Solar Costs & Savings
The complete financial picture for going solar: what it costs, what it saves, how tax credits and incentives work (and what the 2025 federal-credit expiry means for 2026), how to finance it, and what it does to your home value. Every dollar figure on this site uses real 2026 market data and NREL production models.
Start with How Much Do Solar Panels Cost for current pricing. Then Are Solar Panels Worth It for the full payback analysis. The Solar Savings Calculator ties everything together — input your numbers and see your exact ROI, payback period, and 25-year savings.
All 19 Articles
Solar Tax Credit Calculator: The Federal ITC Expired Dec 31, 2025 (2026)
The federal residential solar credit (IRC §25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 — systems you own and install in 2026 get $0 federal. A lease/PPA can still use the commercial §48E credit, which the provider claims. Learn what remains: state incentives and net metering.
Read article →Solar ROI Calculator: Calculate Your Return On Investment (2026)
Calculate the total return on investment for solar panels over 25 years. Typical ROI is 100-300%. Learn the formula, what drives returns, and how solar compares to other investments.
Read article →Solar Payback Period Calculator: When Do Solar Panels Pay For Themselves?
Calculate how many years until your solar panels pay for themselves. The US average is about 12 years for a system you own in 2026. See payback by state, what shortens it, and what extends it.
Read article →Solar Panel Cost Per Watt: What Is A Good Price In 2026?
Cost per watt ($/W) is the standard metric for comparing solar quotes. The US average is $2.50-$3.20/W installed in 2026. Learn what drives $/W, historical trends, and what counts as a good price.
Read article →Solar Panel Cost Calculator: Estimate Your Total Price (2026)
Use our solar panel cost calculator to estimate your total system price in 2026. Learn what goes into the cost, how to read a solar quote, and red flags to watch for.
Read article →Solar Loan Vs Cash Vs Lease Vs PPA: Which Financing Is Best? (2026)
Compare cash, solar loans, leases, and PPAs for financing solar panels. Cash gives the highest ROI. The federal residential credit expired Dec 31, 2025, so owned systems get $0 federal in 2026. Here is when each makes sense.
Read article →Net Metering By State: Which States Still Offer Full Retail Credit? (2026)
Net metering policies for all 50 US states in 2026. Find out if your state offers full retail credit, reduced rates, or no net metering — and how it affects your solar payback.
Read article →Cost Of Solar Panels By State: Average Prices Per Watt (2026)
Solar installation costs for every US state in 2026. Compare $/W prices, gross system costs, electricity rates, and payback periods. Arizona and Texas are cheapest at $2.50/W; New York and Massachusetts are most expensive at $3.10–$3.20/W.
Read article →Cost Of A 5 kW Solar System: Price, Production, And Payback (2026)
A 5 kW solar system costs $12,500–$16,000 installed — the federal residential credit (IRC §25D) expired Dec 31, 2025, so a system you own in 2026 gets $0 federal. It produces 6,000–12,000 kWh/year and covers 55–100% of the average home.
Read article →Cost Of A 1 kW Solar System (2–3 Panels): Price, Output, And Is It Worth It?
A 1 kW solar system costs $3,000–$4,500 installed in 2026 — the federal residential credit (IRC 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025, so a system you own gets $0 federal. Learn what it produces, who it's for, and whether the economics work at this size.
Read article →Cost Of A 10 kW Solar System: Price, Production, And Payback (2026)
A 10 kW solar system costs $25,000–$32,000 installed. The federal residential credit (IRC §25D) expired Dec 31, 2025, so a system you own in 2026 gets $0 federal. It produces 12,000–24,000 kWh/year — enough to cover most homes entirely with excess for net metering.
Read article →Solar Tax Credit 2026: The Federal Credit Expired — What Homeowners Can Still Get
The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Homeowners who buy solar in 2026 get $0 federal credit. Here's what's actually left: the lease/PPA path via Section 48E, state incentives, and how 2025 installers still claim their credit.
