How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
Saving money is Smart. Going solar is a Smart investment. Everyone asks about cost, but if your goal is to maximize how much you make from your investment, then the most important questions are “how much money will you save each month on electric bills?” and “how quickly does your solar system pay for itself?”
To calculate that payback period, you need to account for factors like the quality of your solar system, how much sun reaches your solar panels, whether you lease or own the system, the cost per watt, available tax credits, and quite a few more. Reputable solar providers can calculate those factors to show you how quickly your system will pay for itself in electric bill savings.
But understandably, you want to know how much it will cost to put a solar system on your roof. Below we’ll break down cost and some of the other major factors that you should consider.
Estimating how much home solar panels cost in 2021
One of the first questions someone interested in home solar asks is, How much do solar panels cost? It’s important to know there is not a one-size-fits-all answer because every home is different, and there are many geographic variables and federal and local tax incentives to consider.
The easiest thing to do is to contact a professional solar installer. The installer will give you a free evaluation that entails looking at your electricity bill to find out how many kilowatt hours of electricity your household typically uses and evaluating your roof and shading, to determine how many panels you’ll need. That, combined with local solar incentives your community may offer and the federal solar tax credit, will give you a full picture of how much your home solar system will cost. The good news is that no matter where you live, the cost of solar panels is coming down.
We look at the price per watt when figuring out the cost of your system, but you may find it more useful to think about the price of leasing a solar system separately from the price to own one. That’s because with a lease it’s important to think about how much you can save for each month of the lease, but when you own the system it’s more important to understand how quickly it can pay for itself.
What is the cost of individual solar panels?
Very few people are going to buy just the solar panels themselves, just like few people would buy the components of a car and build their own vehicle. We recommend you use a SunPower-approved installer for your solar system.
Yes, it’s possible to buy a single solar panel for as little as 100, but a solar panel does not operate in isolation. You need a system of hardware and software to generate electricity from the sun, including solar panels, an inverter, mounting hardware, wires and cables., It is also beneficial to have a monitoring system that tracks the production, energy use and savings of your system. And you need to consider the cost of installation and operation.
Once you get an estimate for the cost of your solar system, you should subtract the potential savings on your utility bill over time, including any incentives offered by your local or state governments. Then you’ll have a better understanding of how going solar will impact your finances.
What are the factors that affect solar panels?
The cost of a home solar system can vary, even in the same city, due to a range of factors, including the:
- Quality of the solar system
- Household’s energy needs
- Local weather
- Available roof space and shading
- Financing options selected (cash, loan, or lease)
To help you understand the price of going solar in your area, we’ve analyzed SunPower price quotes, as well as quotes gathered by third-party sources for thousands of homeowners across the country.
We found that the cost of installing a 5 kW solar system in the U.S. ranges from 11,150 to 46,100, or in other words, from 2.23 to 9.22 per watt. And that’s before considering the benefits of any available tax credits or incentives.
The chart below shows the average cost of a 5 kW home solar system in each U.S. state.
How do I know how much sun my roof gets?
The more direct sunlight your home receives, the more power the panels can produce. But there’s a little more to it than just sunlight. To see if your house is a good candidate for solar, try out a solar panel suitability checker such as Google’s Project Sunroof. Then set up an appointment for a solar consultation with an expert who’ll visit your home to inspect its orientation (solar panels facing south capture more energy), roof angle and tree shading to see if your roof will receive enough sunlight to meet your family’s electricity needs. SunPower’s solar consultations are free, online or in-person, and you can learn more about your home electricity needs and savings options.
SunPower panels are proven to be the most efficient on the market —not to mentioned unmatched at generating power in low-light situations—but, excessive shading will reduce the amount of power that can be generated.
It’s also important to know a SunPower Equinox ® solar solution has unique, factory-integrated microinverters in each panel. Meaning, if one panel isn’t producing energy because of shade, neighboring panels receiving more sunlight can still generate solar energy for your home.
What are the most efficient solar panels?
Remember that the adage, “You get what you pay for,” applies to home solar technology. Not all solar systems are alike. The quality of the technology matters in the long run. The durability, reliability and efficiency of solar panels can vary widely by manufacturer. If you settle for a conventional home solar system that might cost less out-of-, you can expect to see average (or below average) results and less savings over time. Watch these videos about the lifespan of SunPower® solar panels and their durability and reliability.
