Solar panel installation cost
Solar is priced per watt, so the useful number is the rate rather than the total — a bigger array costs more but usually less per watt. The figures below are for a rooftop residential system before any incentive.
Updated: January 30, 2026 · typical $23,100 · For a 6 kW rooftop system. About $3.04 per watt on average; larger systems often cost less per watt.
What the parts cost
Fixr gives $3.04 as the average; state figures in its table run roughly $2.63 to $3.52.
Fixr, typical range around a $23,100 average.
What moves the price
- System size
- Priced per watt, so the total scales with the array — but the rate per watt usually falls as the system grows, because the fixed costs of the install are spread further.
- Roof and mounting
- Pitch, orientation, shading and the roof covering all change the mounting work. A roof due for replacement should be replaced first.
- Where you are
- Fixr publishes a per-state table; its rates run from roughly $2.63 to $3.52 per watt across states, which is a 34 % swing on the same array.
- Incentives
- Fixr's table shows a second, lower figure per state after federal credit. Incentives change by legislation and are not calculated here.
Questions
How much do solar panels cost?
Fixr publishes $19,100–$23,800 for a 6 kW rooftop system with a $23,100 typical figure, at about $3.04 per watt (January 2026), before incentives.
Is the rate the same everywhere?
No. Fixr's per-state table runs from about $2.63 to $3.52 per watt, so the same array can differ by a third depending on the state.
These are the ranges other people publish, gathered on 2026-09-06 — not our estimate, and not a quote. Every guide is linked above with the date it prints. For the quantity rather than the price: Roofing material calculator. See every cost page.