Read article →Solar Savings Calculator: 25-Year ROI & Payback (2026)
Calculate your exact solar payback, ROI, and 25-year savings. The average US home (8 kW) avoids $47,000-$69,000 of electricity with a ~12-year payback.
Read article →Solar Panel Financing: Lease vs Buy vs PPA — Which Is Best? (2026 Guide)
Buying solar (cash or loan) saves $47,000–$69,000 over 25 years in avoided electricity. The federal residential credit (IRC 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025, so an owned 2026 system gets $0 federal. Leasing saves $18,000–$24,000 and a lease/PPA provider can still claim the commercial 48E credit and may pass part through as a lower rate. Full comparison of cash, loan, lease, and PPA with 25-year cost analysis, financing options, and the home-sale impact.
Read article →Solar Panel Cost Per kWh: What Does Solar Electricity Actually Cost? (LCOE Explained)
Residential solar electricity costs $0.05–$0.10 per kWh over 25 years — less than half the U.S. average grid rate of $0.165/kWh. And unlike grid rates that rise 3%/year, solar cost per kWh is locked in at installation. Full LCOE calculation, state-by-state comparison, historical trend, and the formula to compute your own.
Read article →How Much Do Solar Panels Save On Your Electricity Bill? (+ Net Metering Explained)
Solar panels save the average US homeowner $100–$200 per month by reducing electricity bills 60–100 %. Net metering credits excess solar production sent to the grid, offsetting nighttime usage. Full guide to how solar lowers your bill, net metering mechanics, selling power back to the grid, grid-tied vs off-grid vs hybrid systems, and when to add a battery.
Read article →How Much Do Solar Panels Cost? 2026 Cost Per Watt Guide
Solar panels cost $2.50-$3.50/W installed in 2026, or ~$24,800 for a typical 8 kW system before incentives. Full cost-per-watt breakdown by system size.
Read article →Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value? (+ Insurance, Roof Damage And Resale Guide)
Solar panels add an average of 4.1 % ($32,800 for an 8 kW system) to home value according to Zillow research. Homeowners insurance typically increases $10–$25/month. Properly installed panels do not damage your roof. The federal residential credit (IRC 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 — systems you own and install in 2026 get $0 federal, so an 8 kW system costs about $24,000 out of pocket. Owned solar adds value; leased solar complicates home sales. Full guide with data by state, insurance coverage details, roof damage facts, and safety.
Read article →Are Solar Panels Worth It? ROI Calculator + Full Savings Breakdown (2026)
Solar panels pay back in 6–13 years and return 10–20 % annually for the remaining 15+ years. At average U.S. rates an 8 kW system saves $25,000–$75,000 over 25 years — even without the federal tax credit (ended 2025). Full state-by-state savings table, payback calculator, and the honest 'when solar is NOT worth it' scenarios.
Read article →More Topics
How solar panels convert sunlight to electricity, panel types (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film), datasheet specs (STC, NOCT, NMOT), efficiency, voltage, and everything you need to understand before buying.
Free solar calculators for system sizing: how many panels for your house, output by system size, rooftop fit, tilt angle optimization, and daily kWh production. NREL PVWatts-based formulas.
Battery sizing calculator, LiFePO4 guide, MPPT vs PWM charge controllers, wiring panels to batteries, charge time calculators, and Tesla Powerwall specs. Everything for battery-based solar systems.
Complete solar panel installation guide: DIY vs professional, step-by-step process, permits, roof mount vs ground mount, series vs parallel wiring, and string inverter vs microinverter comparison.
How to maintain solar panels for maximum lifetime production: cleaning, monitoring, degradation tracking, performance in snow and clouds, and when to call a professional.
Solar sizing guides for specific applications: RV and campervan solar, EV charging, air conditioner sizing, well pump systems, and Tesla charging. Interactive calculators included.