How Much Do Solar Panels Cost to Install?
Updated 24 October 2026
Calculate your exact solar installation cost based on your electric bill, state, and panel type. See your payback period and 25-year savings.
Solar Panel Cost Calculator
Leave blank to use the state average on the EnergySage marketplace ($2.60/W).
System Size
6.0 kW
Installed Cost
$15,690
Payback Period
10.3 yrs
Cost Breakdown
| Installed solar cost | $15,690 |
| Total out of pocket | $15,690 |
Savings & ROI
| Annual electricity savings | $1,530/year |
| Payback period | 10.3 years |
| 25-year net savings | $22,560 |
| State incentives | No state incentive |
Assumptions: system size = your annual use (bill / state average residential price, EIA, August 2026) divided by the state's sun hours; cost = size x $2.60/W; savings assume 85% of your bill is offset, which overstates savings where exports earn less than retail (for example California's Net Billing Tariff). Use an installer's production estimate and your tariff for a firm figure.
The 30% federal solar credit ended 31 December 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act terminated the Section 25D residential clean energy credit for systems placed in service after 31 December 2025. A home solar system purchased in 2026 gets no federal tax credit, so the figures above are the full installed cost. Only systems fully installed by 31 December 2025 could claim the 30% credit (and carry forward any unused amount). State rebates, SRECs, and net metering still apply where offered.
Average Solar Panel Costs by System Size
System size times the EnergySage average installed price per watt before incentives, October 2026: $2.60 US average, $2.12 in Florida (lowest state) and $3.82 in Alabama (highest).
| System Size | At $2.60/W (US) | State range $2.12-$3.82/W | Powers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kW | $10,400 | $8,480-$15,280 | Small home, 1-2 people |
| 6 kW | $15,600 | $12,720-$22,920 | Average home, 2-3 people |
| 8 kW | $20,800 | $16,960-$30,560 | Larger home, 3-4 people |
| 10 kW | $26,000 | $21,200-$38,200 | Large home or EV charging |
| 12 kW | $31,200 | $25,440-$45,840 | Large home + battery + EV |
A 6-8 kW system: $15,600-$20,800 installed
A 6-8 kW system covers most of an average American home's use. At $2.60 per watt, the average before incentives on the EnergySage marketplace (October 2026), that's $15,600-$20,800 installed. The US Department of Energy's modelled market price for a residential system was $2.95 per watt in Q1 2025 (DOE/NREL benchmark, 2024 dollars). The 30% federal solar credit ended for systems placed in service after 31 December 2025, so a 2026 purchase pays the full amount. State averages on the same marketplace run from $2.12 per watt (Florida) to $3.82 (Alabama), and quotes for the same house differ between installers, so get at least three.
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