In short, SunPower panels are the most efficient home solar panels you can buy. A higher quality panel like SunPower’s might cost a little more upfront, but you’ll see a higher—and quicker—return on your investment in the long run. Our panels come with a 25-year Complete Confidence warranty and have an expected useful life of 40 years. And since they’re more efficient than other panels on the market, you’ll need fewer of them on your roof. Our panels produce up to 55% more energy in the same space over 25-years than conventional panels, ultimately saving you more money on your electric bill.
Industry measurements such as the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems’ PV Durability Initiative can give you a better idea of a solar panel’s expected lifespan—a factor that can have a tremendous impact on the system’s lifetime value.
The superior efficiency and durability of high-quality panels can provide increased savings over time and lower maintenance costs. You can get a personalized SunPower solar savings estimate using our solar calculator, which lets you factor in variables like buying solar storage and/or having an electric vehicle.
What solar incentives or solar rebates are available?
There are many different tax incentives, subsidies and financing and billing solutions at the state and local levels that can make going solar more affordable. To see if you might be eligible for renewable energy incentive programs, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables Efficiency (DSIRE®).
If you purchase your solar system, you may qualify for the 26% federal tax credit (ITC). The full solar ITC is available to home solar owners through 2022. It drops to a 22% credit in 2023 and is scheduled to go away completely in 2024, so don’t put off buying solar for too long.
Get a solar estimate
Ultimately, the easiest way to answer the “How much does solar cost” question is to give our solar advisors a call at 844-578-6793. They’ll help you get a free estimate for your home. Or you can contact a solar installer in your area directly. Get more tips on Choosing a Home Solar Installation Company.
When you’re getting solar estimates, be sure to ask about the technology the installer intends to use, their hardware, their monitoring software, their past installations and their maintenance plans. It’s especially important to ask about their warranty.
Most solar companies offer multiple, separate warranties for each component on a solar system, and there can be hidden fees like shipping fees when replacing a broken panel. With SunPower Complete Confidence Warranty, one company backs your entire solar system, including battery storage and monitoring.
Ready to get started? Enter your address into our solar savings calculator to find out how much you can save with the world’s best solar.
- . Tax credits are subject to change. SunPower does not warrant, guarantee or otherwise advise its customers about specific tax outcomes. Consult your tax advisor regarding the solar tax credit and how it applies to your specific circumstances. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information.
- . Local Solar Installers 2020/2021, Solar Reviews 2021, Energy Sage 2021, Wood Mackenzie 2020, National Renewable Energy Laboratory 2020
- . Based on survey of datasheet values from websites of top 20 manufacturers per IHS, as of June 2020.
- . Based on survey of datasheet values from websites of top 20 manufacturers per IHS, as of June 2020.
- . SunPower Module 40-year Useful Life. SunPower whitepaper. 2013.
- . SunPower 400 W, 22.6% efficient, compared to a Conventional Panel on same-sized arrays (280 W multi, 17% efficient, approx. 1.64 m²), 8% more energy per watt (based on PVSim runs for avg US climate), 0.5%/yr slower degradation rate (Jordan, et. al. Robust PV Degradation Methodology and Application. PVSC 2018).
- . Tax credits are subject to change. SunPower does not warrant, guarantee or otherwise advise its customers about specific tax outcomes. Consult your tax advisor regarding the solar tax credit and how it applies to your specific circumstances. Visit dsireusa.org for detailed solar policy information.
NREL Marks Ongoing Cost Reductions for Installed Photovoltaic Systems, While Also Establishing Benchmark of PV-Plus-Storage Systems
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) U.S. Solar Photovoltaic System and Energy Storage Cost Benchmark: Q1 2020 is now available, documenting a decade of cost reductions in solar and battery storage installations across utility, commercial, and residential sectors. NREL’s cost benchmarking applies a bottom-up methodology that captures variation in system design and regional costs, helping to identify future research and development directions that could further reduce costs.
The last decade has shown a sharp, though now steadying, decline in costs, driven largely by photovoltaic (PV) module efficiencies (now 19.5%, up from 19.2% in 2019) and hardware and inverter costs. Since 2010, there has been a 64%, 69%, and 82% reduction in the cost of residential, commercial-rooftop, and utility-scale PV systems, respectively. As in previous years, soft costs remain a large and persistent portion of installation costs, for both solar and storage systems, and especially for commercial and residential systems.
“A significant portion of the cost declines over the past decade can be attributed to an 85% cost decline in module price. A decade ago, the module alone cost around 2.50 per watt, and now an entire utility-scale PV system costs around 1 per watt,” said NREL Senior Financial Analyst David Feldman. “With similar reductions in hardware costs for storage systems, PV and storage have become vastly more affordable energy resources across the nation.”
