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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
11.2 years
After this, it's pure profit
Upfront Cost
£8,139
What you pay to get started
Annual Benefit
£729
What you save every year
Profit Over 25 Years
£10,084
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: The official cost per kW is lower above 4 kW, so a 5–6 kW system can pay back a little faster than a 3–4 kW system on otherwise identical assumptions.
  • 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

Panel costs: Uses March 2026 TIC mean installation costs: £1,827/kW up to 4 kW and £1,628/kW above 4 kW.

Other costs: Battery prices are modelled at £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 25.31p/kWh with a 64.38p/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 25.3p and exported surplus at a baseline 10p via SEG. Use the calculator above for your exact tariff.

Unit rate
25.3p/kWh
Standing charge
64.4p/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: £729, Upfront: £8,139, Break-even: 11.2 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 £183 £108 £292 £3,256 11.2 yrs £2,576
3 kW 2712 kWh 1085 kWh 1627 kWh £275 £163 £437 £4,883 11.2 yrs £3,864
4 kW 3617 kWh 1447 kWh 2170 kWh £366 £217 £583 £6,511 11.2 yrs £5,152
5 kW 4521 kWh 1808 kWh 2712 kWh £458 £271 £729 £8,139 11.2 yrs £6,439
6 kW 5425 kWh 2170 kWh 3255 kWh £549 £325 £875 £9,767 11.2 yrs £7,727
7 kW 6329 kWh 2532 kWh 3797 kWh £641 £380 £1,020 £11,394 11.2 yrs £9,015
8 kW 7233 kWh 2893 kWh 4340 kWh £732 £434 £1,166 £13,022 11.2 yrs £10,303

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

3 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £867, Upfront: £10,239, Break-even: 11.8 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 £275 £72 £347 £5,356 15.4 yrs £1,583
3 kW 2712 kWh 1627 kWh 1085 kWh £412 £108 £520 £6,983 13.4 yrs £3,425
4 kW 3617 kWh 2170 kWh 1447 kWh £549 £145 £694 £8,611 12.4 yrs £5,266
5 kW 4521 kWh 2712 kWh 1808 kWh £687 £181 £867 £10,239 11.8 yrs £7,108
6 kW 5425 kWh 3255 kWh 2170 kWh £824 £217 £1,041 £11,867 11.4 yrs £8,949
7 kW 6329 kWh 3797 kWh 2532 kWh £961 £253 £1,214 £13,494 11.1 yrs £10,791
8 kW 7233 kWh 4340 kWh 2893 kWh £1,098 £289 £1,388 £15,122 10.9 yrs £12,633

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £937, Upfront: £11,639, Break-even: 12.4 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1266 kWh 542 kWh £320 £54 £375 £6,756 18.0 yrs £737
3 kW 2712 kWh 1899 kWh 814 kWh £481 £81 £562 £8,383 14.9 yrs £2,855
4 kW 3617 kWh 2532 kWh 1085 kWh £641 £108 £749 £10,011 13.4 yrs £4,974
5 kW 4521 kWh 3164 kWh 1356 kWh £801 £136 £937 £11,639 12.4 yrs £7,092
6 kW 5425 kWh 3797 kWh 1627 kWh £961 £163 £1,124 £13,267 11.8 yrs £9,210
7 kW 6329 kWh 4430 kWh 1899 kWh £1,121 £190 £1,311 £14,894 11.4 yrs £11,329
8 kW 7233 kWh 5063 kWh 2170 kWh £1,281 £217 £1,498 £16,522 11.0 yrs £13,447

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

7.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £957, Upfront: £13,389, Break-even: 14.0 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1320 kWh 488 kWh £334 £49 £383 £8,506 22.2 yrs £-847
3 kW 2712 kWh 1980 kWh 732 kWh £501 £73 £574 £10,133 17.6 yrs £1,354
4 kW 3617 kWh 2640 kWh 976 kWh £668 £98 £766 £11,761 15.4 yrs £3,556
5 kW 4521 kWh 3300 kWh 1221 kWh £835 £122 £957 £13,389 14.0 yrs £5,757
6 kW 5425 kWh 3960 kWh 1465 kWh £1,002 £146 £1,149 £15,017 13.1 yrs £7,959
7 kW 6329 kWh 4620 kWh 1709 kWh £1,169 £171 £1,340 £16,644 12.4 yrs £10,160
8 kW 7233 kWh 5280 kWh 1953 kWh £1,336 £195 £1,532 £18,272 11.9 yrs £12,362

