |
7.68 kW | $2.79 | $21,427 | |
8.31 kW | $2.51 | $20,858 | |
9.32 kW | $2.72 | $25,350 | |
7.01 kW | $2.84 | $19,908 | |
5.07 kW | $2.92 | $14,804 | |
8.58 kW | $2.80 | $24,024 | |
8.07 kW | $3.44 | $27,761 | |
10.20 kW | $3.04 | $31,008 | |
9.21 kW | $2.44 | $22,472 | |
6.09 kW | $2.80 | $17,052 | |
5.43 kW | $2.89 | $15,693 | |
9.03 kW | $2.80 | $25,284 | |
10.46 kW | $2.88 | $30,125 | |
9.87 kW | $3.01 | $29,709 | |
5.65 kW | $3.01 | $17,007 | |
6.47 kW | $3.31 | $21,416 | |
3.50 kW | $3.00 | $10,500 |
System size is different in each state. It is the size that covers the average household’s use in that state’s sunlight, so compare states on cost per watt. * Alaska and Puerto Rico are priced from the modeled series only. North Carolina and Texas were re-checked because homeowners there paid more than usual above their quotes. Puerto Rico is not in the national average, because most systems there include a battery.
Solar price per system size: 4 kW to 12 kW
System size | Panels (about) | Installed cash cost | Who it may suit |
|---|---|---|---|
4 kW | 9 | $11,600 | A small household with light use, or a very sunny state |
5 kW | 11 | $14,500 | A smaller home, or gas heat and no air conditioning |
6 kW | 14 | $17,400 | A little under what the average household uses |
7.27 kW | 17 | $21,083 | The US average household |
8 kW | 18 | $23,200 | Above-average use, or a cloudier state |
10 kW | 23 | $29,000 | Electric heat, a pool pump or an electric car |
12 kW | 27 | $34,800 | A large all-electric home |
Every row uses the national $2.90 per watt. Your system size comes from your last 12 months of electricity use, not from your floor area.
Check a quote in 10 secondsDivide the cash price by the system size in watts. Compare the answer with $2.90 and with your state. A 7,270-watt system at $21,083 is $2.90 per watt.
How the current Cost Index is calculated
The EcoGen Solar Cost Index, September 2026 edition, is built by the EcoGen data and analytics team, led by Trevor Guilday. It starts from the Q1 2025 Solar Photovoltaic System Cost Benchmarks published by the Department of Energy‘s National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL). That benchmark breaks the price of a home solar system into cost categories, from equipment to field labor and office costs.
We adjust the labor costs for each state using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for solar installers, or for electricians where installer wages are not published. We size a typical household system for each state from U.S. Energy Information Administration electricity-use data and local sunlight. Each state’s figure comes from EcoGen’s proprietary cost model, calibrated against current marketplace quote data from across the country.
Then we check the result against what homeowners actually paid. In the 21 states covered by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory‘s 2026 transacted-price data, each state’s figure is compared with real installed prices. The national figure is the plain average of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
What changes your price
National averages are a benchmark. Your roof and your wiring come first: the numbers in the drawing match the list below it.
- Which way the roof faces. Panels make the most power on a roof face that points toward the sun’s path. In the US that is usually the south side. East and west faces also work, with less power from each panel. Ask: which roof faces get panels, and the production estimate for that layout.
- Shade. Trees, chimneys and nearby buildings shade parts of a roof at some hours or seasons. Shaded panels make less power. The installer may leave that area empty, or use per-panel electronics (microinverters or optimizers) so one shaded panel does not pull down the others. Ask: to see the shade study behind the production estimate.
- Roof shape. Dormers, vents, skylights and many small roof faces leave less open space. Fewer panels may fit, the array may be split across faces, and a steep roof needs more safety gear and time. Ask: for the panel layout drawing.
