Price quotes for photovoltaic panels from various brands

How much does a solar panel installation cost?

The best way to evaluate the price of a solar panel installation is in dollars per watt ($/W). Similar to comparing dollars per square foot when shopping for a home, $/W helps standardize the cost of solar by showing the cost of solar on a per watt basis. Currently, the average price of a solar panel system install in the U.S. is $2.91/W.

How do I choose a solar panel brand?

We used six criteria, and we encourage you to use them when evaluating any solar panel brand. Here they are: The manufacturing quality of the company’s factories, and the degree of integration across the solar value chain (ingots -> wafers -> cells -> panels) in their manufacturing process.

What is a 'solar panel rate' scam?

This is a common scam used to gather personal data and/or trick people into signing long-term solar lease agreements that are far less favorable than owning solar panels. For example, in February 2023, a Facebook page called “Solar Panel Rate” ran multiple ads claiming Elon Musk was paying homeowners $2,500 to test out new solar technology.

What should a rooftop solar quote include?

The main components of a rooftop solar installation are the solar panels, inverters, and batteries. A solar quote should, at minimum, include the brand name and model number for each component and information about the warranty coverage offered for these components. Here’s some more information on what to look for:

How much does a solar inverter cost?

Inverter replacement: If your solar system uses a string inverter, it may need to be replaced. String inverters generally last between 10 and 12 years, while solar panels last for 25 years or more. Getting a new string inverter could cost about $1,500.

How do I compare solar quotes?

It can be difficult to compare quotes on the basis of those total costs. When professionals compare solar quotes, we look at a metric called cost per watt. It is simply the total system cost in dollars divided by the system’s peak-rated output size in watts DC. This allows you to compare prices quoted for systems of different sizes easily.