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

10 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £971, Upfront: £15,139, Break-even: 15.6 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1356 kWh 452 kWh £343 £45 £388 £10,256 26.4 yrs £-2,486
3 kW 2712 kWh 2034 kWh 678 kWh £515 £68 £583 £11,883 20.4 yrs £-229
4 kW 3617 kWh 2712 kWh 904 kWh £687 £90 £777 £13,511 17.4 yrs £2,027
5 kW 4521 kWh 3390 kWh 1130 kWh £858 £113 £971 £15,139 15.6 yrs £4,284
6 kW 5425 kWh 4069 kWh 1356 kWh £1,030 £136 £1,165 £16,767 14.4 yrs £6,541
7 kW 6329 kWh 4747 kWh 1582 kWh £1,201 £158 £1,360 £18,394 13.5 yrs £8,798
8 kW 7233 kWh 5425 kWh 1808 kWh £1,373 £181 £1,554 £20,022 12.9 yrs £11,055

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, battery £/kWh = 700.

13.5 kWh battery 5 kW example → Annual benefit: £985, Upfront: £17,589, Break-even: 17.9 yrs
System Annual output Self-use Exported Bill saving Export income Annual benefit Upfront cost Break-even 20-year net
2 kW 1808 kWh 1392 kWh 416 kWh £352 £42 £394 £12,706 32.2 yrs £-4,826
3 kW 2712 kWh 2089 kWh 624 kWh £529 £62 £591 £14,333 24.3 yrs £-2,513
4 kW 3617 kWh 2785 kWh 832 kWh £705 £83 £788 £15,961 20.3 yrs £-201
5 kW 4521 kWh 3481 kWh 1040 kWh £881 £104 £985 £17,589 17.9 yrs £2,111
6 kW 5425 kWh 4177 kWh 1248 kWh £1,057 £125 £1,182 £19,217 16.3 yrs £4,423
7 kW 6329 kWh 4873 kWh 1456 kWh £1,233 £146 £1,379 £20,844 15.1 yrs £6,735
8 kW 7233 kWh 5569 kWh 1664 kWh £1,410 £166 £1,576 £22,472 14.3 yrs £9,048

Assumptions: south-facing, sensible tilt; self-use shares from site rules; export at 10p baseline. Costs: panels £/kW = 1,628, 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.

Before you request quotes in Leeds

Use the numbers above to sanity-check installer quotes. The main things to compare are system size, battery assumptions, payback claims, MCS certification, DNO paperwork and export assumptions.

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Understand DNO, G98 and G99 export limits

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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 #2160 of 2996
11.2 years (UK avg 10.8 years)
~£729 /yr • £8,139 upfront
Standing-Charge Drag Rank #2461 of 2996
32.2% (UK avg 26.6%) drag on savings
£235 fixed • ~£729 /yr value
Aspect Penalty View ranking →
East −20.7% West −19.6%
Typical output loss versus a south-facing roof (lower is better)

Seasonal solar output in LS21

Monthly generation per kilowatt of solar panels

kWh 29 Jan 48 Feb 80 Mar 105 Apr 114 May 110 Jun 114 Jul 104 Aug 83 Sep 57 Oct 37 Nov 24 Dec
Best month Worst month Winter (Dec–Feb) Other months

Winter output: 44.5% of an average month (Dec–Feb)

Best / worst month: May / Dec

These figures show output per kilowatt (kW) of panels installed. In winter, a 1 kW system here produces about 34 kWh per month; the average month produces around 75 kWh. So a typical 4 kW home system would generate roughly 134 kWh in winter, or 301 kWh in an average month.

Your Area at a Glance

Your Electricity Rate
25.31p/kWh
Daily Fixed Charge
64.38p/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, Q3 2026

Installation costs: DESNZ/MCS data, March 2026 (TIC)

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