Solar Panel Installation Cost: $18,307–$36,409 (Average $27,138) in 2026
By CostGuideHQ·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·8 min read·6 sources·Permit data·US national averages, USD Quick answerQuick answer: Solar panel installation costs $18,307 to $36,409 nationally, averaging $27,138, or $2.50 to $3.50 per watt (HomeAdvisor). A 6kW system runs $15,000-$21,000, 8kW $17,600-$28,000, and 10kW $25,000-$35,000, before credits. The 30% federal tax credit is not available for homeowner-owned systems installed after Dec 31, 2025 (IRS).
- ✓Solar panel installation costs $18,307 to $36,409 nationally, averaging $27,138, or $2.50 to $3.50 per watt (HomeAdvisor).
- ✓A 6 kW system runs $15,000 to $21,000 installed, an 8 kW system $17,600 to $28,000, and a 10 kW system $25,000 to $35,000, all before any tax credit (HomeAdvisor).
- ✓The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit is 'not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025' (IRS) — confirming Fixr's January 30, 2026 update, though several other cost-guide sources haven't updated that detail yet.
- ✓Monocrystalline panels cost $1 to $1.50 per watt, the priciest tier; thin-film runs as low as $0.70 to $1.00 per watt (HomeAdvisor).
- ✓Permit records in New York City (15,906 permits, 2024–2026) put the median declared cost at $38,950.
How much does solar panel installation cost?
National average
$27,138
total project
Typical range
$18,307–$36,409
Most projects
High end
$36,409+
Premium / complex
$10,984avg $27,138$50,973+
Advertisement · 728 × 90
Cost by material / type
| Type | Low | High |
|---|
| 5 kW system (installed, before federal credit) | $12,500 | $17,500 |
| 6 kW system (installed, before federal credit) | $15,000 | $21,000 |
| 8 kW system (installed, before federal credit) | $17,600 | $28,000 |
| 10 kW system (installed, before federal credit) | $25,000 | $35,000 |
What affects the cost?
- System size — a 6 kW system installs for $15,000-$21,000, an 8 kW system for $17,600-$28,000, and a 10 kW system for $25,000-$35,000, all before any tax credit (HomeAdvisor); Fixr's per-system estimates land inside those bands at $18,200, $24,300, and $30,400 respectively.
- Cost per watt — installed systems run $2.50 to $3.50 per watt nationally (HomeAdvisor), close to Fixr's $3.04 average; per-watt pricing swings by state on a 10 kW system, from $2.29 in South Dakota to $3.65 in New Hampshire (This Old House).
- Panel technology — monocrystalline panels cost $1-$1.50 per watt, polycrystalline $0.90-$1.00, and thin-film $0.70-$1.00 (HomeAdvisor); priced per panel instead, This Old House cites $1,200 installed for monocrystalline, $850 for polycrystalline, and $500 for thin-film.
- Home size and energy use — This Old House ties system size to bedroom count and annual usage: a 1-bedroom home (4,800 kWh/year) averages $14,319 installed, scaling up to a 4-bedroom home (22,080 kWh/year) at $26,500.
- The federal tax credit's current status — the IRS confirms the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit 'is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025' (IRS, reviewed July 2026), matching Fixr's January 30, 2026 update that the credit 'ended for customer-owned systems on December 31, 2025'; other source pages (HomeAdvisor, updated June 19, 2026; This Old House, updated June 12, 2026; Bob Vila, updated April 7, 2025) still describe an active 30% credit running through 2032 — that's stale, unrevised boilerplate contradicted by current IRS guidance.
- Financing method — leases and PPAs require no upfront payment but are never eligible for the federal tax credit, since a third party (not the homeowner) owns the system; cash purchases can require up to 50% down (Fixr, Bob Vila).
- Soft costs — permitting, customer acquisition, and other non-hardware costs make up roughly 36% of a typical 7.6 kW installation, more than the panel hardware itself at 12% (Fixr); This Old House's breakdown puts non-hardware costs even higher, at 51% of a full system.
