No federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026 (25D ended Dec 31, 2025). Prices shown are what you pay.
Solar panels cost by size
| Size | Cost | Per watt |
|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,760-$14,060 | $2.69-$3.52 |
| 5 kW | $13,290-$17,360 | $2.66-$3.47 |
| 6 kW | $15,750-$20,580 | $2.62-$3.43 |
| 7 kW | $18,140-$23,700 | $2.59-$3.39 |
| 8 kW | $20,460-$26,740 | $2.56-$3.34 |
| 9 kW | $22,720-$29,690 | $2.52-$3.30 |
| 10 kW | $24,910-$32,550 | $2.49-$3.26 |
| 11 kW | $27,040-$35,330 | $2.46-$3.21 |
| 12 kW | $29,100-$38,020 | $2.42-$3.17 |
Installed: Rooftop solar, string or microinverters
Solar panels cost by material or type
| Type | Unit | Materials | Installed | Typical job | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooftop solar, string or microinverters | per watt | $1.09-$1.44 | $2.56-$3.34 | $20,460-$26,740 | 25-30 years |
Materials include waste and contractor markup. 8 kW system
Add-ons and extra work
| Addon | Unit | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Home battery (10-13 kWh) | each | $10,200-$15,800 |
| Main panel upgrade | job | $2,180-$3,430 |
Installed price per unit
Labor rates
| Trade | Median pay | Billed rate |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Photovoltaic Installers | $25.55/hr | $51-$66/hr |
| Electricians | $30.38/hr | $61-$79/hr |
Median pay: BLS May 2025. Billed rate: what a contractor charges per worker-hour, estimated at 2.0 to 2.6 times pay (insurance, payroll taxes, overhead, profit).
Permits for this kind of job typically run $75-$250 in the cities we checked (11 cities). Your city may differ. Shown separately from the price range.
Where the money goes
| Part | Share | On 8kw system |
|---|---|---|
| Panels | 12% | $2,460-$3,210 |
| Inverter(s) | 10% | $2,150-$2,810 |
| Racking | 6% | $1,230-$1,600 |
| Electrical | 10% | $1,940-$2,540 |
| Installation labor | 6% | $1,230-$1,600 |
| Permits and inspection | 5% | $1,020-$1,340 |
| Sales and design | 16% | $3,380-$4,410 |
| Overhead and profit | 25% | $5,120-$6,690 |
| Supply chain and tax | 10% | $1,940-$2,540 |
Shares from NREL's residential PV cost benchmark, applied to NumeralQ's price
Paying for it
| Option | Upfront | Monthly | You own | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | $20,460-$26,740 | $0 | Yes | Lowest lifetime cost |
| Solar loan, 20 years at 8% | $0 | $171-$224 | Yes | Watch for dealer fees built into the price |
| Lease | $0 | fixed payment, often with a yearly increase | No | Installer owns the system |
| PPA | $0 | pay per kWh produced, usually below the utility rate | No | Installer owns the system |
8 kW system, national range; loan rate is an example, not a quote
Cost per watt by state
| State | Per watt | 8 kW system |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $2.29-$3.00 | $18,340-$23,990 |
