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You might be surprised by how much the cost of solar panels has decreased in recent years. People sometimes used to think they were too expensive, but now they are more affordable than ever.
The price of your system will vary depending on your energy needs, the number and type of panels you get, and the cost of local labor, taxes, and other fees in your area. Today, we’ll examine the average price of buying and installing a complete solar system, the federal tax rebate, purchasing options, and ways to lower costs. Let’s get started.
Average Cost of House Solar Panels in 2024
The average residential solar panel or photovoltaic (PV) installation cost for a home in the USA is about $2.86 per watt. This typically equates to between $15,000 and $25,000 before federal and state incentives. The cost of an installed system is cheapest in Arizona at $2.36 per watt and most expensive in Maine at $3.52 per watt.
Average Cost of House Solar Panels by State
Since the average cost of photovoltaics varies significantly by state, we’ve provided a breakdown of the average costs for 6kW and 10kW systems and the federal tax credit you can expect on a 10kW system. Finally, we’ll explore the average price per watt in each US state.
| State | Average Solar Panel System Cost: 6 kW | Average Solar Panel System Cost: 10 kW | 2024 Federal Tax Credit Value (10 kW System) | Average Cost Per Watt ($/W) |
| Alabama | $14,700 | $24,500 | $7,350 | $2.45 |
| Alaska | $14,460 | $24,100 | $7,230 | $2.41 |
| Arkansas | $16,560 | $27,600 | $8,296 | $2.76 |
| Arizona | $14,160 | $23,600 | $7,080 | $2.36 |
| California | $17,460 | $29,100 | $8,734 | $2.91 |
| Colorado | $18,600 | $31,000 | $9,298 | $3.10 |
| Connecticut | $18,960 | $31,600 | $9,480 | $3.16 |
| Washington D.C. | $19,140 | $31,900 | $9,564 | $3.19 |
| Delaware | $15,660 | $26,100 | $7,834 | $2.61 |
| Florida | $14,580 | $24,300 | $7,298 | $2.43 |
| Georgia | $17,280 | $28,800 | $8,626 | $2.88 |
| Iowa | $18,900 | $31,500 | $9,448 | $3.15 |
| Idaho | $17,160 | $28,600 | $8,580 | $2.86 |
| Illinois | $18,780 | $31,300 | $9,390 | $3.13 |
| Indiana | $20,280 | $33,800 | $10,154 | $3.38 |
| Kansas | $17,340 | $28,900 | $8,674 | $2.89 |
| Kentucky | $17,940 | $29,900 | $8,962 | $2.99 |
| Louisiana | $17,760 | $29,600 | $8,888 | $2.96 |
| Massachusetts | $20,460 | $34,100 | $10,234 | $3.41 |
| Maryland | $17,640 | $29,400 | $8,818 | $2.94 |
| Maine | $21,120 | $35,200 | $10,564 | $3.52 |
| Michigan | $19,440 | $32,400 | $9,730 | $3.24 |
| Minnesota | $18,780 | $31,300 | $9,382 | $3.13 |
| Missouri | $16,500 | $27,500 | $8,258 | $2.75 |
| Mississippi | $15,840 | $26,400 | $7,920 | $2.64 |
| Montana | $14,520 | $24,200 | $7,260 | $2.42 |
| North Carolina | $16,260 | $27,100 | $8,122 | $2.71 |
| New Hampshire | $21,060 | $35,100 | $10,520 | $3.51 |
| New Jersey | $17,580 | $29,300 | $8,802 | $2.93 |
| New Mexico | $18,180 | $30,300 | $9,078 | $3.03 |
| Nevada | $15,540 | $25,900 | $7,760 | $2.59 |
| New York | $18,600 | $31,000 | $9,304 | $3.10 |
| Nebraska | $16,980 | $28,300 | $8,490 | $2.83 |
| North Dakota | $14,520 | $24,200 | $7,260 | $2.42 |
| Ohio | $16,200 | $27,000 | $8,098 | $2.70 |
| Oklahoma | $15,060 | $25,100 | $7,544 | $2.51 |
| Oregon | $17,220 | $28,700 | $8,606 | $2.87 |
| Pennsylvania | $17,760 | $29,600 | $8,872 | $2.96 |
| Rhode Island | $20,160 | $33,600 | $10,096 | $3.36 |
| South Carolina | $15,960 | $26,600 | $7,974 | $2.66 |
| South Dakota | $14,340 | $23,900 | $7,170 | $2.39 |
| Tennessee | $19,800 | $33,000 | $9,908 | $3.30 |
| Texas | $14,280 | $23,800 | $7,140 | $2.38 |
| Utah | $16,680 | $27,800 | $8,330 | $2.78 |
| Virginia | $17,760 | $29,600 | $8,874 | $2.96 |
| Vermont | $19,380 | $32,300 | $9,700 | $3.23 |
| Washington | $17,520 | $29,200 | $8,750 | $2.92 |
| Wisconsin | $18,840 | $31,400 | $9,432 | $3.14 |
| West Virginia | $18,540 | $30,900 | $9,282 | $3.09 |
| Wyoming | $15,420 | $25,700 | $7,710 | $2.57 |
How Much Are House Solar Panels?