- Region and state incentives — some states stack additional credits on top of any federal savings, such as $5,000 in New York or $7,000 in South Carolina (This Old House).
What permit records show
Declared project costs from 19,595 residential building permits for solar panel installation filed 2024–2026 in 3 US cities. Compiled from city open-data portals on 2026-09-09. How we compute this.
| City | Median | Middle half (p25–p75) | Permits | |
|---|
| New York City, NY | $38,950 | $27,517–$52,860 | 15,906 | Details → |
| Chicago, IL | $18,680 | $11,965–$25,526 | 3,635 | Details → |
| Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | $501–$23,500 | 54 | Details → |
These are the values applicants declared on permit applications, which are used to set permit fees and tend to run below the final invoice. They are not quotes. Use them as a floor and a sanity check against the national ranges above.
Why does solar panel installation cost so much?
Price comes down to system size and cost per watt, and the two national leaders largely agree once you hold system size constant. HomeAdvisor puts the national average at $27,138, with a normal range of $18,307 to $36,409, working out to $2.50 to $3.50 per watt. Fixr’s typical range runs lower — $19,100 to $23,800, averaging $23,100 at $3.04 per watt — but that’s because Fixr’s example system is smaller, around 7.6 kW, than HomeAdvisor’s blended sample. Per-watt pricing also swings by state: This Old House cites $2.29 per watt in South Dakota versus $3.65 in New Hampshire for a comparable 10 kW system. Home size drives the number too — This Old House ties system size to usage, from $14,319 for a 1-bedroom home (4,800 kWh a year) up to $26,500 for a 4-bedroom home (22,080 kWh a year). Soft costs (permitting, customer acquisition, design) eat up more of the bill than most homeowners expect — Fixr puts them at 36% of a typical install, ahead of the panels themselves at 12%.
How much do 6kW, 8kW, and 10kW systems cost?
Before any tax credit, HomeAdvisor prices a 6 kW system at $15,000 to $21,000, an 8 kW system at $17,600 to $28,000, and a 10 kW system at $25,000 to $35,000. Fixr’s per-system estimates land inside those same bands — $18,200, $24,300, and $30,400 — which is a good sign the two sources are measuring the same thing, just with different sample mixes. To put a system size in context, solar installer Tim Sanborn, describing a real job on a This Old House project, explained: “We’re gonna put up 20 panels spread around the roof. They’re 400-watt panels, so it’s an 8 kW system,” a setup designed to produce roughly 10,000 to 11,000 kilowatt-hours a year for the household — a useful real-world anchor for what an 8 kW system actually looks like on a roof. Bigger systems buy more capacity per dollar: Fixr’s table shows cost climbing from $9,100 at 3 kW to $39,500 at 13 kW, a fairly linear scale-up rather than a steep jump.
Is the federal solar tax credit still worth counting on?
No, not for a homeowner-owned system installed today. The IRS is direct about this: the Residential Clean Energy Credit, the 30% credit that covers solar electric panels, “is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025” (IRS, guidance last reviewed July 4, 2026). That confirms what Fixr’s January 30, 2026 update already said — the 30% Residential Solar Tax Credit (ITC) “ended for customer-owned systems on December 31, 2025.” HomeAdvisor (updated June 19, 2026) and This Old House (updated June 12, 2026) — both dated after Fixr’s update — still describe an active 30% credit running through 2032 with no mention of any expiration, which is boilerplate that didn’t get revised alongside the rest of the page and is now directly contradicted by IRS guidance. Bob Vila (updated April 7, 2025, the oldest source here) lays out the old pre-repeal schedule: 30% through 2032, stepping down to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 before expiring in 2035 — none of that applies to a system placed in service in 2026. Treat any “after tax credit” price you see — including Bob Vila’s own $20,552 net average — as gross cost for a 2026 purchase, and confirm current eligibility with a tax professional before assuming any federal discount applies.
