How Much Does Solar Panel Installation Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $18,365 - $36,390
Installing solar panels costs an average of $27,150, though it ranges between $3,500 and $55,000 based on system size, panel type, wattage, and more.
Solar panels cost anywhere from $3,500 to $55,000, including professional labor and materials. Most homeowners pay an average of $27,150 on their solar panel installation costs. However, solar panel prices depend on factors like the type of panel, its wattage, and the number of panels purchased. Home energy technology is evolving quickly, and after the recent extension of the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), homeowners can take a 30% tax credit for solar panel installation until 2032. We’ll take you through every cost consideration you’ll need to make before adding solar panels to your home.
- Average
- $27,150
- Low end
- $3,500
- high end
- $55,000
Solar Panel Installation Cost Factors
There’s a lot more that goes into your solar panel project than the panels themselves. The total cost to install solar panels roughly breaks down into:
50% materials
25% labor and permits
25% maintenance and overhead
And once you really start digging in on your project, you’ll find just how unique your individual costs can be. Where you live, the type of solar panels you choose, the wattage you need, and the number of panels you install to power your home will all play a factor in your final price tag.
Type of Panel
There are three main factors to consider when choosing the type of solar panel that works best for your home: efficiency, life expectancy, and design.
| Type | Cost per watt | Life Span |
|---|---|---|
| Monocrystalline | $1–$1.50 | 40 years |
| Polycrystalline | $0.90–$1 | 25–30 years |
| Thin film | $0.70–$1 | 10–20 years |
Number of Panels Needed
On average, most homes need anywhere from 20 to 25 panels to fully power a home, but this can range from as little as 15 to as many as 34. How many panels you need depends on the number of watts per panel, your energy consumption, and the efficiency of your panels. Your average solar panel will have an output of anywhere from 250 to 400 watts. The dimensions of your solar panels will also vary depending on the power output.
Here’s a breakdown of the number of panels you might need depending on low-wattage and high-wattage solar panels. These figures assume the panels receive an average amount of sunlight—between five and six hours of full sun daily—and you consume the national average of 10,715 kWh of electricity annually.
| Panel Capacity (W) | Number of Panels | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Low-wattage (250 W) | 28 – 34 | $17,500 – $29,750 |
| High-wattage (400 W) | 15 – 30 | $15,000 – $42,000 |
Location
If you live in a cloudy New England town, you’ll likely pay a bit more than a sun-soaked area of Arizona. The cost of labor and local incentives—even at the county level—will contribute to how much you'll pay out of pocket for solar installation.
Labor
Hiring an experienced pro to install your solar panels is key to making the most of this exciting new home addition. Budget $0.50 per watt for labor when you hire a professional solar panel installer near you. This number does not include permits or the cost of additional technology such as special mounts, tiles, or shingles.
Watts
Between the cost of materials and labor, you will pay between $2.50 and $3.50 per watt for solar panel installation.
The number of watts necessary for your solar panel system varies widely. While the average home will require around 6kW—or 6,000 watts—the number needed for your home will depend on:
The amount of direct sun on your home
Your local climate
The structure of your home
Roof Pitch
Your roof's pitch—or the steepness of its slope—and access to your installation area can also affect solar panel prices.
While roofs with lower pitches that are easy to access may cost less, flat roofs could actually cost more because solar panels will need an angled platform for maximum sun exposure. Your roof’s direction also plays a role, with roofs that face the south, west, or southwest receiving the most sunlight.
Mount Type
The more advanced the technology, the higher the upfront cost.
Fixed mounts: $10 to $15 per mount
Adjustable mounts: $50 per mount
Tracking: $500 to $3,000 or more per mount—These mounts can self-track the sunlight, leading to up to 45% more energy production.
Other Materials
An inverter, which converts direct current electricity to alternative electricity, comprises about 10% of the total cost, often around $1,500.
Additional materials, such as wiring and a standard storage battery, are often grouped with the package price unless you opt for add-on services.
Solar Companies
Different solar companies may charge different rates for panels, even if they’re selling products from the same manufacturers. The cost of solar panels also depends on the quality of the products.
Low-range quotes that seem too good to be true may be exactly that. An unreputable company can lead to a poor installation, which in turn leads to costly repairs down the road. It’s also wise to compare solar quotes from at least three companies.
Permits and Inspections
Depending on your area, you may need to get a building permit and a solar panel inspection before you can unveil your new solar panels. Permits and inspections will add an average of $450 to the solar panel costs.
Check with your solar company before you get started to ensure they’ll cover and apply for the permit on your behalf. Many states have a net-metering program that you’ll need to sign an agreement to enroll in before you can receive a permit. This auto-enrollment program gives the utility company access to excess electricity that your solar system produces to help reduce your energy costs.
Additional Solar Panel Costs to Consider
You'll pay between $300 and $1,300 for the cost of repairing your solar panels, but this varies depending on the size of the repair.
