Solar panel cost in the UK: what you actually pay and why quotes vary
Realistic UK price ranges for domestic solar PV and batteries, what drives quote differences, and how to sanity-check costs using your postcode.
Solar panel cost in the UK: what you actually pay and why quotes vary
If you have started getting quotes for solar, you have probably seen wildly different numbers for what looks like “the same” system.
That is normal.
This guide gives you realistic UK cost ranges, explains what actually changes the quote, and shows you how to use SolarByPostcode to sanity-check pricing in your area.
Want the local baseline first? Find your postcode.
Last updated: December 2025.
Quick answer: what solar typically costs
- A “typical” domestic solar PV system (around 3.5 kWp) is often quoted around £6,100, but real quotes vary widely. (See Glossary for kWp and kWh.)
- Solar PV-only installs often land somewhere in the £5,000 to £10,000 range depending on size and roof complexity.
- A battery is usually the biggest add-on. A 5 kWh battery is often around £4,600, with a broad range depending on brand and capacity.
- Most homes qualify for 0% VAT on installation of qualifying energy-saving materials until 31 March 2027 (rules apply).
Assumptions and variability
- These cost ranges are typical installed ballparks, not a promise for any specific home or installer.
- Quotes vary most with scaffolding/access, roof layout, electrical work, and whether the design needs optimisers/microinverters.
- “Same kWp” can still mean very different jobs (split arrays, shade, long cable runs, consumer unit upgrades).
- Local market conditions can shift pricing (installer workload, travel time, and how competitive your area is).
- SolarByPostcode uses consistent modelling assumptions so you can compare quotes on a like-for-like basis. See: Data sources and methodology.
Typical ranges by system size (PV only)
These ranges are deliberately broad because scaffolding, roof layout, and electrical work often matter more than the panels themselves.
| System size (PV only) | Typical installed cost range |
|---|---|
| 2–3 kWp (small) | £4,500 to £6,500 |
| 3.5–4.5 kWp (common) | £5,500 to £8,500 |
| 5–6 kWp (larger) | £7,000 to £10,500 |
| 7–8 kWp (large) | £9,000 to £13,000 |
A 4 kWp system on a simple south-facing roof with easy scaffold access can be a very different install to a 4 kWp split array with shading, optimisers, and electrical upgrades. The kWp number hides most of the labour.
Why two quotes can differ by thousands
When you see a big gap, it is usually one (or several) of these:
- Scaffolding and access. Terrace vs detached, height, conservatory, fragile roof areas, or tight access.
- Roof complexity. Multiple faces (split arrays), dormers, valleys, skylights, or limited contiguous space.
- Inverter choice. String inverter vs hybrid inverter (for batteries) and brand tier.
- Optimisers or microinverters. Common on shaded roofs or complex layouts. Adds cost, sometimes worth it.
- Electrical upgrades. Consumer unit work, isolation, earthing upgrades, or long cable runs.
- DNO constraints. Export limitation, application work, or extra paperwork on some installs. (See Glossary for DNO and G98/G99.)
- Warranty and aftercare. Some quotes include stronger workmanship guarantees and better support. Some do not.
A quick way to compare quotes fairly
Ask each installer to provide the same three things:
- System size (kWp)
- Estimated annual generation (kWh)
- A simple list of assumptions (roof direction, shading allowance, inverter type, optimisers, export limit)
If two quotes differ by £2,000, the assumptions will nearly always explain why.
Battery add-on costs (and when it helps vs hurts)
Battery pricing has a wide spread. The key is not “should I get a battery?”, but “what problem is the battery solving for me?”.
Adding a battery later often costs more because you can pay for labour, inverter work, and commissioning again.
When a battery usually helps
- You are out during the day and want to use more of your solar in the evening.
- You have (or plan) a smart tariff and can charge cheaply off-peak.
- You want more control over bills, not just the fastest payback.
When a battery can hurt payback
- Your daytime self-use is already high (work from home, high daytime loads).
- You buy a large battery “just in case” without a clear use pattern.
- The battery quote is expensive relative to your likely annual export.
Payback drivers that matter most
Solar payback is mostly a function of how much of your own generation you use, plus what you get paid for export.
The big levers:
- Your import unit rate
- Export rate (SEG) (See Glossary.)
- Self-consumption (self-use)
- Roof direction and shading
- System sizing
If you want a quick “is this quote sane?” check, you need two things:
1) a realistic annual kWh estimate for your roof and postcode, and
2) a rough idea of your likely self-use share.
How to sanity-check a quote using SolarByPostcode
1) Run your postcode on the SolarByPostcode calculator.
2) Set a system size close to the quote (or test a couple of sizes).
3) Adjust roof direction if relevant (east-west split is common).
4) Compare:
- the quote’s claimed annual generation (kWh) vs our estimate
- the quote’s projected savings vs your tariff reality
5) If the quote’s kWh looks high, ask the installer what assumptions they used (shade, orientation, losses).
If you want context on why roof direction matters so much, see:
- /insights/aspect-penalty/
Costs by area: quick links
These pages are not “prices for your street”, but they are useful local starting points when you are comparing quotes.
- Solar panel cost in Forest of Dean (GL19)
- Solar panel cost in Newport (NPT)
- Solar panel cost in Ribble Valley (BB6)
- Solar panel cost in Fermanagh and Omagh (BT92)
- Solar panel cost in Perth and Kinross (PH15)
- Solar panel cost in Bath and North East Somerset (BA1)
- Solar panel cost in North Somerset (BS40)
- Solar panel cost in South Gloucestershire (BS37)
- Solar panel cost in South Gloucestershire (BS32)
- Solar panel cost in Newport (NP9)
- Solar panel cost in Cardiff (CF1)
- Solar panel cost in Newport (NP19)
- Solar panel cost in Brent (NW6)
- Solar panel cost in Cardiff (CF10)
- Solar panel cost in Cardiff (CF4)
Explore solar by region
Related guide
If you are already installed and worried your system is “underperforming”, read this next:
- Why solar panels never hit their rated output (and why that is normal)
Next reads
- Solar system sizing in the UK: choosing the right kWp without wasting money
- How to compare solar quotes in the UK: a numbers-first checklist
- Self-consumption vs export in UK solar: how the Smart Export Guarantee changes the maths
- Solar payback periods in the UK: what actually drives the number
- Solar warranties and insurance in the UK: what is covered, what is not, and who to call first
- Do solar panels increase house value in the UK? The boring truth (and when it backfires)
Next step: run your postcode on the calculator and use it as a neutral benchmark when you compare quotes.
Check your area on SolarByPostcode