- Roof condition. Curled, cracked or missing shingles, soft spots, or a roof near the end of its life. Panels stay up for decades and must come off before a re-roof. Ask: the installer to inspect the roof and say in writing if it needs repair or replacement first.
- Electrical connection. Wires run from the panels to an inverter, which changes the panels’ direct current into the alternating current your home uses. From there they go to your main electrical panel and the meter. An older or full main panel may need an upgrade. Your utility must approve the connection and may change the meter. Ask: if panel, meter and utility work are in the price.
Four more things that move the price
System size
Biggest effectYour electricity use sets the system size, and size sets most of the price. At $2.90 per watt, every extra kW adds about $2,900.
How size changes your price
Size comes from the electricity you use and the sun your roof gets, not from your floor area. Two 2,000 sq. ft. homes can need systems that differ by a factor of two: one has gas heat and no air conditioning, the other a heat pump and an electric car.
Find the 12-month kWh total on your bill or in your online account. Your installer should size the system from that number plus a production estimate for your roof, and show you both.
A roof that faces the wrong way, or is very flat or very steep, makes less power per kW. Then you need more kW for the same output, and more kW costs more.
Battery storage
Adds $10,000 to $20,000+A battery stores daytime power for the night or an outage. It is not in the $2.90 price.
When a battery is worth the cost
A battery is no longer unusual: 37% of new home systems installed in 2025 included one, up from 25% in 2024 (Berkeley Lab).
\nThe federal benchmark models $4.59 per watt for solar with a 13.5 kWh battery, against $2.95 without one (DOE, Q1 2025, in 2024 dollars).
- You want power during an outage.
- Your state’s remaining incentives attach to storage.
- Your utility pays little for the power you send back to the grid.
Ask for the battery as its own line on the quote, so you can compare the solar price with other quotes.
Panels and inverter
Can raise the priceMost homes get black monocrystalline panels. The inverter choice changes the price more.
Compare the 3 inverter options
- String inverter: one box for the whole array. The cheapest option. Best on a simple roof with no shade. The weakest panel limits the others.
- String inverter with optimizers: a small device behind each panel lets it work on its own. Costs more than a plain string inverter, usually less than microinverters.
- Microinverters: one small inverter per panel, so shade on one panel does not drag the others down. The most expensive option, often suggested for partly shaded roofs.
Where you live
Sets the baselineElectrician wages, permit fees and competition differ by state. That is why Arizona is $2.39 per watt and North Dakota $3.83. See the map.
Usually in the quoted price
- Solar panels
- Inverter or microinverters
- Racking and mounting hardware
- Wiring and safety equipment
- System design and engineering
- Installation by certified crews
- Permits, inspection and grid hookup
Ask for a separate price
- A home battery
- Roof repair or replacement
- Electrical panel upgrades
- Loan or dealer fees
Get these in writing, so two quotes compare like for like.
Roof near the end of its life?Replace it before the panels go on. Taking panels off later to redo the roof costs extra. See removal costs.
Incentives in 2026: your state now matters most
The 30% federal tax credit is goneIt ended for homeowners on December 31, 2025. It was worth about $6,000 on a $20,000 system. A quote that still shows it uses last year’s rules.
With no federal discount under every quote, state and utility programs do the heavy lifting. What remains depends on your address and your utility, and can include:
- State tax credits on your state income tax.
- Cash rebates from your state or utility that lower the upfront price.
- Tax exemptions: many states charge no sales tax on solar, and most keep your property tax the same.
- Net metering or net billing: your utility credits the extra power you send to the grid. Some utilities now pay less for it under newer rules, so ask yours.
- Payments for the power you make, such as SRECs in some states.
See every program in our guide to America’s solar incentives, tax credits and rebates.
Cash, loan or lease: how to pay
How you pay changes what solar really costs you over time. Here is the short version.
Pay cash
You own the system
Upfront
$21,083 in the national example.
Monthly
Nothing. Your whole bill saving is yours.
