Solar Panels Price UK 2026: Costs, Savings & Payback

The government’s underlying solar PV cost statistics come from the MCS Installation Database. You can review the official UK solar PV cost data.

These figures are benchmarks, not quotations. A straightforward pitched roof could cost less than a property requiring complicated scaffolding, roof repairs or substantial electrical work.

One useful comparison is price per kWp. Divide the solar-only quote by the system’s total kWp. If one quotation is substantially more expensive, ask what accounts for the difference.

For a more detailed checklist, see the solar panel installation quote guide.

What affects the price of solar panels?

System size and panel specification

More panels increase the total price, although larger installations often become cheaper per kWp. Scaffolding, surveys, system design, electrical protection and administration create fixed costs whether you install six panels or sixteen.

Panel efficiency matters too. Higher-efficiency modules can be useful where roof space is limited because they provide more rated capacity from the available area.

However, the highest-wattage or most expensive panel is not automatically the best financial choice. Compare efficiency, degradation guarantees, product warranties and manufacturer support.

Roof access, scaffolding and condition

Roof design can have a significant effect on installation costs.

A simple two-storey pitched roof will normally be easier to work on than a property with several roof elevations, dormers, conservatories or restricted access.

The roof should also have enough remaining life to justify installing a system expected to operate for decades. Energy Saving Trust says solar panels themselves should generally last 25 years or more.

If significant roofing work is already likely, read the guidance on whether you need a new roof before installing solar panels.

Inverter and electrical work

Every solar PV system needs an inverter. It converts the direct-current electricity generated by the panels into alternating current that household appliances can use.

A standard string inverter is usually the simplest option. Microinverters or power optimisers can cost more but may help on complicated or partially shaded arrays.

Hybrid inverters are designed to work with battery storage and may make a future battery upgrade simpler.

Your quote might also include consumer-unit work, new cabling, isolators, monitoring equipment or export limitation equipment. Ask installers to identify these costs rather than supplying an unexplained total.

How much does a solar battery add?

Energy Saving Trust currently puts typical battery storage costs at approximately £5,000–£8,000.

A battery stores electricity that your panels generate but your home does not immediately use. You can then use that electricity later, including during the evening.

This can increase solar self-consumption. However, it does not automatically mean a battery provides the fastest financial return.

Ask for two calculations:

1. Solar panels without a battery.

2. The same array with battery storage.

Compare the extra battery cost with the additional estimated annual saving.

Installed electrical storage batteries currently receive the same temporary 0% VAT relief as qualifying installed solar panels. The zero rate runs until 31 March 2027 and is scheduled to revert to the reduced 5% rate from 1 April 2027 under current rules.

See the current HMRC guidance on VAT for energy-saving products.

How much can solar panels save?

Your savings depend mainly on:

• How much electricity the panels generate.

• How much solar electricity you use yourself.

• The price you would otherwise pay for grid electricity.

• How much electricity you export.

• Your export tariff.

• Future energy prices.

For 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem’s average electricity unit rate for households on standard-variable Direct Debit tariffs in Great Britain is 26.32p per kWh.

This helps explain why using your solar electricity at home can be valuable: every unit used directly is one less unit that needs to be purchased from the grid.

For a more detailed estimate of generation, see the guide to solar panel output in the UK.

What about electricity exported to the grid?

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) enables eligible small-scale generators in Great Britain to receive payment for electricity exported to the grid. Suppliers set their own rates, contract terms and eligibility conditions. SEG tariff rates must be above zero.

You should therefore avoid calculating payback using an export rate without checking whether you actually qualify for that tariff.

See Ofgem’s Smart Export Guarantee guidance.

How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?

Energy Saving Trust’s current modelling gives typical solar-panel payback periods of roughly 9–12 years in Great Britain when export payments are included, depending on location and how electricity is used.

That is not a guaranteed return.

Electricity prices, export tariffs, generation, degradation, maintenance costs and inverter replacement can all alter the eventual result.

Roof orientation also matters. Energy Saving Trust estimates east- or west-facing systems typically generate around 15–20% less electricity than an equivalent directly south-facing array.

Are there solar panel grants in 2026?

There is no single dedicated UK Government solar-panel grant available automatically to every homeowner. Energy Saving Trust advises that support may instead be available through wider government or supplier schemes.

The Warm Homes Plan includes direct support aimed at lower-income and fuel-poor households as well as plans for low- and zero-interest finance that can help households fund measures including solar panels and batteries.

Eligibility varies. Check the current rules before assuming funding will apply to your property.

See the government’s Warm Homes Plan for the latest national policy position.

For many households buying without grant support, the immediate tax benefit remains the temporary 0% VAT treatment for qualifying installations until 31 March 2027.

How to compare solar panel quotes properly

Price matters, but a cheap system that is poorly specified can be worse value than a more expensive installation designed around the property.

Ask each installer to provide the same information:

1. Total system capacity in kWp.

2. Number, make and model of panels.

3. Estimated annual generation and modelling assumptions.

4. Inverter make, model and warranty.

5. Scaffolding and access costs.

6. Mounting system and electrical work.

7. DNO connection or notification responsibilities.

8. Product and workmanship warranties.

9. Any exclusions or possible additional charges.

10. Solar-only and battery-inclusive prices separately.

A site survey should also confirm usable roof space, orientation, shading, roof condition, cable routes and suitable inverter or battery locations.

Where MCS certification is relevant, verify the installer rather than relying solely on a logo displayed on a quotation. MCS-certified businesses must follow scheme requirements covering installation standards, pre-sale information and system-performance estimates.

Read more about choosing MCS-certified solar installers in the UK.

Are solar panels worth the price?

Solar can make financial sense when the system is correctly sized, the property is suitable and you expect to benefit from the installation for long enough.

Use this practical decision process:

1. Start with your annual electricity consumption, rather than the number of bedrooms.

2. Check usable roof area, direction and shading.

3. Calculate the solar-only return before considering a battery.

4. Compare several written quotations based on similar specifications.

5. Check how each installer calculated annual generation.

6. Verify the assumed electricity and export prices.

7. Consider possible inverter replacement and other long-term costs.

A quotation close to the national average can still represent poor value if the design is unsuitable. Equally, a price above the average may be reasonable where the property needs additional scaffolding, premium equipment or electrical upgrades.