How much does it cost to install solar panels?

For most homeowners, the decision to install solar panels is primarily driven by cost. The average cost of solar panels as of Spring 2024 was $3.40 per watt, excluding financing. This price includes both hard costs, like hardware and equipment, and soft costs, like installation labor costs, solar loan costs and fees, and required permitting.

How do you price solar panels?

In our expert opinion, the most effective and accurate method for pricing solar panels is the gross cost. Let’s explain why and then discuss each pricing model in detail. A lot of work goes into ensuring that you can safely turn on your solar power system–the process is much more involved than simply attaching solar panels to your roof.

What are soft costs for a solar and battery project?

Soft costs include administration costs for the company, customer acquisition and marketing, system design, permits and fees for connecting to the grid, and labor for installation. Here’s the NREL’s latest soft costs breakdown of a solar and battery project:

How much does a solar system cost in 2024?

However, a typical American household needs a system closer to 10 kW to adequately power their home, which costs $28,241 in 2024. That price effectively drops to $19,873 after considering the full federal solar tax credit. Average solar installation cost by system size

How can I reduce the cost of installing solar panels?

Short of installing the solar panels yourself (which we don’t recommend for safety and many other reasons), one of the only ways to reduce these non-labor soft costs is to use the solar.com marketplace to compare quotes.

Are solar panels expensive?

Solar panel installation may be expensive, but there are other costs you will encounter with ownership. They include: Cleaning: If you live in an area prone to dust, heavy pollen, and wildfires, debris and dust may build up on your solar panels and prevent them from working efficiently.