Incentives
Go to you.
Watch out for
It ties up the most money on day one.
Lowest total cost, if you have the savings.
Solar loan
You own the system
Upfront
Often $0 down.
Monthly
A fixed payment for 10 to 25 years, set against your bill saving.
Incentives
Go to you.
Watch out for
A dealer fee is often built into the price, so a financed system costs more than a cash one before any interest.
Ownership without the cash, at a higher total cost.
Lease or PPA
The provider owns the system
Upfront
Usually $0 down.
Monthly
A lease is a flat fee for the panels. A PPA is a price per kWh of power they make.
Incentives
Go to the provider, who can still claim a business tax credit.
Watch out for
Payments often rise by a set percentage each year. Read the escalator and the end-of-term terms.
Savings from day one, with the smallest long-term payoff.
Comparing loans?Put the cash price, loan fees, APR and total of all payments side by side. A low monthly payment can hide a high total.
“Free solar panels” means $0 downThe panels are not free. You pay through a lease or PPA instead. How $0-down solar works.
Is solar worth it?
Solar pays you back through lower bills over a system life of 25+ years. It also shields you from utility rate hikes, which have averaged about 5% a year. The higher your electricity rate, the faster the payback.
Solar can also raise your home’s value. A 2019 Zillow study found homes with solar sold for 4.1% more than similar homes without it. That study is older and covers owned systems, so treat it as a guide, not a promise.
See the full math in Are solar panels worth it in America?
Your installer matters as much as your panels
A good installer designs for maximum output, installs to high safety standards and backs the work with strong warranties. Our guide to the top solar companies in America shows what to look for.
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About EcoGen: why you can trust this guide
EcoGen America does independent solar research for US homeowners. Our data team keeps the EcoGen Solar Database and the Solar Cost Index up to date.
Works in home improvement and residential solar since 2016. Leads the data and analytics team and builds the Solar Cost Index.
Has connected tens of thousands of homeowners with installers in all 50 states since 2021. Works with installers on pricing and financing.
- Connected 25,000+ homeowners with solar installers.
- Every state figure follows one published method.
- We may earn a fee when we connect you with an installer.
- Companies cannot pay to change our conclusions or rankings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost for a home solar system in America?
Home solar costs about $2.90 per watt in cash before incentives, as of June 2026. For the 7.27 kW system an average US household needs, that is $21,083. Your price depends on your state and the size your home needs (EcoGen Solar Cost Index, Q2 2026).
How does my home size affect the cost of solar?
A home that uses more electricity will need a larger solar system to offset its energy use. This increases the total cost but also significantly increases your potential monthly savings.
How much does the federal tax credit really save me?
Nothing anymore for new installations: the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) expired for homeowners on December 31, 2025. Before that it returned 30% of total system cost, about $6,000 on a $20,000 system. If your system was placed in service by the deadline, unused credit can still carry forward, so check this year’s return before assuming the money is gone (IRS).
Do I save more with solar if my electricity bills are high?
Absolutely. The higher your current electricity rates, the more money you save for every bit of energy your solar panels produce (EIA, 2025). This leads to a faster payback period and greater lifetime savings.
Are there ways to get solar without paying a large upfront cost?
Yes, solar loans, leases, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are common financing options that can reduce or completely eliminate the upfront cost of installing solar panels.
Costs continue after install day. See our guides to panel removal and reinstallation, disposal and recycling and the energy burden calculator.
Sources and references (8)
- SEIA, U.S. Solar Market Insight: seia.org
- U.S. Department of Energy, Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar: energy.gov
- IRS, Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits: irs.gov
- NREL, Annual Technology Baseline, Residential PV: atb.nrel.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: eia.gov
- DSIRE, Database of State Incentives: dsireusa.org
- Zillow, Homes With Solar Panels Sell for 4.1% More (2019): zillow.com
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Tracking the Sun: emp.lbl.gov