| Alaska | $2.92-$3.82 | $23,400-$30,560 |
| Arizona | $2.50-$3.27 | $20,030-$26,170 |
| Arkansas | $2.33-$3.04 | $18,630-$24,350 |
| California | $2.76-$3.61 | $22,110-$28,880 |
| Colorado | $2.46-$3.22 | $19,710-$25,760 |
| Connecticut | $2.62-$3.43 | $21,000-$27,440 |
| Delaware | $2.58-$3.37 | $20,630-$26,960 |
| District of Columbia | $2.92-$3.81 | $23,350-$30,500 |
| Florida | $2.49-$3.25 | $19,890-$25,990 |
| Georgia | $2.41-$3.15 | $19,280-$25,210 |
| Hawaii | $3.03-$3.96 | $24,260-$31,680 |
| Idaho | $2.43-$3.18 | $19,470-$25,450 |
| Illinois | $2.74-$3.58 | $21,890-$28,600 |
| Indiana | $2.37-$3.09 | $18,920-$24,730 |
| Iowa | $2.66-$3.47 | $21,260-$27,770 |
| Kansas | $2.47-$3.23 | $19,770-$25,840 |
| Kentucky | $2.40-$3.14 | $19,200-$25,090 |
| Louisiana | $2.39-$3.12 | $19,110-$24,990 |
| Maine | $2.78-$3.63 | $22,240-$29,050 |
| Maryland | $2.35-$3.07 | $18,760-$24,530 |
| Massachusetts | $2.72-$3.56 | $21,790-$28,470 |
| Michigan | $2.39-$3.12 | $19,120-$25,000 |
| Minnesota | $2.82-$3.69 | $22,590-$29,500 |
| Mississippi | $2.27-$2.98 | $18,200-$23,800 |
| Missouri | $2.59-$3.38 | $20,690-$27,040 |
| Montana | $2.65-$3.46 | $21,160-$27,640 |
| Nebraska | $2.50-$3.26 | $19,960-$26,080 |
| Nevada | $2.96-$3.87 | $23,700-$30,940 |
| New Hampshire | $2.62-$3.43 | $20,980-$27,420 |
| New Jersey | $3.27-$4.27 | $26,160-$34,140 |
| New Mexico | $2.43-$3.17 | $19,430-$25,400 |
| New York | $2.64-$3.45 | $21,130-$27,600 |
| North Carolina | $2.30-$3.01 | $18,420-$24,080 |
| North Dakota | $2.59-$3.38 | $20,690-$27,040 |
| Ohio | $2.81-$3.67 | $22,500-$29,390 |
| Oklahoma | $2.26-$2.96 | $18,110-$23,680 |
| Oregon | $2.92-$3.81 | $23,370-$30,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $2.41-$3.15 | $19,270-$25,190 |
| Rhode Island | $2.69-$3.52 | $21,540-$28,140 |
| South Carolina | $2.48-$3.25 | $19,870-$25,970 |
| South Dakota | $2.26-$2.96 | $18,090-$23,650 |
| Tennessee | $2.38-$3.11 | $19,050-$24,900 |
| Texas | $2.42-$3.17 | $19,380-$25,330 |
| Utah | $2.47-$3.23 | $19,760-$25,830 |
| Vermont | $2.46-$3.21 | $19,650-$25,690 |
| Virginia | $2.45-$3.20 | $19,590-$25,610 |
| Washington | $2.79-$3.65 | $22,330-$29,170 |
| West Virginia | $2.40-$3.14 | $19,210-$25,110 |
| Wisconsin | $2.46-$3.22 | $19,720-$25,770 |
| Wyoming | $2.48-$3.24 | $19,850-$25,950 |
Lifespan and upkeep by material
| Material | Lifespan | Upkeep | Every | Upkeep per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panels | 20-30 years | Inspect and clean | 2 years | $75-$175 |
| Inverter (string) | 10-15 (survey) years | Replace once during panel life | 12 years | $125-$250 |
| Battery | 3-12 years | Replace | 10 years | $800-$1,500 |
Lifespans: InterNACHI and manufacturer data. Upkeep costs: NumeralQ estimates.
