For many, the appeal of installing a rooftop solar panel system is reducing energy bills and saving money.
However, upfront installation costs, tax credits, incentives and other considerations can make the decision to go solar feel pretty complicated. The math that shows how much money solar panels can save you takes some teasing out.
Gilbert Michaud, a professor of environmental policy at Loyola University Chicago, said it's worth looking into available options for solar right now.
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"It makes a lot of sense financially because costs have gone down so much and the incentives are really strong," Michaud said.
Residential solar is very much a custom-fit product, however. To determine how much you can save, it's important to be sure you consider all the factors influencing your unique situation.
For most people, installing solar is an investment in the medium- to long-term future.
A payback period is the amount of time it takes to earn back your initial investment through monthly energy savings. How much you save per month depends on the size of your solar system, your home's energy consumption and other factors.
Typically, excess solar energy produced by a residential system is credited against the amount used, but it's rare to actually receive cash payments for solar power. Still, paying little or nothing to your local utility adds up to lots of savings over years or decades.
"Most systems pay themselves off in about 10 years. Then you have decades of free electricity after that," explained Michaud.
He notes that some younger homeowners who move around more frequently might shy away from solar due to the perceived long commitment, but he points out that the investment can often be recouped from the increase in a home's value that comes with a new installation.
The payback period will be unique to your circumstances because of the difference in both upfront solar costs and energy costs based on your location. But here are some guidelines to help you estimate when you'll break even.
After solar panels save enough to pay for themselves, the rest is strictly savings.
There's a simple basic formula to determine how long it'll take for your solar savings to pay off the cost of installing the system. Start with the upfront cost of installation, then subtract all tax credits, rebates, grants and other incentives you received. This determines your net system cost. Next, estimate how much you'll save on your annual electricity bills with the system.
Divide the net system cost by the annual bill savings and this gives you your solar payback period in years.
Here it's broken down in a bit more detail:
With a purchase as big as rooftop solar panels, you should get multiple quotes, make sure your solar installer answers all your questions, and find the offer that best fits your needs.
While tax credits and incentives vary state to state and utility to utility, the 30% federal solar tax credit applies to everyone. Find out how much you can expect your solar costs to be reduced, and subtract.
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You could assume you'll get all your power from solar, but while some homes will be able to zero out their electric bill, others will still have to pay for some electricity usage or standard fees. Some utilities charge fees just for staying connected to the grid. Savings will vary widely from home to home, depending on how many solar panels are installed, normal energy consumption and more.
Look at your electric bill -- at least six months worth to account for seasonal temperature changes and other fluctuations in cost -- and estimate your monthly savings from solar. If you cover 100% of your bill with solar energy and net metering and you currently pay an average of $125 per month in electricity bills, you could save $1,500 per year ($125 x 12 months).
Once you've figured out your yearly savings, you can calculate your payback period by dividing the net cost of your system by your yearly savings. A system that costs $15,000 and saves you $1,500 each year, will pay for itself in 10 years.
Here's the equation written out:
(Solar installation costs - tax credits and other incentives) / (Annual savings) = Payback period in years
After your payback period, during which time you're really just recouping your expenses, everything else is savings. Residential solar panels are warrantied for 25 years typically, but their useful life can be much longer. Fifteen years of savings at $1,500 each year is a whopping $22,500.
These calculations are a bit too neat for the real world. Even the most efficient solar panels become less productive over their lifespan, so you may not get quite as much energy from them in year 25 as in year one (a typical guarantee is between 85% and 92% of its original production).
On the other hand, electricity rates have historically increased fairly steadily. (They've gone up about 2.5% from December 2022 to December 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.) This means, in later years, you could be saving even more than you would with solar today.
Like many things, the price of having solar panels installed on your residence has been affected in recent years by inflation and supply chain constraints. According to a report from Wood Mackenzie (PDF), residential solar cost $3.28 per watt to install in the first quarter of 2023, up from $3.07 during the same period in 2022. (Though the report suggests that the price may have started falling again.)
According to CNET sister site SaveOnEnergy, the average cost of a residential solar system as of June 2023 was $31,558 before incentives and rebates, based on a typical solar system size of 8.6 kilowatts. The cost estimate is based on a data set from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that puts the average solar panel system cost at $3.67 per watt.
Here's a look at the average cost of a solar panel system for most states, according to FindEnergy.com.