Expanding Scope to PV Plus Storage
This year’s benchmark report integrates PV-plus-storage costs, demonstrating that these also fell from the first quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2020. The new benchmark includes varying hours of storage capacities, reflecting diverse customer preferences for resilience.
Additionally, NREL has calculated the levelized cost of solar-plus-storage (LCOSS), which tracks the total cost of operating a PV-plus-storage plant on a per-megawatt-hour basis. LCOSS was used to establish a 2020 benchmark of PV-plus-storage systems and will be useful for identifying future goals in the same way that the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has established PV price targets.
Tracking SETO Targets
In 2010, SETO announced unsubsidized PV price targets for 2020. Per this year’s benchmarking, residential and commercial systems are 93% and 97% toward achieving the 2020 targets of 10 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and 8 cents/kWh, respectively. Utility systems, which met 2020 price targets three years early, are progressing towards SETO’s 2030 target for utility systems of 3 cents/kWh.
In pursuit of 2030 targets, the benchmark report notes that business innovations, partnerships, and continued RD will be necessary to lower costs further. Although soft costs—such as labor, interconnection with the electric grid, profits, and overheard—often dominate current system costs, improvements in one area often affect others, such as high-efficiency modules reducing labor and material costs by requiring less products installed. Future cost reductions could be attained from a combination of improvements.
The report authors will also summarize key findings from the report via webinar on Feb. 24, 2021, at 12 p.m. ET/10 a.m. MT.
How Much an RV Solar System Cost. 3 Budget Setups
Are you considering setting up your RV with solar power, but wondering how much it will cost you to install RV solar panels or exactly which parts you really need?
The good news is whether you are a full-time nomad or weekend warrior, there are great RV solar systems available at any price point.
Below, you will find the best RV solar setup and budget for:
I will also explain the benefits of spending more on the major components that will go into your RV solar system as well as a few cool add-ons that can help you monitor the solar power you are generating and using.
If you are new to the RV solar world, I suggest that you spend a few minutes reading through the basics of how an RV solar system works to help you estimate the size of your components based on your power needs.
If you are confident that you have a basic understanding of the components, and you would like to determine how to build the best RV solar system within your budget; keep on reading!
RV solar setups come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. I have helped fellow nomads go off-grid for as little as 300, and I have seen setups that cost well over 10,000.
Keep in mind that RV solar is very customizable, and the components are available at any price point. I have spent hundreds of hours researching and installing RV solar systems, and I’m excited to share this knowledge with you.
This page includes affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Best RV Solar System. Under 1,000
Weekend warriors looking to add solar to their RV usually don’t need all the bells and whistles that full-time RVers need.
Nor do you need to spend a lot of money on gadgets that you’ll only use a few weeks out of the year.
Rather than investing in a top of the line inverter and lithium batteries to run an espresso machine and blender, I recommend having a system that will allow you to use the sun to charge phones, turn on the lights, and power the jacks and slides.
Having a simple solar setup will open up many more camping options.
State and national parks rarely have electrical hookups, and a little bit of solar power can save you from having to ruin the peaceful nature with a noisy generator.
I have friends with this simple setup and they love how easy it is to use and how efficiently it keeps their batteries topped off.
Most RVs come with a 100 amp hour (Ah) lead acid battery (similar to a car battery).
Lead acid batteries are a good, inexpensive option; but keep in mind that you should not allow these batteries to drop below a 50% charge.
Therefore, one battery will only give you 50 aH of usable power. This is enough power storage to charge a cell phone 10-15 times or have a few lights on for 20 hours.
Pro tip- A significant power draw that you might not think of is your furnace fan. While the furnace uses propane to create heat, it also uses a fan to circulate the heat.
Using your furnace on a cold night will draw 40-50 Ah from your battery bank, which would take a single lead acid battery down to zero. If you plan to RV in the cold, add a 2nd battery.
RV Inverter :
While the setup above will be able to keep your batteries charged and DC appliances running, you won’t be able to run your AC appliances (anything that plugs into a normal wall outlet) without an inverter.
If you need to keep your laptop charged or you want to power up the TV to watch your team’s game, you can add a simple inverter like this 1200 watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter for around 200.
There are many low-cost options out there, but make sure you get a pure sine wave inverter. Modified sine wave inverters can damage your appliances, and the extra hundred bucks is worth protecting your MacBook.
This simple and inexpensive RV solar setup will keep you powered up while you explore nature off the grid.
Setting up this system requires no prior electrical experience as the components are all plug-and-play.
