As of January 2019, the average cost of installing solar panels in the United States is $3.89/watt. Typically, a 6kW solar system runs around $23,700.00 before the federal solar credit and approximately $16,600 after claiming the federal tax credit.
The costs vary further depending on what other incentives are offered in the state in which you reside and whether or not there are additional incentives offered by your utility company or local municipality. Working with one of our contractors familiar with your area will enable a more accurate quote for your particular home.
Other cost factors include:
- The location of your home.
- The amount of electricity your home uses.
- The type of solar panels and inverter installed.
- The relative ease or difficulty of installation on your home.
Location
The location of your home and the amount of sunlight it gets affects your system output, which in turn affects the number of solar modules necessary to generate the right amount of electricity for your home. In addition, the average cost per watt of a solar system varies around the country which in turn affects the overall cost of installing your solar system.
Amount of Electricity Needed to Run Your Home
Obviously the more electricity your home uses the more solar panels necessary to generatethe right amount to run your home. Solar panels decrease in price on a per watt basis as the system size gets bigger but the net cost of a system still increases for homes that use morepower.
Type of Solar Panels & Inverter Installed
There is a wide range of pricing in solar panels. It is best to rely on a contractor in your areato help you understand what you need for your home. An example would be, a 6kW solar system using a top of the line brand of panels can cost and inverters can cost up to $5,000 more expensive than a solar system using a lesser brand. This should not be the case, butall to often is. That is why it is important for you to understand the real differencesin panels and inverters. Is the contractor pushing something that you don’t need. Make sure that you understand what you are getting and why.
Ease or Difficulty of Installing Solar Panels on Your Home
If your roof is straight forward then installation will be too. If your roof has a 45-degree pitch or turrets and intricate angels, then panel installation takes longer as does the wiring of the panels. This translates into more installation labor which in turn translates into higher costs.
Remember that the cost of installing solar is dropping and you can get a great deal. Discuss the factors above with anyone giving you an estimate.