On average, you can expect to pay about $2.86 per watt or $15,000 – $25,000 for a fully installed photovoltaic system before incentives. However, the actual cost of your photovoltaics depends on several factors: location, the number and type of panels you need, characteristics of your roof and exposure, the price of labor in your state, and more.
Let’s examine the cost factors further to better understand what your system may cost you.
Location
The laws, permits, and fees on photovoltaic installations vary significantly by state, as do the state-run solar incentives. If you opt to remain tied to the grid or want to take advantage of selling excess energy back to the grid via net metering, if available in your state, there’ll be additional connection fees you must pay your utility company.
Another major factor determined by location is your peak sunlight hours, or how many hours your PVs are exposed to direct sunlight, where they operate at their maximum efficiency. The lower your peak sunlight hours, the more panels you need to meet your energy requirements.
Generally speaking, the further north you are, the lower your peak sunlight hours. Alaska has the lowest at 2-3 hours daily, and Arizona has the most at 7-8. Mountainous regions can also vary significantly depending on your location concerning the sun.
Energy Needs
The typical US household uses 10,791kWh annually, or about 899kWh per month. The size of your home will determine your particular energy needs, as well as appliances, how many people are in your home, whether you own an electric vehicle and other factors. You’ll need to assess your personal household energy usage, as the more energy you use, the more PVs you need, and the higher the price of your system.
Size, Weight, and Number of Panels
The size, weight, and number of PV modules required will also affect your final costs. Your energy needs, peak sunlight hours, panel efficiency, and other factors will determine the total number you need. Larger, heavier panels will also cost more to install than lighter-weight units since they require more robust racking systems.
Portable solar panels will reduce your costs since you won’t have to pay for installation. They’re lightweight and can be carried with you if you want to go on an outdoor adventure. However, if you’re looking for something more permanent or have limited space on the ground, EcoFlow’s Rigid Solar Panels are the best option for permanent roof installations.
Panel Type
The type of photovoltaics you buy will also affect the price. Not long ago, the more efficient monocrystalline panels cost considerably more than less efficient polycrystalline PVs. The higher cost made buying those less efficient panels more appealing since you could get a faster return on your investment. However, the price difference has been decreasing rapidly, so much that nowadays it’s not worth the savings since you need more of them to produce the same amount of energy.
Monocrystalline
Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient PVs available today. The manufacturing process to produce single silicon crystals for each photovoltaic cell has traditionally cost more. However, that cost difference has diminished significantly in recent years, now costing between $1 and $1.50 per watt, compared to between $0.90 and $1.50 per watt for polycrystalline.
EcoFlow’s Solar Panels, for example, use monocrystalline technology and boast a 23% conversion efficiency, compared to most other major manufacturers, averaging around 20%. Another critical factor is that these PVs will typically last longer. Thanks to their better temperature coefficient, they perform better in hot climates. Polycrystalline PVs are also more prone to thermal damage in intense sunlight.
Polycrystalline
Polycrystalline PVs were the most common models for many years. They’re easier to make since they’re not made of a single silicon crystal but of multiple smaller crystals melded together to form a polycrystalline cell. Because they’re easier to produce, they used to cost significantly less.
However, this initial purchase saving would cost you conversion efficiency since polycrystalline models are only 13-16% efficient on average. That means you’d need to buy more panels to produce the same amount of energy. Nowadays, you can expect to pay between $0.90 and $1.50 per watt, so your savings are small to non-existent.
Thin Film
Thin film photovoltaics are the least efficient, with an average conversion efficiency of 7-15%. They have the advantage of being highly flexible, allowing installation on diverse surfaces. They also cost much less, around $0.43–$0.70 per watt, making them a popular choice for large commercial arrays. However, they also do not last as long and are not ideal for homeowners wanting to invest in solar.