Should you buy or lease your solar panels?
Buying costs more out of pocket — cash purchases can require up to 50% down — but ownership is the only path that has ever qualified for the federal tax credit, back when that credit applied. Leasing needs no upfront payment: a third-party company owns the system and rents it to you for a fixed monthly fee. A power purchase agreement (PPA) works similarly but bills you per kilowatt-hour generated at a locked-in rate instead of a flat rent. Neither a lease nor a PPA has ever been credit-eligible, since the homeowner never owns the equipment (Fixr, Bob Vila). Panel technology factors into the buy decision too: monocrystalline costs the most per watt ($1 to $1.50) but is the most efficient and longest-lasting (40-year lifespan, HomeAdvisor), while thin-film is cheapest ($0.70 to $1.00 per watt) but has the shortest usable life (10 to 20 years). Most systems — bought outright or financed — recoup their cost in six to ten years (HomeAdvisor, This Old House), which is worth weighing against a lease’s lower commitment but permanently recurring payment.
Actual pricing depends on your roof, local labor rates, panel choice, and current state and utility incentives, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes, and ask each installer directly whether any federal, state, or utility credit currently applies to your project before you sign.
Advertisement · 336 × 280
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install solar panels on a house?+
Most homeowners pay $18,307 to $36,409 for a complete installation, averaging $27,138 nationally (HomeAdvisor). Fixr's typical range runs a bit lower, $19,100 to $23,800, because its example system is smaller — the two line up closely once you compare the same system size.
How much do solar panels cost per watt?+
Expect $2.50 to $3.50 per watt installed nationally (HomeAdvisor), close to Fixr's $3.04 average. Per-watt pricing varies by state — This Old House cites $2.29 per watt in South Dakota versus $3.65 in New Hampshire for a 10 kW system.
How much does a 6kW, 8kW, or 10kW solar system cost?+
Before any tax credit, a 6 kW system runs $15,000 to $21,000, an 8 kW system $17,600 to $28,000, and a 10 kW system $25,000 to $35,000 (HomeAdvisor). Fixr's per-system figures — $18,200, $24,300, and $30,400 respectively — fall inside those same bands.
Is the federal solar tax credit still available in 2026?+
No. The IRS states plainly that the Residential Clean Energy Credit — the 30% credit covering solar panels — 'is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025' (IRS). That matches Fixr's January 30, 2026 update, which says the credit 'ended for customer-owned systems on December 31, 2025.' Some other sources' pages still describe an active 30% credit through 2032 — that's unrevised boilerplate contradicted by current IRS guidance, so confirm eligibility with a tax professional rather than assuming a credit applies to your quote.
What's the price difference between monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film panels?+
Monocrystalline runs $1 to $1.50 per watt, polycrystalline $0.90 to $1.00, and thin-film $0.70 to $1.00 (HomeAdvisor). Priced per panel instead, This Old House cites $1,200 installed for monocrystalline, $850 for polycrystalline, and $500 for thin-film.
How long does it take for solar panels to pay for themselves?+
Most systems recoup their cost in six to ten years (HomeAdvisor, This Old House), with Fixr citing roughly 10 years and 10% ROI on average. This Old House notes payback can run under eight years in high-electricity-rate states like California.
Is it cheaper to buy or lease solar panels?+
Buying costs more upfront — cash purchases can require up to 50% down — but only owned systems have ever qualified for the federal tax credit. Leases and PPAs need no upfront payment, since a third party owns the equipment and either rents it to you monthly or sells you the electricity it generates at a set rate, but they're never credit-eligible (Fixr, Bob Vila).
Does solar panel cost depend on my home's size?+
Yes — This Old House ties system size to bedroom count and usage: a 1-bedroom home (4,800 kWh a year) averages $14,319 installed, scaling up to a 4-bedroom home (22,080 kWh a year) at $26,500.
