Solar panel quotes at a glance
The short answers. Each links to the detail further down.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What does a typical system cost? | About £5,000–£8,000 for a 4 kWp system; about £9,000–£13,000 with a battery. Costs |
| How long until it pays back? | Often 10–15 years, sooner if you use most of the power at home. Payback |
| How many quotes should I get? | Three, from MCS-certified installers, so you can spot an outlier. Comparing |
| Is there VAT on solar panels? | No: 0% VAT on panels and batteries until 31 March 2027. Paying for it |
| Do I need a battery? | No. It lets you use more of your own power, but adds cost. With or without |
| How long does it take? | Survey within 1–3 weeks of asking; installation 2–8 weeks after you accept. Steps |
How getting quotes works
A quote is a written price for supplying and fitting a complete system on your home. It should be free and carry no obligation, so you can collect several before you decide.
Tell us about your home
Your type of home and what you're after (panels, panels and a battery, or a battery alone). We match you with up to three MCS-certified installers who cover your area.
Remote assessment
Each installer uses aerial images and your photos to sketch a design, estimate generation and spot obvious problems. Simple homes may get a provisional price at this stage.
Your part: your yearly electricity use (kWh) and unit rate from a bill, and photos of your roof and fuse box.
Survey
An installer checks the roof, loft, shading, access and electrics. It usually takes 1–2 hours and should be free.
Your quotes
You receive fixed, itemised quotes. Line them up using the checklist below before you look at price.
Your part: ask about anything that isn't listed, in writing.
Installation
Usually 2–8 weeks after you accept, then one or two days on the roof. The installer tells your network operator about the system and registers it with MCS, which you need for export payments.
Thinking of a battery too? See solar battery installers.
What a solar panel system costs
Size is the biggest factor: more panels cost more but make more power. Installers size the system to your use and your roof.
| System size | Panels | Without a battery | With a battery | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kWp | 5–6 | £3,000–£4,500 | £6,000–£8,000 | A flat or 1–2 bed home |
| 4 kWp | 10–12 | £5,000–£8,000 | £9,000–£13,000 | A typical 3-bed semi or terrace |
| 6 kWp | 14–16 | £7,500–£10,500 | £12,000–£16,000 | A 4–5 bed home or high use |
Prices include 0% VAT. The Energy Saving Trust puts a typical home system at about 4.5 kWp for around £7,600.
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).
For prices in more detail, see solar panel cost in the UK.
What changes the price of a quote
| Factor | What it does to the price |
|---|---|
| System size | More kWp means more panels and labour, and more power. Oversizing on a low-use home lengthens payback. |
| Roof | Simple, unshaded roofs are cheapest. Dormers, slate, fragile tiles or roofs over conservatories need more work and scaffolding. |
| Shading | May need optimisers or fewer panels, which changes both cost and output. |
| Equipment | Premium panels, hybrid inverters and microinverters cost more, and may perform or monitor better. |
| Electrics | A new consumer unit, long cable runs or three-phase work add to the price. |
| Planning | Listed buildings and conservation areas can need permission and extra design work. |
How to compare quotes
Check each quote covers the same things before you compare prices. A clear quote lists:
- Panel make, model and wattage
- Inverter make and model
- Battery and its capacity, if any
- Total size in kWp
- Scaffolding
- Electrical work
- Monitoring and handover
- Warranties and who backs them
- Aftercare
- Waste removal
A side-by-side example
| Item | Quote A | Quote B | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panels and inverter | Listed | Listed | Compare brands and warranties |
| Battery | No | Yes | Compare the price without it too |
| Scaffolding | Included | Not stated | Ask B to confirm in writing |
| Workmanship warranty | 10 years | 2 years | A big difference over 25 years |
| Monitoring | App and support | Meter only | Matters when something goes wrong |
A good quote
- Itemised, with equipment models
- Shows the generation, self-use and export rate it assumes
- Warranties in writing, workmanship insurance-backed
- A fixed price after the survey
Be wary of
- "Today only" discounts or pressure to sign
- A large deposit with no protection
- Payback of 5–6 years with no assumptions shown
- No models, sizes or warranty lengths
Savings and payback
Solar saves money two ways: every unit you use at home is one you don't buy at your full unit rate, and the rest is exported and paid under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Using more of it at home matters most, because exporting pays far less than buying costs.
- 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
- Total benefit a year
- About £600
- Cost
- About £6,800
- Simple payback
- About 11 years
26p is the October 2026 price cap unit rate for direct debit; SEG tariffs range from about 2p to 15p, so it pays to shop around.
With or without a battery
| System | Cost | Benefit a year | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 kWp without a battery | About £6,800 | About £600 | About 11 years |
| 4 kWp with a 5 kWh battery | About £11,300 | About £735 | About 15 years |
A battery pays back faster on a time-of-use tariff, where it can also charge from the grid overnight at a cheaper rate. Panels typically last 25 years or more; expect to replace the inverter once in that time.
Paying for it
| Option | Typical term | Good | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savings | Up front | Lowest total cost | Ties up your savings |
| Installer 0% finance | 12–36 months | No interest if paid on time | A higher price than paying cash |
| Longer-term loan | 5–15 years | Low monthly payments | Interest adds to the total; some are secured on your home |
Always compare the cash price with the financed price, check for fees, and look at the total you'll repay against realistic savings. If a loan is secured on your home, take independent advice.
There's no national grant for standard home solar, though local schemes appear from time to time. Businesses and farms have more options: see solar panel grants for businesses.
Choosing an installer
A good quote is only as good as the installer behind it.
- MCS certification for the installer and the system: you need an MCS-certified installation to get SEG export payments.
- TrustMark or a similar consumer scheme.
- Warranties in writing: panels often 20–25 years, workmanship ideally insurance-backed in case the installer stops trading.
- Independent reviews, not just testimonials on the installer's own site.
For what to ask and check, see MCS-certified solar panel installers near you.
How to avoid solar regret
Most owners are happy with their panels. Where people regret them, it's usually for one of these reasons, and a good quote prevents most of them.
- Payback was sold as 5–6 years but turned out to be 12–15
- The system was too small or too big for the home's use
- The roof needed replacing soon after, so the panels had to come off
- They moved before the system paid back
Get the roof checked first, be realistic about how long you'll stay, and ask each installer to show cautious as well as best-case savings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have solar panels fitted?
About £5,000–£8,000 for a typical 4 kWp system, or about £9,000–£13,000 with a battery. A 2 kWp system can be £3,000–£4,500. Prices include 0% VAT, which applies until 31 March 2027.
How do I compare solar panel quotes?
Get three itemised quotes and check each lists the system size, panel and inverter models, any battery, scaffolding, electrical work, warranties and aftercare. Then compare the savings assumptions, and only then the price.
Are there government grants for solar panels?
There's no national grant for standard home solar. The main help is 0% VAT on panels and batteries until 31 March 2027. Local schemes appear from time to time.
Can I get 0% finance on solar panels?
Many installers offer 0% finance over 12–36 months. Compare the financed price with the cash price, check for fees and know what happens if you miss a payment.
How many solar panel quotes should I get?
Three, from MCS-certified installers. That gives a fair spread of prices and designs and makes an outlier easy to spot.
Do I need a battery with solar panels?
No. Panels work and earn export payments without one. A battery lets you use more of your own power and gives some backup, but adds about £4,600 for a typical 5 kWh unit and doesn't always shorten payback.