Solar panel cost in the UK: the short answer
A typical UK home has a 4 kWp system of about 10 panels, costing about £5,000–£8,000 fully installed. That includes the panels, inverter, mounting, scaffolding, standard electrical work and 0% VAT. The Energy Saving Trust puts a typical 4.5 kWp system at around £7,600.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What does a typical system cost? | £5,000–£8,000 for 4 kWp. By size |
| And with a battery? | About £4,600 more for a 5 kWh battery. Batteries |
| How much will it save? | About £450–£750 a year, including export payments. Savings |
| How long to pay back? | Usually 10–15 years; panels last 25 years or more. Payback |
| Is there VAT? | No: 0% until 31 March 2027. VAT and grants |
Estimate your system, cost and payback
A few details about your home and bill. The result is an estimate to compare quotes against, not a quote.
How we work this out
- Size: 1–2 bedrooms 3 kWp, 3 bedrooms 4 kWp, 4 or more bedrooms 5 kWp. Your installer sizes it to your roof.
- Generation: kWp × typical yield for your region (South West England 1,000, London and South East 980, East of England 960, Midlands and Wales 930, North of England 880, Scotland and Northern Ireland 840 kWh per kWp a year), then 100% of that for a roof facing south, 95% of that for a roof facing south-east or south-west, 85% of that for a roof facing east or west. Shading moves this too.
- Used at home: mostly out 30%, some days 45%, mostly in 60% of what the panels make. A battery adds 30 points, up to 85%, and never more than 90% of your annual use.
- Saving: power used at home at your unit rate; the rest exported at 8p per kWh. Smart Export Guarantee tariffs range from about 2p to 15p, so shop around.
- Cost: £1,000 plus £1,450 per kWp, and £4,500 for a battery, shown as a ±15% range. Based on Energy Saving Trust figures, with 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
- Payback: mid-range cost ÷ first-year saving. No price rises, panel ageing or time-of-use tariffs are included; a battery pays back faster on a cheap overnight tariff.
- CO₂: generation × 0.207 kg CO₂e per kWh of grid electricity (DESNZ 2024 conversion factors).
Costs by system size
System size is in kWp: the most the panels make in full sun. Most UK homes have between 3 and 6 kWp. Each kWp makes roughly 850–1,000 kWh a year, depending on where you live and the roof.
| System size | Panels | Suits | Installed cost | Benefit a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kWp | 7–8 | A 1–2 bed home, low use | £4,500–£6,000 | About £450 |
| 4 kWp | 9–11 | A typical 3-bed home | £5,000–£8,000 | About £600 |
| 5 kWp | 12–13 | A 4-bed home, or higher use | £6,500–£9,500 | About £750 |
| 6 kWp | 14–16 | A larger home, an electric car or a heat pump | £7,500–£10,500 | About £900 |
Panel counts assume 400–450 W panels. Benefits assume a south-facing roof in the Midlands, 45% of the power used at home at 26p, and the rest exported at 8p; the calculator above lets you change these. Bigger systems cost less per kWp but more in total.
What changes the price
| Factor | Why it costs more | Typical extra |
|---|---|---|
| Roof type and access | Slate, complex roofs, flat-roof frames, three storeys | £200–£1,000+ |
| Inverter | Hybrid (battery-ready), microinverters or optimisers for shading | £300–£1,000 |
| Panels | Premium, higher-efficiency panels for small roofs | £200–£800 |
| Electrics | A new consumer unit or long cable runs | £200–£800+ |
| Location | Local labour and scaffolding rates | £100–£500 |
| Warranties | Longer workmanship cover and better aftercare | £100–£500 |
The installer also tells your network operator about the system. Most home systems only need a notification after fitting; larger ones need approval first.
Adding a battery
A battery stores surplus solar so you use more of your own power in the evening. The Energy Saving Trust puts a typical 5 kWh battery at about £4,600, with a range of about £1,500 to £10,000 by size and brand. A 4 kWp system with a battery is about £9,000–£13,000.
Worth it when
- You use a lot of power in the evening
- You're on, or can switch to, a cheap overnight tariff
- You want backup in a power cut (if it's designed for it)
Panels alone pay back sooner when
- Your use is low
- You're home in the day and use the power as it's made
- You're on a flat-rate tariff
On a flat tariff, a battery usually adds a few years to payback: tick "Add a battery" in the calculator to see by how much. You can add one later if you choose a hybrid inverter now. Compare combined quotes with solar battery installers.