Sources
Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-29):
- HomeAdvisor — Average cost $27,138; normal range $18,307-$36,409 (minimum possible $3,100, maximum possible $55,000). Cost per watt $2.50-$3.50. Installed cost before tax credit by system size: 5kW $12,500-$17,500; 6kW $15,000-$21,000; 7kW $17,500-$24,500; 8kW $17,600-$28,000; 9kW $22,500-$31,500; 10kW $25,000-$35,000; 11kW $27,500-$38,500; 12kW $30,000-$42,000. Panel cost per watt: monocrystalline $1-$1.50 (40-year lifespan), polycrystalline $0.90-$1.00 (25-30 years), thin-film $0.70-$1.00 (10-20 years). Federal tax credit: 'For systems installed in tax years 2022 to 2032, homeowners can claim up to 30% of the eligible system and installation costs,' stepping down to 26% between 2033-2035. Payback: 'Most systems recoup their post-tax-credit cost in six to 10 years.' Annual inspection $150-$300; cleaning $150-$750; repairs $200-$1,250 (extensive jobs $3,600+). Updated Jun 19, 2026.
- Fixr — National average range $19,100-$23,800; typical rooftop installation $23,100; cost per watt $3.04. Cost by system size before incentives: 3kW $9,100; 4kW $12,200; 5kW $15,200; 6kW $18,200; 7kW $21,300; 8kW $24,300; 9kW $27,400; 10kW $30,400; 11kW $33,400; 12kW $36,500; 13kW $39,500. Installation cost breakdown for a 7.6kW system: solar panels 12%, inverters/microinverters 10%, electrical wiring 10%, customer acquisition 15%, labor 7%, racking/mounting 6%, permitting/interconnection 4%, other soft costs 36%. Federal tax credit: 'Under current federal law, the Residential Solar Tax Credit (ITC) ended for customer-owned systems on December 31, 2025.' Monocrystalline panels are 'most expensive,' polycrystalline offers 'affordability,' thin-film has the 'lowest cost' (no per-panel dollar figures given). Solar batteries $7,000-$18,000+ (avg $15,000); EV chargers $600-$2,000; panel removal/reinstallation about $3,800. Average payback period about 10 years; typical ROI about 10%. Updated January 30, 2026.
- Bob Vila — National average $20,552 after federal tax credits; cost range $17,238-$23,235. Federal tax credit: 'This federal tax credit allows for a 30 percent reduction of the cost to install the system through the year 2032. The tax credit rate reduces to 26 percent in 2033 and down to 22 percent in 2034. The ITC is currently scheduled to expire in 2035.' Homeowners can save around $50,000 on electricity costs in 25 years, or between $31,000 and $100,000 over the system's lifetime. Solar energy is typically 30% cheaper than utility-purchased power. Panels generally last 25 years or more. No per-watt, system-size, panel-type, or lease/PPA dollar figures given. Updated Apr 7, 2025.
- This Old House — Single panel installed: $1,200 national average. Full system (20-30 panels): $24,000-$36,000, average $24,222. By home size: 1-bedroom (4,800 kWh/yr, 5-12 panels) $14,319; 2-bedroom (8,400 kWh/yr, 10-18 panels) $15,866; 3-bedroom (15,900 kWh/yr, 18-34 panels) $24,222; 4-bedroom (22,080 kWh/yr, 35-46 panels) $26,500. Panel type per installed panel: monocrystalline (15-22% efficiency, 25+ year lifespan) $1,200; polycrystalline (13-17%, 25-30 years) $850; thin-film (6-15%, 10-20 years) $500. Cost breakdown: panels 18%, inverter/equipment 19%, installation labor 7%, permits/inspections 5%, soft costs 51%. Cost per watt by state on a 10kW system: South Dakota $22,880 (lowest, $16,016 after credits) to New Hampshire $36,500 (highest, $25,550 after credits). Federal tax credit: '30% of your total solar installation cost from your federal income taxes,' with an example of an $18,000 system yielding a $5,400 credit (net cost $12,600); no expiration mentioned. Solar loan interest $3,000-$8,000 over the loan's life. Payback period: typical range 6-10 years (California example: under 8 years); 25-year lifetime savings about $42,376. Quote from Tim Sanborn, solar installer, on a This Old House project: 'We're gonna put up 20 panels spread around the roof. They're 400-watt panels, so it's an 8 kW system.' Updated 06/12/2026.
