How much do solar panels 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). We suggest using NREL's PVWatts Calculator for estimating your solar installation costs. First, consider your average household energy needs. This tells you how big of a system you need.

How much does a solar panel upgrade cost?

Electrical panel upgrades: Not all homeowners need to get a new electrical panel when they go solar, but if you live in an older home or your breaker box is too small, you may need to get an upgrade. Depending on the project, and electrical panel upgrade for solar could cost between $2,000 and $3,000.

How much does a solar panel cost in California?

California's average cost per watt is currently $2.47. difference comes down to efficiency and materials: Monocrystalline panels are made from pure, single silicon crystals; various silicon fragments melted together are used to make polycrystalline panels. Monocrystalline panels have a solid black appearance.

How much does a rooftop solar system cost?

Mounting system: This is what holds rooftop solar panels in place. Costs vary depending on the type of solar installation, but it generally costs between 7 and 20 cents per watt. Electrical wiring and hardware: This includes the wiring, switches and circuit breakers required to connect the solar panel system to your home's electrical system.

How much does solar panel maintenance cost?

Solar panel maintenance costs: Solar panels have no moving parts, so very little maintenance is required. However, getting routine professional solar panel cleaning and inspections every two years can keep your system in tip-top shape. These solar maintenance costs can be about $300 per session.

How much does solar cost per watt?

Most of the time, you’ll see solar system costs listed as the cost per watt of solar installed so you can easily compare prices between quotes for different system sizes. The average cost per watt of solar is $3.03 per watt, but you may get some quotes that are slightly higher or slightly lower than average. Beware of extremely low solar prices.