How much does solar panel installation cost on average?

Nationally, solar panel installation costs about $22,000, with most homeowners paying $15,000 – $37,000. Your local price depends on labor rates, materials and scope, and code — pick your city below for a local figure.

What is the most affordable solar panel installation option?

5 kW (small home) is typically the lowest-cost option at around $16,000 nationally, while premium options cost considerably more.

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Solar Panel Installation Cost (2026)

By the HomeCostLens editorial team · Cost data reviewed September 2026 · National averages, adjusted locally on each city page.

~$22,000

National average cost of solar panel installation on a typical home (~7 kW system) in 2026.

Typical range: $15,000 – $37,000

Source: NREL / EnergySage benchmarks + DSIRE, 2026 (pre-incentive)

A solar panel installation costs about $22,000 nationally, but the real number depends heavily on where you live. HomeCostLens starts from this researched national average and applies a local price factor for each metro, so you get a figure that reflects your city's labor, climate, and permit costs — not a one-size-fits-all national number.

Solar Panel Installation cost by system size

System size	Typical national total
5 kW (small home)	$16,000
7 kW (typical home)	$22,000
10 kW (large home)	$31,000
12 kW (high usage)	$37,000
7 kW + battery storage	$32,000

Solar Panel Installation cost by system size (national)

Solar Panel Installation cost by city

Local cost = national average × each metro's location factor. Pick your city:

City	Location factor	Avg. solar panel installation
New York, NY	1.13	$24,770
Los Angeles, CA	1.14	$24,990
Chicago, IL	1.04	$22,790
Dallas, TX	1.03	$22,680
Houston, TX	0.99	$21,690
Washington, DC	1.09	$23,960
Philadelphia, PA	1.03	$22,570
Miami, FL	1.14	$25,120
Atlanta, GA	1.00	$22,020
Boston, MA	1.08	$23,830
Phoenix, AZ	1.03	$22,730
San Francisco, CA	1.16	$25,430
Seattle, WA	1.11	$24,440
Minneapolis, MN	1.05	$23,060
San Diego, CA	1.12	$24,620
Tampa, FL	1.01	$22,200
Denver, CO	1.06	$23,280
Baltimore, MD	1.04	$22,990
Charlotte, NC	0.97	$21,410
Orlando, FL	1.01	$22,310
Detroit, MI	1.00	$22,070
Riverside, CA	1.06	$23,410
San Antonio, TX	0.95	$20,830
Portland, OR	1.05	$23,190
St. Louis, MO	0.95	$20,920
Sacramento, CA	1.07	$23,470
Pittsburgh, PA	0.95	$20,830
Las Vegas, NV	1.00	$22,040
Austin, TX	0.98	$21,580
Cincinnati, OH	0.95	$20,990
Kansas City, MO	0.93	$20,350
Columbus, OH	0.95	$21,010
Cleveland, OH	0.94	$20,660
Indianapolis, IN	0.96	$21,050
Nashville, TN	0.96	$21,190
San Jose, CA	1.10	$24,290
Virginia Beach, VA	0.98	$21,540
Providence, RI	1.02	$22,400
Milwaukee, WI	0.97	$21,320
Jacksonville, FL	0.99	$21,890
Memphis, TN	0.92	$20,280
Oklahoma City, OK	0.90	$19,890
Louisville, KY	0.93	$20,480
Hartford, CT	1.03	$22,590
Richmond, VA	0.98	$21,540
New Orleans, LA	0.93	$20,370
Buffalo, NY	0.96	$21,080
Raleigh, NC	0.98	$21,600
Birmingham, AL	0.92	$20,150
Salt Lake City, UT	1.01	$22,200
Fresno, CA	1.02	$22,480
Bakersfield, CA	1.01	$22,200
Stockton, CA	1.05	$23,120
Modesto, CA	1.04	$22,900
Oxnard, CA	1.10	$24,310
Tucson, AZ	0.97	$21,320
Albuquerque, NM	0.95	$21,010
El Paso, TX	0.90	$19,780
McAllen, TX	0.86	$18,900
Tulsa, OK	0.89	$19,620
Omaha, NE	0.92	$20,220
Wichita, KS	0.89	$19,560
Des Moines, IA	0.92	$20,170
Grand Rapids, MI	0.95	$21,010
Toledo, OH	0.92	$20,130
Dayton, OH	0.93	$20,390
Akron, OH	0.93	$20,550
Madison, WI	0.97	$21,410
Knoxville, TN	0.93	$20,370
Chattanooga, TN	0.92	$20,130
Greenville, SC	0.93	$20,530
Columbia, SC	0.94	$20,610
Charleston, SC	1.01	$22,220
Greensboro, NC	0.93	$20,440
Winston-Salem, NC	0.92	$20,240
Durham, NC	0.98	$21,470
Little Rock, AR	0.89	$19,670
Baton Rouge, LA	0.91	$19,980
Jackson, MS	0.89	$19,580
Lexington, KY	0.93	$20,440
Pensacola, FL	0.98	$21,490
Fort Myers, FL	1.02	$22,510
Sarasota, FL	1.02	$22,530
Lakeland, FL	0.97	$21,360
Melbourne, FL	1.00	$22,000
Boise, ID	0.98	$21,650
Colorado Springs, CO	1.01	$22,150
Spokane, WA	1.00	$22,070
Ogden, UT	1.00	$22,070
Provo, UT	0.98	$21,600
Albany, NY	1.00	$21,910
Syracuse, NY	0.96	$21,050
Worcester, MA	1.02	$22,550
Springfield, MA	0.96	$21,140
New Haven, CT	1.05	$23,010
Bridgeport, CT	1.07	$23,520
Allentown, PA	1.00	$22,000
Harrisburg, PA	0.99	$21,710
Scranton, PA	0.94	$20,590
Lancaster, PA	0.98	$21,630

Frequently asked questions

How much does solar panel installation cost on average?: Nationally, solar panel installation costs about $22,000, with most homeowners paying $15,000 – $37,000. Your local price depends on labor rates, materials and scope, and code — pick your city below for a local figure.
What is the most affordable solar panel installation option?: 5 kW (small home) is typically the lowest-cost option at around $16,000 nationally, while premium options cost considerably more.