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Solar panel cost in Leeds (LS21)

See realistic solar installation costs, savings and payback for LS21 (Leeds) in under a minute using official UK data. Start with the calculator, then get a no-obligation quote from an MCS-certified installer. You can also ask the SolarByPostcode assistant to sanity-check your roof, bills and plans.

Solar Calculator

Change the settings below to see how costs and savings work for your situation.

System Size

Roof Direction

Battery Storage

Export Value

Your Numbers

Break-even
13.5 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£10,173
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£754
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£8,674
After paying itself off, you're this much ahead

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How we calculate this

Solar generation: Based on typical south-facing roof at 35° angle. We account for weather, dirt, and system losses (14%).

How much you'll use directly:

  • Without battery: You'll use about 40% of what you generate. The rest gets sold back to the grid.
  • With 5 kWh battery: You'll use about 70% (battery stores extra for evening use).
  • With 10 kWh battery: You'll use about 75% (more storage means less exported).
  • Panel-only payback: Bigger systems don’t shorten payback—cost and savings rise together per kW.
  • Battery & payback: Batteries raise self-use and cut bills, but added hardware cost often lengthens break-even at typical UK rates.
  • When a battery can still make sense:
    • Evening-heavy usage patterns
    • Time-of-use tariffs / cheap night rates
    • Low export rate vs. high unit rate
    • Heat pump or EV charging synergy
    • Optional backup/resilience (system-dependent)
    • Lower evening-hour CO₂ vs. grid

Costs: Battery prices are typically £700 per kWh. Export tariffs vary by supplier (usually 5–15p per kWh).

Grid connection: Systems up to about 3.7 kW typically need just a notification (G98). Larger systems may need permission (G99).

These are typical values based on average usage patterns. Your actual results will vary based on your roof, shading, and how you use electricity.

Your area in context

In Yorkshire, the current unit rate is 26.69p/kWh with a 59.72p/day standing charge. Your postcode’s south-facing sunshine yield is 904 kWh/kW — 25 below the regional median (929).

Read the full story

A typical roof here lands around 5.0 kW, with most eligible homes comfortably fitting within 3–6 kW. Each kilowatt of panels produces roughly 904 kWh per year on a south-facing roof. We value self-used electricity at 26.7p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
26.7p/kWh
Standing charge
59.7p/day
Sunshine yield (south)
904 kWh/kW
Export price (baseline)
10p/kWh

Browse the scenarios below. Each battery size has its own expand — open the one that matches your plan (or just explore). For each system size (2–8 kW) we show annual output, how much you use directly, what gets exported, annual benefit, upfront cost, break-even, and a 20-year net. Negative numbers are possible — that’s the honest trade-off when adding more battery than your usage profile justifies.

No battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £754, Upfront: £10,173, Break-even: 13.5 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 723 kWh 1085 kWh £193 £108 £302 £4,069 13.5 yrs £1,962
3 kW 2712 kWh 1085 kWh 1627 kWh £290 £163 £452 £6,104 13.5 yrs £2,943
4 kW 3617 kWh 1447 kWh 2170 kWh £386 £217 £603 £8,138 13.5 yrs £3,924
5 kW 4521 kWh 1808 kWh 2712 kWh £483 £271 £754 £10,173 13.5 yrs £4,905
6 kW 5425 kWh 2170 kWh 3255 kWh £579 £325 £905 £12,207 13.5 yrs £5,886
7 kW 6329 kWh 2532 kWh 3797 kWh £676 £380 £1,055 £14,242 13.5 yrs £6,867
8 kW 7233 kWh 2893 kWh 4340 kWh £772 £434 £1,206 £16,276 13.5 yrs £7,848

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £905, Upfront: £12,273, Break-even: 13.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1085 kWh 723 kWh £290 £72 £362 £6,169 17.0 yrs £1,069
3 kW 2712 kWh 1627 kWh 1085 kWh £434 £108 £543 £8,204 15.1 yrs £2,654
4 kW 3617 kWh 2170 kWh 1447 kWh £579 £145 £724 £10,238 14.1 yrs £4,238
5 kW 4521 kWh 2712 kWh 1808 kWh £724 £181 £905 £12,273 13.6 yrs £5,823
6 kW 5425 kWh 3255 kWh 2170 kWh £869 £217 £1,086 £14,307 13.2 yrs £7,407
7 kW 6329 kWh 3797 kWh 2532 kWh £1,014 £253 £1,267 £16,342 12.9 yrs £8,992
8 kW 7233 kWh 4340 kWh 2893 kWh £1,158 £289 £1,448 £18,376 12.7 yrs £10,576

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £980, Upfront: £13,673, Break-even: 13.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1266 kWh 542 kWh £338 £54 £392 £7,569 19.3 yrs £273
3 kW 2712 kWh 1899 kWh 814 kWh £507 £81 £588 £9,604 16.3 yrs £2,159
4 kW 3617 kWh 2532 kWh 1085 kWh £676 £108 £784 £11,638 14.8 yrs £4,045
5 kW 4521 kWh 3164 kWh 1356 kWh £845 £136 £980 £13,673 13.9 yrs £5,932
6 kW 5425 kWh 3797 kWh 1627 kWh £1,014 £163 £1,176 £15,707 13.4 yrs £7,818
7 kW 6329 kWh 4430 kWh 1899 kWh £1,182 £190 £1,372 £17,742 12.9 yrs £9,704
8 kW 7233 kWh 5063 kWh 2170 kWh £1,351 £217 £1,568 £19,776 12.6 yrs £11,591