Best RV Solar System. 1,000-3,000
If you RV full-time or you like to spend multiple weeks traveling in your RV, I recommend that you add a few extra components to your RV solar system and consider some modifications that will make your life easier.
The components of this RV solar system are higher quality, which will lead to less maintenance and fewer headaches on the road.
RV Solar Panel Kit :
Buying an RV solar kit is a great option for someone trying to get quality components at a good price.
RV solar kits also make your installation easier as the parts are all compatible. The best RV solar panel kits are made by Renogy as their solar panels are efficient, durable, and come with a 5 year warranty.
I really like this Renogy 400 watt solar panel kit because it comes with four high-quality 100 watt solar panels, an MPPT charge controller, and all of the wiring and mounting hardware that you need to get started.
You can always add more solar panels to these kits if you want. You can use this RV solar calculator if you aren’t sure how many solar panels you need for your RV.
Renogy makes a few solar panel kit options, but you will want to make sure you go with one that has an MPPT charge controller.
MPPT charge controllers are much more efficient than their PWM counterparts, and this upgrade will save you from having to get an extra solar panel.
After choosing your solar panels and charge controller, next are your batteries.
RV Batteries:
The best RV batteries for someone on a budget are Renogy lead acid batteries. If you can afford the upgrade, lithium batteries definitely have major advantages.
Renogy batteries are tested for the various conditions that RVs go through, and the ~200 price point for 100Ah makes these a great entry-level battery.
The major downside to any lead acid battery is that you can only use 50% of the battery storage without damaging the battery.
That is why the RV solar calculator shows that you need 2X as many lead-acid batteries to get the same amount of usable power.
Unfortunately, lithium batteries are still very expensive (800 for good ones), but if you are interested we have rated our 5 Best RV Batteries from AGM to lithium.
RV Battery Monitor :
One last component of your RV solar system that will save some headaches is a battery monitor.
Renogy makes a battery monitor for under 100 which is very simple to install.
Rather than estimating your RV battery storage using a voltage reading, the battery monitor will show you real-time battery remaining percentage.
Best RV Solar System. 3,000
If you want the best RV solar system for full-time RVing and boondocking, look no further.
There isn’t just one brand that makes the top of the line for every RV solar component and this setup below will allow you to customize your solar setup to have the top of the line RV solar panels, RV batteries, and inverter.
I’m also including a few add-ons to really bring out the bells and whistles to make monitoring and maintaining your system a breeze.
If you have the money to spend, I recommend this system 100%.
We have most of the components below (not sponsored, but I would love to), and we love how our system turned out.
RV Solar Panels :
Regardless of your budget, the best RV solar panels are made by Renogy, especially given their 5 year warranty.
We have four. 160watt Renogy panels, and we love them!
Depending on your budget and rooftop space, you can go with the 100W solar panels or the 175W solar panels.
If your RV has a curved surface like an airstream, you may consider the flexible solar panel option as they lighter and most importantly you don’t have to put holes in your roof, but they are considerably more expensive and not as durable.
Don’t forget the mounting brackets for the non-flexible solar panels.
MPPT Charge Controller :
Rather than using the Renogy charge controller that comes with the RV solar panel kits, our RV solar system uses a Victron SmartSolar Charge Controller as Victron makes the best RV solar accessories.
Make sure you properly size which charge controller you need by reading our post on Sizing Your RV Charge Controller.
As a reminder, a solar charger gathers energy from your solar panels, and stores it in your batteries as usable energy.
The Victron charge controller goes above and beyond by not being the most efficient in the market, it also allows you to read historical and real-time input/output data from your solar panels and battery.
Additionally, you can configure the solar charger settings from the app.
While the list price is a little extreme, these batteries are rated for 3000-5000 life cycles with zero maintenance required.
Unlike AGM batteries, you can use 100% of the listed storage capacity on lithium batteries without damaging them.
Regardless of the model that you choose, all Victron inverters have great features for boondockers such as adaptive charging technology (to maximize the charge coming into your battery) and power assist (to give your generator or shore power a boost when under a high power load).
The Victron Smart dongle is a great addition to your inverter that is worth the small price. The dongle easily plugs into your inverter and allows you to use your phone to adjust your inverter’s settings and turn off your inverter when you don’t need it
Battery Monitor :
Now that you have the best RV solar panels, batteries, and inverter; you will want to make sure to be able to easily monitor how everything is working together.
The best way to do monitor your RV solar system is the Victron SmartShunt battery monitor.
