What home solar costs in 2026 - by state and town
Marketplace prices by system size, the federal credit's 2025 expiration, per-state net metering rules, and cost guides for 19,000+ U.S. towns - without the sales pitch.
The median U.S. home solar installation runs about $2.58 a watt - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
The 30% federal solar tax credit ended December 31, 2025 - U.S. systems completed in 2026 receive $0 from it.
Across the United States, 40+ states now use net billing or utility-set export rates rather than full retail net metering - the rule that decides 2026 paybacks.
This guide tracks what home solar actually costs in 19,000+ U.S. towns, which state rules decide the payback, and the sales claims that stopped being true in 2026. Pick your state below, or start with the national numbers.
What installed solar costs in 2026
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
Compare solar installer quotes
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
The 30% federal tax credit is gone for 2026 installations
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (30%) was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, the credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025 - and the IRS counts the installation completion date, not the contract date.
Why only these platforms
Ask any homeowner whose installer went bankrupt: the money was not lost on the panels, it was lost on the workmanship warranty that evaporated. Before comparing prices, compare survival odds - years in business, local installations you can drive past, and manufacturer-backed workmanship coverage.
Solar lead generation is where most industry abuse lives, so this guide only links platforms that show you multiple named installers and let you walk away - never single-installer funnels or phone-blast forms. If a platform falls below that bar it gets removed from every page on this site.
| Platform | What you get | Background |
|---|---|---|
| EnergySage | Side-by-side bids from multiple installers | The largest U.S. solar marketplace; publishes its pricing data publicly |
| Modernize | Matched with vetted local installers | Established home-services network (QuinStreet); installers are screened |
Common questions
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit was repealed effective for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. Only systems finished by the end of 2025 qualified. State-level incentives are separate and some survive - check the state page in this guide.
Is solar still worth it without the federal credit?
It depends mostly on your state's export rules and your daytime usage. Paybacks lengthened by roughly a third when the credit ended, but rising electricity rates and record-cheap hardware keep the math workable in states with decent export compensation - and marginal where exports pay avoided cost only.
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
What happens if my installer goes out of business?
Panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturers and survive, but the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. That is a real risk in the post-credit shakeout - prefer installers with years of local history, and get manufacturer-backed workmanship coverage where offered.
Should I lease, get a PPA, or buy?
Buying keeps all savings and any incentives with you. Leases and PPAs put a company's equipment on your roof for 20-25 years, complicate a home sale, and in 2026 any tax benefits they advertise belong to the company under commercial rules - not to you. Read escalator clauses carefully.
Do I need a battery with my solar?
Not necessarily. Under full retail net metering, the grid effectively stores your surplus for free. Batteries earn their $12,000-16,000 price where export rates are low, outages are common, or time-of-use rates make evening self-consumption valuable.
Compare solar installer quotes
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
Prices by state
Alaska (149) · Alabama (463) · Arkansas (500) · Arizona (91) · California (482) · Colorado (270) · Connecticut (30) · District of Columbia (1) · Delaware (57) · Florida (411) · Georgia (537) · Hawaii (1) · Iowa (940) · Idaho (198) · Illinois (1292) · Indiana (566) · Kansas (625) · Kentucky (417) · Louisiana (304) · Massachusetts (58) · Maryland (157) · Maine (23) · Michigan (533) · Minnesota (854) · Missouri (936) · Mississippi (299) · Montana (127) · North Carolina (549) · North Dakota (355) · Nebraska (528) · New Hampshire (13) · New Jersey (323) · New Mexico (105) · Nevada (19) · New York (595) · Ohio (920) · Oklahoma (590) · Oregon (240) · Pennsylvania (1005) · Rhode Island (8) · South Carolina (271) · South Dakota (310) · Tennessee (345) · Texas (1221) · Utah (255) · Virginia (227) · Vermont (39) · Washington (281) · Wisconsin (604) · West Virginia (230) · Wyoming (99)