How much does a home solar system cost

If you just need a few panels for a small do-it-yourself solar project, expect to pay around $200 to $350 per panel (between $0.80 and $1.40 per watt). Note: The table below doesn't include the cost of a solar storage battery, which can add anywhere from $7,000 to $18,000 to your total solar system costs.

A 6- to 10-kW solar panel installation costs $12,600 to $31,500 after the 30% federal tax credit. Solar panel prices depend on the size, type, and quality. *Total cost may be lower with additional state and local incentives. Get free estimates from solar panel installers near you. Residential solar panel prices vary from state to state.

Generally, installing solar panels on businesses costs a bit less per watt because the systems are larger, but the total costs will be higher. In 2025, the average cost for commercial solar panels is just about $2.00 per watt. There is a lot to consider when figuring out how much you'll spend on a solar installation.

Solar panel costs are usually measured in the cost per watt of solar installed. However, solar system sizes are measured in kilowatts (kW). To calculate the total price of installing a home solar system, you'll need the system size to be in watts. To convert kilowatts to watts, all you need to do is multiply the system size in kW by 1,000.

Take control of your energy costs with solar power. Solar panels generate “free” electricity, but installing a system still costs money. A typical American household needs a 10-kilowatt (kW) system to adequately power their home, which costs $28,241 in 2025.

On average, homeowners with a complete solar system save $41,000 to $62,000 on total avoided energy costs over 25 years. It all depends on what your local utility charges for electricity, according to Robert Flores, a solar expert at The University of California, Irvine's Clean Energy Institute.