Solar panels cost by state
| State | Typical job | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $18,340-$23,990 | -10% |
| Alaska | $23,400-$30,560 | +14% |
| Arizona | $20,030-$26,170 | -2% |
| Arkansas | $18,630-$24,350 | -9% |
| California | $22,110-$28,880 | +8% |
| Colorado | $19,710-$25,760 | -4% |
| Connecticut | $21,000-$27,440 | +3% |
| Delaware | $20,630-$26,960 | +1% |
| District of Columbia | $23,350-$30,500 | +14% |
| Florida | $19,890-$25,990 | -3% |
| Georgia | $19,280-$25,210 | -6% |
| Hawaii | $24,260-$31,680 | +18% |
| Idaho | $19,470-$25,450 | -5% |
| Illinois | $21,890-$28,600 | +7% |
| Indiana | $18,920-$24,730 | -8% |
| Iowa | $21,260-$27,770 | +4% |
| Kansas | $19,770-$25,840 | -3% |
| Kentucky | $19,200-$25,090 | -6% |
| Louisiana | $19,110-$24,990 | -7% |
| Maine | $22,240-$29,050 | +9% |
| Maryland | $18,760-$24,530 | -8% |
| Massachusetts | $21,790-$28,470 | +6% |
| Michigan | $19,120-$25,000 | -6% |
| Minnesota | $22,590-$29,500 | +10% |
| Mississippi | $18,200-$23,800 | -11% |
| Missouri | $20,690-$27,040 | +1% |
| Montana | $21,160-$27,640 | +3% |
| Nebraska | $19,960-$26,080 | -2% |
| Nevada | $23,700-$30,940 | +16% |
| New Hampshire | $20,980-$27,420 | +2% |
| New Jersey | $26,160-$34,140 | +28% |
| New Mexico | $19,430-$25,400 | -5% |
| New York | $21,130-$27,600 | +3% |
| North Carolina | $18,420-$24,080 | -10% |
| North Dakota | $20,690-$27,040 | +1% |
| Ohio | $22,500-$29,390 | +10% |
| Oklahoma | $18,110-$23,680 | -12% |
| Oregon | $23,370-$30,510 | +14% |
| Pennsylvania | $19,270-$25,190 | -6% |
| Rhode Island | $21,540-$28,140 | +5% |
| South Carolina | $19,870-$25,970 | -3% |
| South Dakota | $18,090-$23,650 | -12% |
| Tennessee | $19,050-$24,900 | -7% |
| Texas | $19,380-$25,330 | -5% |
| Utah | $19,760-$25,830 | -3% |
| Vermont | $19,650-$25,690 | -4% |
| Virginia | $19,590-$25,610 | -4% |
| Washington | $22,330-$29,170 | +9% |
| West Virginia | $19,210-$25,110 | -6% |
| Wisconsin | $19,720-$25,770 | -4% |
| Wyoming | $19,850-$25,950 | -3% |
8 kW system
Sources
- EnergySage solar cost data, retrieved 2026-10-26
- NumeralQ estimator (pricing as of 2026-10-26)
- SolarReviews solar cost data, retrieved 2026-10-26
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (https://www.bls.gov/oes/)
- City permit fee schedules, retrieved October 2026 (see the permit line for this page's source)
- NumeralQ pricing model v2: materials plus local labor, methodology at /methodology
Compare quotes with the same scope
Use local pricing estimates as planning information, not as contractor bids. Ask each installer to identify the equipment, system size, storage, electrical work, roof work, permits, interconnection steps, warranties, and all contract charges included in the proposal.
Check roof and site conditions
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends reviewing roof age, nearby trees and shade, roof size, shape, and slope when assessing a home for solar. Ask a qualified installer to evaluate the actual property rather than assuming a city-level model establishes roof suitability. Read the DOE Homeowner’s Guide to Solar.
Modeled production is not bill savings
PVGIS results shown on eligible city pages are modeled scenarios for the stated location and system assumptions. They do not predict a specific home’s production, electricity bill, savings, payback, roof suitability, or utility export compensation. Review the retained PVGIS assumptions, source attribution, and disclaimer on each city page.
Verify utility export terms
Compensation for electricity sent to the grid depends on state and utility policies. Ask your electric utility for its current tariff, eligibility rules, and interconnection steps before comparing system proposals. The DOE homeowner guide explains which utility and policy questions to check.
Federal residential credit status
The IRS states that the Residential Clean Energy Credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. Do not include that credit in estimates for later installations. Earlier installations may have different eligibility rules; check the current IRS guidance and consult a qualified tax professional about individual eligibility.
Compare financing and storage terms
For cash, loan, lease, or power-purchase proposals, compare ownership, total payments, fees, contract length, transfer terms, and any payment escalators. If storage is included, ask for its model, capacity, intended use, and warranty. Do not assume a monthly payment or modeled production establishes household savings or payback.
Questions to ask before signing
- What equipment and work are included in the written total?
- Which roof, electrical, permit, or utility approvals still need review?
- What current export-credit terms did the proposal use, and where can I verify them?
- Which assumptions are estimates, and which costs can change after a site inspection?
How the Solar Installation Estimate Works
The estimate uses the selected project scope, the selected material or project option, additional project details only when this service model supports an adjustment and the ZIP code to identify supported local-market context.
Only factors supported by this service model change the planning range. Other project details may help with context or follow-up without changing the estimate. NumeralQ planning estimates are not contractor quotes or records of completed transactions.