US Guide
How much do solar panels cost in 2026?
A typical US home solar system runs about $2.75 per watt installed in 2026, but the total depends on size, your roof, and how you pay. Here's the breakdown.
The short answer
The 2026 national average is roughly $2.75 per watt installed, before incentives. So a typical 6kW system lands around $16,500, and larger systems scale from there. Remember: as of 2026 there's no 30% federal tax credit on a system you buy, it expired at the end of 2025, so the installed price is much closer to what you actually pay.
Typical cost by system size
| System size | Typical installed cost | Generation/year | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4kW | ~$11,000 | ~6.5k kWh | Smaller homes |
| 6kW | ~$16,500 | ~9.7k kWh | Average home |
| 8kW | ~$22,000 | ~13k kWh | Larger home / EV |
| 10kW | ~$27,500 | ~16.2k kWh | All-electric / pool |
What you're paying for
A residential quote bundles several things, hardware is under half of it:
- Panels (~25-30%), the modules themselves; premium brands cost more but rarely change payback much.
- Inverter (~10%), string inverter or microinverters that convert DC to AC.
- Racking, wiring & electrical (~10-15%), mounting hardware and the balance of system.
- Labor, permitting & interconnection (~20-25%), install crew, permits, and utility paperwork.
- Sales, overhead & margin (~20%+), the part that varies most between installers.
What moves the price
- System size, bigger systems cost more in total but often a little less per watt.
- Roof complexity, steep, multi-plane, or tile roofs cost more than simple asphalt shingle.
- Panel and inverter choice, premium equipment adds cost; the payback difference is usually small.
- Your installer, quotes for the same system routinely vary 20-40%. Always get three.
The financing trap to watch
Many "low-rate" solar loans hide a dealer fee, sometimes 10-30% of the system price, baked into the sticker to buy down the interest rate. A cash price and a financed price for the same system can differ by thousands. Always ask for the cash price and the dealer feeexplicitly, and compare the all-in total, not the monthly payment.More on how to pay for solar.
See your own numbers
Enter your bill for a payback estimate tuned to your state's rate, sun, and net-metering policy.