Newer options like EcoFlow’s 100W Flexible Panels are a fantastic alternative to old-school thin film models. They’re flexible like the older thin films, but thanks to EcoFlow’s unique technology, they have a much higher conversion efficiency of 23%. These are best used to supplement your regular rigid or portable array, allowing you to maximize your surface area by attaching them to unusual roofs, RV roofs, boat awnings, or other unconventional surfaces.
Purchasing Options
Your available purchasing options will also affect your final price, particularly if you don’t have the cash to buy your system upfront and require financing. If so, you may be subject to additional fees and interest.
Roof Characteristics
You should also consider the pros and cons of roof installations. Some major factors to consider are the shape and slope of your roof, how much surface area is available, whether or not your roof is shaded for parts of the day, and when it experiences shade.
These all impact the effectiveness and cost of a roof installation. Older roofs may even need to be replaced before your photovoltaics are installed. EcoFlow’s 400W Rigid Panels are a popular choice for permanent roof installations, maximizing the surface area of your roof and your solar array’s effectiveness.
Labor
The cost of hiring licensed solar installers and electricians varies by state; fees may be lower in states with more installers or less stringent labor laws.
Make sure you hire a qualified professional since mistakes during installation can be costly. Not all installers offer warranties on their labor or have only limited warranties. Check their reviews on Google and compare installers’ costs, professionalism, knowledge, and warranties; doing a little research could save you big in the long run.
Solar Panel Installation Costs
Your costs will depend on the size and shape of your roof, the number and type of panels you install, the state you live in, and the rates of your installation professionals. On average, professionally installed systems cost between $15,000 and $25,000.
Your equipment, including panels, inverters, batteries, racking, and mounting hardware, account for about 47.2% of your costs, with additional electrical components for another 7.2%.
Then there are taxes, fees, permits (8.2%), administration and grid connection fees (12.2%), and labor. Installation labor typically amounts to 12.2% of the total, while electrical labor fees cost another 13.2%.
If you have the knowledge and skills to DIY install photovoltaics, you can save significantly; just be aware of the risks of DIY installation. On average, DIY installations cost $7,000-$18,000, but you can save around $7,000-$8,000 by doing so.
How Can I Pay for Solar Panels?
Cash
If you have the cash to pay upfront, this is the best option since you’ll own your photovoltaics, benefit from state and federal incentives, and not pay interest or fees to financiers.
Solar Loans
If you lack the cash to pay upfront, you can obtain loans for installing solar systems. Discuss this with your local bank to find out what options they may have. Financing options still allow you to be eligible for incentives.
Manufacturer Financing
Sometimes, manufacturers also offer financing on their products directly or through third-party lenders, giving you another option to pay for your system over time.
Solar Leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
Solar leases are when companies place photovoltaics on your land, and you pay them a fixed monthly fee for their use. These are similar to solar power purchase agreements where someone else installs the equipment on your land, and you agree to purchase power from them.
These can be good options for people wanting to get into photovoltaics but require more funds to invest. However, be aware of the contract length they want you to sign; this may affect your decision. Also, neither option is eligible for state or federal incentives since you won’t own your system.
Solar Rebates and Incentives
Many states offer state-specific solar rebates and incentives to encourage people to make the switch. Check out your state-specific incentive programs to learn more.
Federal Solar Tax Credit
The Federal Solar Tax Credit is a fantastic opportunity to reduce costs by 30%. You still have to pay upfront for your installation, but you get a significant amount back when you claim it on your taxes. This tax credit will remain in effect until 2030, when it will decrease and finally cease in 2035 unless renewed by Congress.
How Can I Save Money on Solar Panels?
There are many ways to save money on photovoltaic systems, including state rebates and incentives, the federal solar tax credit, and net metering. This allows you to return your excess energy to the grid, although it’s unavailable everywhere.
You can also save money by reducing your electricity consumption to reduce the number of necessary PVs. Consider monitoring your energy usage using apps, running only one major appliance at a time, switching to energy-efficient appliances, and performing regular solar panel maintenance to keep them running optimally.
Final Thoughts
Buying photovoltaics has never been more accessible or more affordable than it is today. Now that you understand how location, panel type, roof, labor, federal tax incentives, and other factors affect your final cost, you should have the necessary information to start looking into installing EcoFlow’s Solar Panels for your home. Then, you can enjoy the benefits of clean, green, and free energy from the sun!