The cost of individual solar installations can vary, however. (Even large scale estimates can vary from source to source, as you see above.) Homeowners can opt for systems of different sizes, with more complexity and extra components, like solar batteries and EV chargers, that bump up the overall cost. Other considerations, like local market conditions and the difficulty of installing solar panels on a certain roof or property, can also affect the final price. And prices can vary from one solar company to the next.
Right now, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, the US government will credit taxpayers 30% of the cost of an installed solar system the following year. There are also myriad other incentives and tax breaks offered by states, local governments and individual utilities to further bring down the overall amount paid out of pocket.
Here's which states exempt solar panels from sales and property taxes. (Data accurate as of June 6, 2023.)
Beyond such reductions in the upfront cost of installation, using your solar panels over the years can also shrink your energy bill and help pay back your investment through net metering. This is the most popular way utilities compensate homeowners who allow the energy their solar system produces to be fed onto the grid for other consumers to use.
In recent years, net metering policies have begun to shift in some jurisdictions, like the high-profile case in California, and this has sometimes meant a reduction in the overall potential savings from solar. For example, some utilities are moving toward more-complex formulas that govern how much homeowners are paid for releasing energy onto the grid.
It's important to do your homework to understand your local utility's net metering policies and any potential changes being considered. You should also get to know any time of use rates that are in place that may influence how much the utility charges for energy consumption and pays for energy production during peak and off-peak hours. In some cases, solar panels paired with a solar battery can save you more with time of use rates than solar panels alone.
Adding an electric vehicle charger is an extra expense, like a battery, but it could increase your savings over time.
The climate and the amount of peak sun hours your location receives can also be a key factor in how much you'll save over time. A state like New Mexico with up to six peak sun hours per day will obviously allow you to generate more electricity, and possibly save more, than more northern states that receive 25% to 50% less peak sun.
Since solar panels can last 25 years, you need a sturdy roof. If your roof isn't in top shape, you might have to replace it before installing solar panels. Though you'll eventually need to replace your roof whether you put solar panels on it or not, having to do so early is an extra expense that might eat into your savings.
The best way to answer this is by doing the math. If you can save more on electricity over time with a solar system than the net cost of installing it, then it's worthwhile from an economic perspective.
Again, this comes down to the numbers. If you've financed your solar system and you're accruing interest on it, it may be advantageous to pay it off as soon as possible.
The central disadvantage is the upfront cost of a solar installation. Of course, this is partially offset by numerous incentives, like the federal tax credit. Some people may also consider solar panels an eyesore.
*Based on a $31,460 11 kW system before incentives. These are averages for the whole U.S. Costs will always vary from installation to installation.
**Based on a 2021 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The panels themselves are probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think about going solar, but solar panels represent less than a third of the total solar equipment costs. You can expect all required solar equipment, including supply chain costs and sales tax, to cost $14,500–about 46% of the total system price.
This price depends on the brand and quality of the equipment you select. Systems with SunPower panels, known for a strong warranty and high efficiency, see the highest average prices at about $26,900 after tax credits for an 11 kW system after the federal tax credit. Sometimes the bigger price tag is worth it: Investing in high-quality equipment can lead to better long-term savings. But reaching for the highest-priced panels often isn't the best choice. There are many high-quality options with varying price points.
The type of panel you install also directly impacts the quality of your installation. Monocrystalline solar panels offer the highest efficiency and power output and are used in most home systems today. They're often more expensive than polycrystalline solar panels, but you need to buy more polycrystalline panels for the same amount of power, so your overall installation costs may be similar. Thin-film solar panels are the cheapest type of panel but they aren’t often used for home installations due to their low production. They're a great option for RVs, campers, and DIY home setups.
Inverters can cost almost as much as solar panels depending on the type you select. They convert the direct current electricity your solar panels produce into alternating current that household appliances use. Microinverters and optimized inverters are similar in price but cost a few thousand dollars more than string inverters. If you have a complex roof with multiple planes or shading, it's usually worth it to select a pricier microinverter or an optimized inverter to maximize your system's production.
Racking and mounting equipment attaches solar panels to your roof, but it's a relatively low-cost portion of the installation. You'll also need wiring to connect your rooftop system to the grid and your electrical panel, which can add a few thousand dollars.
Another piece of the solar installation puzzle is the company performing the job. Solar installers charge varying amounts for their services. The final price they offer depends on their track record, warranty offerings, and internal operations. A well-regarded solar installer with premium warranty offerings will often charge more–and it will usually be worth the money.
Installer costs are about the same as equipment at around $14,500 or 46% of the total installation. Labor is only about 15% of installer costs and profit is generally around 20%. Your biggest installer costs go toward sales, marketing, and overhead.