How Much Does It Cost To Put Solar Panels On Your House

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost per kW System?

A single solar panel costs £350-£500, but can vary depending on the size and type of system. One of the most common domestic sizes is a 4kW solar panel system, which costs around £6,000 and will cover around 29 square metres of your roof.

3kW system 3kW system: The estimated costs for installation of 3kW Solar Panel system is around £5000 - £6000. 4kW system 4kW system: The estimated costs for installation of 4kW Solar Panel system is around £6000 - £8000. 5kW system 5kW system: The estimated costs for installation of 5kW Solar Panel system is around £7000 - £9000. 6kW system 6kW system: The estimated costs for installation of 6kW Solar Panel system is around £8000 - £10,000.

Solar Installation Houses

With advancements in solar energy technology, the cost of solar panels has fallen drastically over the last few years. In the table below, you can see the breakdown of average prices of solar panels, the roof space they require, the average savings on your electricity bills, and the savings you can expect after 20 years.

Cost of Solar Panels per kW System in the UK
System Size	Estimated Costs	Number of Panels	Roof Space	Annual Electricity Bill Savings	Savings after 25 Years with SEG
3kW panel system	£5,000 - £6,000	12	22 m²	£160	£5,993
4kW panel system	£6,000 - £8,000	16	29 m²	£270	£9,240
5kW panel system	£7,000 - £9,000	20	32 m²	£320	£11,088
6kW panel system	£8,000 - £10,000	24	43 m²	£430	£14,533

*The figures in this table are calculated based on 250W panels and the national average household energy consumption. The table makes a broad estimate and figures may vary according to size, type, and quality of the solar panel system, as well as export tariffs.

Generally, the more electricity your system can generate, the higher the initial installation cost will be. However, the savings will also be higher in the long run. For example, a 3kW solar panel system will be cheaper to install, but you will not be able to earn as much as you could with a 6kW system over the course of 25 years.

What Are the Labour Costs?

When you are given a quote for your solar panel system, labour costs are typically included. There are two common ways of calculating the labour costs for solar panel installations in the UK.

Solar Panel Labour Costs Per Person per Day

One way is to calculate approximately £300-£500 per person, per day. As it usually requires two people to install the system, a final installation fee is normally £600-£1,000. If you are installing a larger system, it may take more than one day and the costs will naturally rise.

Another way to calculate the installation fee is to charge 20 pence per watt. So, for a 4kW system, you would be paying 20 pence for 4000 watts, resulting in £800.

Cost of Solar Installation

Factors Affecting Solar Panel Costs in the UK

The estimated costs of solar panels mentioned in the table are typically what you can expect based on the system you choose. However, he cost of installing solar panels for your specific home will depend on the following factors:

1. System Size

Solar panels come in various sizes and the right size would depend on the size of home and individual electricity consumption requirements. Simply put, the larger the solar panel system, the higher is the installation cost. An average system size of 4kW will cost around £6,000 to install. It's also important to note that the larger your system size is, the sooner you will be able to recover costs due to higher efficiency of the system.

2. Type of Panels

There are three most common types of solar panels that are used for domestic purposes. These include monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels. Monocrystalline panels are known to be the most efficient ones, although they're not the most affordable due to them also being the most expensive. If you're looking to go with affordability, then polycrystalline may be the right type for you. They're both affordable and have a decent efficiency rate between 13-16%.

3. Installation Process

Another factor that affects the cost of solar panels is the ease of installation. Even though it's possible to do the installation yourself, it can be quite tricky to get it right, and therefore it's best to leave it to professionals. You have to take into account the number of panels, the angling of the panels and the strength of the roof. The more effort it takes to install the panels, the higher the cost. This can be evaluated by a professional installer and your chosen solar panel manufacturer.

4. Additional Components to the System

If you're looking to install additional components while installing the solar panels, this will increase your cost of equipment but can decrease the installation costs. Whether you're planning to install a solar battery storage system or additional features like pigeon proofing your panels, it is best to club them with installing the panels, so that you can decrease the installation cost.

5. Location and Labour Costs

The price of installing solar panels will usually include labour costs, however, this will change based on the location and the per hour rate of labour in that area. Typically it costs between £300-£500 for a person per day and this can be higher or lower based on your location in the UK.

How Much Do You Save with Solar Panels?

You can cut down on your electricity bills with the use of solar panels. The electricity that you use when your panels are active is entirely free, and it can result in annual savings of £160-£430. Of course, the specifications of every household are necessary in order to be precise in the estimation.

Solar Panels Costs vs Savings

Overall, how much you can save with solar panels will depend on a few factors:

Your household electricity consumption
If you use your appliances during the day when your panels are active
How efficient your type of solar panel is
If you generate an income from solar panel funding schemes

You can increase the savings on your bills by using your appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, etc.) during the day, when your solar panels are active. Those small changes can result in big savings on the energy bill.

In addition, how efficient your solar panels are will also play a part in how much you can save. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient (but also more costly), while polycrystalline panels are less efficient (but cheaper). The more efficient your system is, the more electricity it can generate in a given time.

Reduce Solar Panel Costs with SEG Payments

In the UK, you can reduce your solar panel costs even more by making use of solar panel grants, like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Through the SEG, you can earn money for exporting surplus solar power that your panels have generated back to the national grid.

SEG Export Tariff

The tariffs for exported solar energy can vary from supplier to supplier, but a good rate is 4-6p/kWh.

SEG generators that are seeking further guidance, you can read this guide on Ofgem's website.

If you have a 3kW system installed, you can earn £75 per year through the SEG. With a 4kW system, you can expect annual earnings of £100, and with a 5kW system you can earn £120 per year.

Before the SEG came into play, the Feed in Tariff (FIT) was the main solar panel grant available. Those that are already registered under the FIT can continue to receive payments, but the FIT ended in 2019, and no new applications are being accepted.

Watch our video below to understand what funding options are currently available for homes looking to install solar panels:

Solar Panel Funding - What options are there?

How Long Do Solar Panels Take to Pay for Themselves?

Depending on the size of your solar panel system and the export tariff, your solar panels can be paid off after 15-25 years. A larger system is more expensive, but it can generate more electricity and, therefore, can bring you more savings in the long-run.

A 5kW solar panel system can break even after 15-20 years, while a 3kW system can take 21-25 years to break even.

To protect the lifespan of your panels, ensure you always adhere to solar panel maintenance and cleaning tips.

Do Solar Batteries Affect the Installation Costs?

Adding a solar battery storage system will inevitably increase the overall costs of your solar panel investment, but it can also mean that you get even more out of your solar panels by using stored electricity when the sun has gone down.

The average prices for batteries can range between £1,200 and £6,000, depending on the battery type, lifespan, and quality. So, if you want to include a storage solution be prepared to pay more up-front.

Is it Worth Installing Solar Panels?

Many people question if solar panels are worth the investment. The costs of solar panels can be high, to begin with, but the money you save in the long run can justify the high upfront cost. On top of that, with solar panels, you can increase the overall market value of your property.

Additionally, by signing up for funding schemes like the SEG, you can even earn money for the extra energy your panels produce.

Therefore, although the installation cost may seem a little steep, the savings from your reduced electricity bills, as well as, the reduced carbon footprint of your household energy, make the investment worthwhile.

Get Quotes Now

Fill in the form in just 1 minute