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,003, Upfront: £15,423, Break-even: 15.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1320 kWh 488 kWh £352 £49 £401 £9,319 23.2 yrs £-1,296
3 kW 2712 kWh 1980 kWh 732 kWh £528 £73 £602 £11,354 18.9 yrs £681
4 kW 3617 kWh 2640 kWh 976 kWh £705 £98 £802 £13,388 16.7 yrs £2,658
5 kW 4521 kWh 3300 kWh 1221 kWh £881 £122 £1,003 £15,423 15.4 yrs £4,634
6 kW 5425 kWh 3960 kWh 1465 kWh £1,057 £146 £1,203 £17,457 14.5 yrs £6,611
7 kW 6329 kWh 4620 kWh 1709 kWh £1,233 £171 £1,404 £19,492 13.9 yrs £8,588
8 kW 7233 kWh 5280 kWh 1953 kWh £1,409 £195 £1,605 £21,526 13.4 yrs £10,565

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,018, Upfront: £17,173, Break-even: 16.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1356 kWh 452 kWh £362 £45 £407 £11,069 27.2 yrs £-2,926
3 kW 2712 kWh 2034 kWh 678 kWh £543 £68 £611 £13,104 21.5 yrs £-888
4 kW 3617 kWh 2712 kWh 904 kWh £724 £90 £814 £15,138 18.6 yrs £1,149
5 kW 4521 kWh 3390 kWh 1130 kWh £905 £113 £1,018 £17,173 16.9 yrs £3,186
6 kW 5425 kWh 4069 kWh 1356 kWh £1,086 £136 £1,222 £19,207 15.7 yrs £5,223
7 kW 6329 kWh 4747 kWh 1582 kWh £1,267 £158 £1,425 £21,242 14.9 yrs £7,261
8 kW 7233 kWh 5425 kWh 1808 kWh £1,448 £181 £1,629 £23,276 14.3 yrs £9,298

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £1,033, Upfront: £19,623, Break-even: 19.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1392 kWh 416 kWh £372 £42 £413 £13,519 32.7 yrs £-5,255
3 kW 2712 kWh 2089 kWh 624 kWh £557 £62 £620 £15,554 25.1 yrs £-3,157
4 kW 3617 kWh 2785 kWh 832 kWh £743 £83 £826 £17,588 21.3 yrs £-1,060
5 kW 4521 kWh 3481 kWh 1040 kWh £929 £104 £1,033 £19,623 19.0 yrs £1,038
6 kW 5425 kWh 4177 kWh 1248 kWh £1,115 £125 £1,240 £21,657 17.5 yrs £3,136
7 kW 6329 kWh 4873 kWh 1456 kWh £1,301 £146 £1,446 £23,692 16.4 yrs £5,233
8 kW 7233 kWh 5569 kWh 1664 kWh £1,486 £166 £1,653 £25,726 15.6 yrs £7,331

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 2,035, battery £/kWh = 700.

Figures are illustrative and use the same method as the calculator above. For exact results, adjust your roof direction, tariff, and usage in the calculator.

Insights for LS21

Figures below are tailored to LS21 — click through for full league tables.

Big-Roof Britain Rank #1118 of 2182
5.0 kWp (UK avg 5.1 kWp)
~11 panels (≈430 W)
Solar Payback Index Rank #2464 of 2997
13.5 years (UK avg 12.6 years)
~£754 /yr • £10,173 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2344 of 2997
28.9% (UK avg 24.6%) drag on savings
£218 fixed • ~£754 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.7% West −19.6%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
26.69p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
59.72p/day
Local Sunshine
904kWh/kW
A 1 kW system generates ~904 kWh per year. A typical home uses ~2,700 kWh per year.
Typical System Size
5.0kW
For houses & bungalows in this area

Local Property Data

Property Types

Houses: 74% • Flats: 18% • Bungalows: 7% Based on 4,532 properties

Coverage

Leeds (84%)|North Yorkshire (16%)

Areas Covered

Otley & Yeadon, Washburn & Birstwith, Adel & Wharfedale, Guiseley & Rawdon, Wharfedale, Alwoodley

Data Sources & Assumptions

Solar yield: PVGIS (EU Joint Research Centre), January 2025 data

Electricity rates: Ofgem price cap, Q1 2026

Installation costs: MCS certified installer data, March 2025

Property data: EPC open data (Open Government Licence), aggregated

All estimates are typical values. Actual results vary based on your specific situation, roof characteristics, and usage patterns.

Compare nearby areas

Nearby in Yorkshire

LS20 (Leeds)
≈3.7 km away
Local sunshine: ~910 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LS21
LS19 (Leeds)
≈4.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~910 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LS21
LS18 (Leeds)
≈8.2 km away
Local sunshine: ~915 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LS21
BD17 (Bradford)
≈8.3 km away
Local sunshine: ~906 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS21
BD10 (Bradford)
≈8.4 km away
Local sunshine: ~911 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LS21
LS16 (Leeds)
≈8.6 km away
Local sunshine: ~915 kWh/kWp · +1% vs LS21

Similar sunshine across the UK

SR9 (Sunderland)
~904 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS21
TS24 (Hartlepool)
~904 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS21
WA16 (Cheshire East)
~904 kWh/kWp · +0% vs LS21