Similar to the other Victron components, the battery monitor connects to your phone via Bluetooth, allowing you to monitor the battery bank state of charge as well as the amount of power coming into and coming out of your batteries in real time.
If you want to get really fancy, you can add the Victron touch screen monitor to install in your wall. We decided that having the phone app is enough for us.
Automatic Transfer Switch :
If your RV came with 50 amp service, you should also consider adding an automatic transfer switch.
An automatic transfer switch senses if you are plugged into shore power and disconnects from the batteries if they are not needed.
If your shore power is only 30 amp and you want to run your A/C, the transfer switch will add any battery power needed to assist the shore power.
I really like our Furrion transfer switch because it was easy to set up. Furrion is a trusted RV electronics brand. They build their products to withstand the vibration and various climates that come with RV life.
After reading the first 2 posts of this RV solar series, you should have a basic understanding of how RV solar works, how much solar power you will need, and which components you should buy for your RV solar system to best fit your budget.
Next, we will discuss How to mount RV solar panels and the importance of how you decide to wire your solar panels (series vs parallel).
Let me know in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below if you have any specific product questions, or want our input on other RV solar setups that you are looking into.
On RV Life:
How Much Does Solar Installation Cost in Las Vegas, NV?
Considering having solar panels installed? Want to compare for installation? Find out how much it costs to install a solar panel system in Las Vegas, NV with our guide. Use our free tool to compare in your area.
Solar Installation Cost Calculator
Compare the cost of solar installation from the top companies in Las Vegas, NV. The total amount you can save will depend on the size of your home as well as other factors. Use our fee cost guide to compare quotes in your area. If you’re considering solar installation in Las Vegas then expect to invest 10,003 – 15,398 for smaller homes, while larger homes requiring more kilowatts will run upwards of 21,444 – 55,955.
Pros of Solar
- Reduced electric bills
- Increase in home value
- Lower carbon footprint
- Protection against rising power costs
Cons of Solar
- Substantial upfront investment
- Take a while to recover investment
- Can’t take it with you if you move
- Weather dependent
Solar Installation within 50 miles of these zip codes: 89030, 89101, 89102, 89104, 89106, 89107, 89108, 89109, 89110, 89117, 89128, 89129, 89130, 89131, 89134, 89135, 89138, 89143, 89144, 89145, 89146, 89149, 89166
Counties Served: Clark County
New Solar Installation in Las Vegas, NV
Residential and commercial solar installation is also available in these nearby cities: Summerlin South, NV; Spring Valley, NV; Paradise, NV; Sunrise Manor, NV
How Much Does Solar Save on Electricity in Nevada?
The total amount you can save will depend on the size of your home as well as other factors. But the fact remains you will certainly save money if you switch to solar power. Just how much?
Well, per year, you could be looking at a saving of over 1,711 from your electricity bill.
Solar Efficiency Rates Cost/kW
| Polycrystalline | 0.71-1.02 | 14%-21% | 25 years |
| Monocrystalline | 1.25-1.51 | 17%-25% | 32 years |
| Thin-Film | 1.04-1.57 | 8%-14% | 16 years |
| National average cost by type and kW |
Las Vegas Solar Cost by Panel Size
Compare Solar Installation Costs and Find The Best Solar Energy Companies in Las Vegas, NV
Below is a list of solar companies in Las Vegas, NV. Reach out to them for quotes, or request pricing from up to four solar companies to compare your options.
1 Sun Solar Electric 2708 S Highland Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89109
CSE SOLAR SOLUTIONS 1620 S Decatur Blvd # F, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Las Vegas Solar Energy Experts 10000 W Charleston Blvd Suite 160, Las Vegas, NV 89135
Suntop Solar 7935 W Sahara Ave Suite 104, Las Vegas, NV 89117
Passive solar techniques make homes more comfortable by harnessing the power of our planet’s natural resources. Passive systems are made up primarily of materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, which store heat from winter nights inside them so it can be released during warm days later on – this is why south walls often have dark-colored adobe bricks. There you’ll also find louvers (slats) layered over long grasses growing against them; these allow air circulation without removing too much moisture while allowing sunlight through at just enough time each day.
The sun is a powerful source of electricity. Solar energy has been cheaper than fossil fuels since 2021, and it’ll only get more affordable as time goes on.
The development and spread of clean, sustainable energy technologies will have huge longer-term benefits for countries around the world. These include increasing reliance on indigenous resources that are mostly independent of other nations’ supplies as well as enhancing sustainability with less pollution or global warming potentials involved in their production process.
Map of Service Area: