00/W installed and your electricity rate of $0. Because Section 25D expired on January 1, 2026, there is no federal tax credit for purchase, so the net cost is the same as the gross. Hard costs involve the cost of the solar panels, solar inverters, solar batteries, racking systems, and electrical components. These indirect costs encompass a significant part of the final billing. Here are 2025 average costs across major markets: Example: A typical 6 kW residential system costs between $15,000 and $36,000 before incentives, depending on your location and chosen components. solar calculator — enter your ZIP code and electricity bill, and it returns your recommended system size in kW, the number of panels, the roof area you need, the gross install cost, the annual savings, the payback period, the 25-year lifetime profit, and the CO₂ offset. Significant Regional Variations: Solar costs vary. Solar panels cost $0. 50 per watt on average but can run from $0.