What a fitted price should include
- Panels: make, model and number
- Inverter and any optimisers
- Mounting for your roof type
- Scaffolding
- Cabling, isolators and generation meter
- Connection to your consumer unit
- Survey and design
- Network operator notification
- MCS certificate
- Electrical certificate
- Monitoring
- Warranties
Battery storage, an EV charger and roof repairs are often extra. Panels usually carry 20–25 year warranties and workmanship 2–10 years. For a checklist to compare quotes side by side, see solar panel quotes.
VAT, export payments and grants
| Support | Who it's for | How it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 0% VAT | Homes across the UK | No VAT on panels, batteries or fitting until 31 March 2027; 5% after |
| Smart Export Guarantee | Homes with an MCS-certified system | Suppliers pay for the power you export, from about 2p to 15p per kWh |
| Warm Homes: Local Grant | Homes in England with an EPC of D to G and, usually, household income of £36,000 or less | Can fund solar panels, once the home is insulated. Apply through your council. |
There is no grant for every homeowner. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes, and availability changes, so check GOV.UK or your council. For business and farm support, see solar panel grants for businesses.
You can pay from savings, with a personal or green loan, with installer finance, or as part of a remortgage. Compare the total you'll repay with realistic savings; this isn't financial advice.
Savings and payback
Solar saves you money twice: every unit you use at home is one you don't buy at your full unit rate, and the rest earns an export payment. Using more at home matters most.
- Cost
- About £6,800
- Generation a year
- About 3,700 kWh
- Used at home (45%)
- About 1,670 kWh × 26p = £435
- Exported (55%)
- About 2,050 kWh × 8p = £165
- Benefit a year
- About £600
- Simple payback
- About 11 years
If someone is in most of the day, you might use 60% at home and pay back in about 10 years; if you're out all day, nearer 14. Panels typically keep working for 25 years or more, slowly losing output; expect to replace the inverter once.
How many panels you need
Start with your yearly use in kWh, shown on your bill. Ofgem's typical medium home uses 2,700 kWh a year.
| Yearly use | Typical system | Panels |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2,500 kWh | 3 kWp | 7–8 |
| 2,500–3,500 kWh | 4 kWp | 9–11 |
| 3,500–5,000 kWh | 5 kWp | 12–13 |
| Over 5,000 kWh, an electric car or heat pump | 6 kWp or more | 14 or more |
Your roof sets the upper limit. You stay connected to the grid for nights and winter; solar cuts how much you buy rather than replacing it.
Keeping the cost down
- Get three quotes from MCS-certified installers and compare them like for like. See MCS-certified installers near you.
- Size the system to your use and roof, not the biggest that fits.
- If budget is tight, fit panels now with a hybrid inverter and add a battery later.
- Be wary of very low quotes: they may leave out scaffolding or use poorer kit.
- Don't DIY a grid-connected system: you'd lose export payments and could breach building regulations.
Frequently asked questions
How much do solar panels cost in the UK?
About £5,000–£8,000 for a typical 4 kWp system, fully installed with 0% VAT. A 3 kWp system is about £4,500–£6,000 and a 6 kWp system £7,500–£10,500. The Energy Saving Trust puts a typical 4.5 kWp system at around £7,600.
How many solar panels do I need to run a house?
Most homes have 9–11 panels (about 4 kWp). A home using under 2,500 kWh a year may need 7–8; one with an electric car or heat pump 14 or more. Solar cuts what you buy from the grid rather than replacing it.
What's the payback period for solar panels?
Usually 10–15 years. A typical 4 kWp system costing about £6,800 saves about £600 a year, paying back in about 11 years. The more power you use at home, the sooner it pays back.
How much does a solar battery add?
About £4,600 for a typical 5 kWh battery, according to the Energy Saving Trust. On a flat-rate tariff it usually lengthens payback; with a cheap overnight tariff it can shorten it.
Are there grants for home solar panels?
There's no grant for every homeowner. The Warm Homes: Local Grant can fund solar for lower-income homes in England with an EPC of D to G. Everyone benefits from 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 and Smart Export Guarantee payments.
How long do solar panels last?
Panels usually carry 20–25 year warranties and often keep working well beyond that, slowly losing output. Inverters typically last 10–15 years, so expect to replace one. Maintenance is light: check the monitoring and keep an eye out for damage.
Is it hard to sell a house with solar panels?
Not if you own the panels: keep the MCS certificate, warranties and generation records for buyers. It's harder where the roof space was leased to a third party, which some lenders don't like.