- Thumbtack — National average $6,644; cost range $3,045-$14,480. Per-panel pricing for 200-350 watt panels: materials $441 average ($370-$569), labor $304 average ($255-$391). By system size: 15 panels materials $5,550-$8,535 plus labor $3,825-$5,865; 25 panels materials $9,250-$14,225 plus labor $6,375-$9,775. Low-quality panels (up to 150W) average $542-$833 each. Soft costs (permitting, inspections, interconnection) estimated at roughly 65% of total project expense. Last updated 'Tue, Aug 05' (year not shown on page).
- IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit equals 30% of qualified clean energy property costs, covering solar electric panels, solar water heaters, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, and battery storage technology (beginning in 2023). States plainly: 'The credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.' Page last reviewed 04-Jul-2026.
HomeAdvisor anchors the headline figures: average cost $27,138, normal range $18,307-$36,409, $2.50-$3.50 per watt. Fixr reports a lower average ($23,100, range $19,100-$23,800, $3.04/watt) because its typical example system is smaller (about 7.6 kW) than HomeAdvisor's blended sample; Fixr's own per-system-size table ($18,200 for 6kW, $24,300 for 8kW, $30,400 for 10kW) sits inside HomeAdvisor's per-size bands, so the two sources agree once system size is held constant. This Old House's $24,222 average is specifically for an 18-34 panel, 3-bedroom home, landing between the two national averages. Bob Vila's $20,552 average is stated 'after federal tax credits' (a roughly 30% reduction assumed on top of an unstated gross price), which is not directly comparable to the other sources' gross figures and, per Fixr's more recent update below, may no longer reflect what a 2026 buyer actually pays. Thumbtack reports a much lower average ($6,644, range $3,045-$14,480) built from per-panel materials-plus-labor pricing ($745/panel average); that per-panel math implies a far smaller total for a comparable 15-25 panel system than every other source's per-kW pricing, so it reads as either a materials/labor-only estimate or a heavily discounted marketplace floor rather than a fully comparable turnkey install cost — reported here for completeness but not used to anchor the headline range. On the federal tax credit: this is now settled by the primary source, not just publisher disagreement. The IRS states directly, as of its most recent review (04-Jul-2026), that the Residential Clean Energy Credit — the 30% credit covering solar electric panels — 'is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025' (IRS, https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit). That confirms Fixr's January 30, 2026 update, which states the Residential Solar Tax Credit (ITC) 'ended for customer-owned systems on December 31, 2025.' HomeAdvisor (updated June 19, 2026 — a later date than Fixr's), This Old House (updated June 12, 2026), and Bob Vila (updated April 7, 2025) all still describe an ongoing 30% credit through 2032 (stepping to 26% in 2033, 22% in 2034, expiring 2035) with no mention of the repeal; that is unrevised boilerplate now superseded by IRS guidance. A homeowner-owned solar system placed in service in 2026 does not qualify for this federal credit. Readers should still verify with a tax professional, since state and utility incentives are separate and may still apply. Panel-type figures are reported in two different units across sources (HomeAdvisor prices per watt; This Old House prices per installed panel) and are not designed to reconcile to identical implied panel wattages. Figures generally include panels, inverter, racking, wiring, permitting, and standard installation labor; a battery, EV charger, or panel-removal-and-reinstallation (for a roof job underneath) are commonly quoted as separate line items.