Yearly inspection cost: $150–$300
Solar panel cleaning costs: $150–$750
Tree trimming costs: $250–$700
Loose wiring cost: $100–$200
Hail damage repair cost: $120–$500 per panel
Cracked panel cost: $150–$500 per panel
Solar panel inverter replacement cost: $1,000–$2,000
Roof repair cost: $150–$7,000
Solar Panel Maintenance
You’ll need to remove the tree for your solar panels or trim the branches to eliminate the shade. You should also have your solar panels inspected and cleaned at least once per year. If a severe storm strikes, or you’ve had several weeks of heavy snow, rain, or wind, it’s also wise to call a pro to check out your panels to ensure they didn’t suffer any damage.
Solar Panel Repairs
Most homeowners spend between $200 and $1,250 on solar panel repairs or an average of $720. But what you'll pay for solar repairs depends on the type of panel, its size, and the extent of its damage. Small fixes could cost as little as $100, while extensive repairs or replacements could add up to $3,600 or more.
Ways to Save Money When Installing Solar Panels
Sometimes, you have to spend money to save money, and solar panels are no different. Saving money on any energy source comes down to balancing upfront and long-term costs. In many cases, the more advanced the system, the more energy and money you'll save on bills in the future.
Government Credits and Tax Incentives
The best way to save money on the upfront costs of installing solar panels is to take advantage of the Solar Investment Tax Credit. This credit was passed in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act and allows homeowners to claim federal income taxes on the price of solar panel systems, making solar energy more affordable for everyday homeowners looking for clean energy alternatives to the electrical grid.
As noted above, you can write 30% off installation costs for that tax year from your federal filing until 2032. Since the average cost of a solar panel system is $30,100 before the federal tax credit, this means you’ll save around $9,000 on an average-sized solar panel system.
These tax savings don’t last forever, however, so you’ll want to take advantage of the credits before they decrease incrementally. In 2033, this tax credit for solar panel systems will decrease to 26%. It will then decrease to 22% come 2034 before it expires in 2035.
Additionally, the extra power you choose not to store in a battery can be sent back to the grid. Your local utility company will compensate you for that power, but the amount will vary. You can check the Utility Rate Database to estimate how much you can expect to receive for generating excess energy.
How Much Money Do Solar Panels Save?
On average, you can expect to save between $650 and $1,500 per year on your electric bills by switching to solar energy. Since the typical solar panel system costs around $30,100, once you’ve paid off your system, your electrical bills could be close to nothing.
With the new tax credit, your total cost will also decrease to around $21,000 on average. However, every state and area has different electricity rates, so keep this in mind as you budget.
| Electric (per month) | 10-year cost | 30-year cost |
|---|---|---|
| $50 | $6,700 | $26,300 |
| $100 | $13,400 | $52,700 |
| $150 | $20,200 | $79,000 |
| $200 | $26,900 | $105,000 |
| $250 | $33,600 | $132,000 |
Cost to Install Solar Panels Yourself
We all love a good DIY project, but installing solar panels is probably not the best one. While you can technically purchase and install solar panels yourself, we don’t recommend it. Improper installation can void your warranty, as well, leaving you to pay for damaged panels. In some states, this type of installation also requires a specialized solar contractor license.
You can find DIY solar panel installation kits for between $1 to $2 per watt, just a bit under what it costs in total to hire a solar pro, so DIY installation won’t really save you much money, either. Keep in mind that you will also still likely need to pay for a building permit and inspection costs, depending on your local laws. Hiring the best solar panel team can help you spend your Saturday lounging on the porch rather than taking on a perilous DIY.
Cost of Common Solar Panel Add-Ons
Solar panels are an exciting and emerging technology, so there are plenty of ways to get a bit fancy with your project. Though any upgrades will increase your bragging rights, they’ll also likely increase the cost of solar panels for your home.
Tesla tiles: $40,000 to $80,000
Solar panel singles: 23,000 to $52,000
Backup battery: $300 to $20,000
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The time it takes to install solar panels depends on the number of panels and the size of your home, but in general, installation typically takes between two and three days of work.
Installing solar panels is worth it if you’re frustrated with paying high utility bills, live in a sunny location, and qualify for tax credits and incentives. Most homeowners cut between $650 to $1,500 from their utility bill each year by installing solar panels.
Correctly installed solar panels will increase the value of your home by around 4%. With the median home sale set at $429,000, this means an increase of approximately $17,000. Many home buyers want to switch to solar, making homes that have this feature tempting and worth the investment compared to homes that are only tied to the grid. Other solar features, like a shed with solar panels, will also boost your home’s value.
The main disadvantage of solar energy is the high upfront cost. Another disadvantage of solar panels is that not all locations are alike, and some regions simply don’t yield as much sunlight as others. If you live in a location that’s rainy, this could reduce the efficiency of your solar panels, requiring you to purchase more panels to make up for that inefficiency.
In most cases, solar panels are covered by homeowners’ insurance. However, you’ll need to read the fine print of your particular home insurance to ensure that you’ll receive coverage for various incidents that could take place. For example, some policies may only cover hail damage.