Solar Panel Cost UK 2026

A 4 kW solar panel system (typical for a 3-4 bed house) costs £5,000-7,000 installed in the UK in 2026. Prices include panels, inverter, mounting, installation and VAT (0% for domestic solar since 2022). Cost per kW is £1,250-1,750, with larger systems cheaper per kW.

Last reviewed: 2026-05-19 7 min read Verified against 3 sources

Average Costs by System Size

3 kW system (7-8 panels): £4,500-6,000 installed
4 kW system (10-11 panels): £5,000-7,000 installed
6 kW system (15-16 panels): £7,500-10,000 installed
10 kW system (25 panels): £12,000-16,000 installed

What's Included in the Price

Solar panels (typically 400W monocrystalline)
Inverter (string or micro-inverters)
Mounting rails and roof fixings
Labour and installation (1-2 days)
Electrical connection and sign-off
MCS certification (required for VAT exemption and SEG)

Cost Breakdown

For a typical 4 kW system costing £6,000:

Panels: £1,200-1,600 (£120-160 per 400W panel)
Inverter: £800-1,200
Mounting + fixings: £400-600
Labour: £2,000-2,500
MCS certification + admin: £400-600

Battery Storage Add-On

Adding a battery increases system cost by £3,000-6,000 depending on capacity:

5 kWh battery: +£3,000-4,000
10 kWh battery: +£5,000-6,000
15 kWh battery: +£7,000-9,000

Most UK homes use 5-10 kWh batteries. Larger batteries improve winter self-sufficiency but have longer payback times.

Grants and VAT Savings

Since February 2022, domestic solar panel installations have 0% VAT (previously 5%). This saves around £300 on a £6,000 system compared to pre-2022 prices.

There are no direct UK government grants for solar panels in 2026. However, some local authorities offer interest-free loans or cashback schemes. Check with your council.

Why Prices Vary

Quotes for the same system size can vary by £2,000+ because of:

Panel brand: Premium brands (LG, Panasonic) cost 20-30% more than budget Chinese panels
Inverter type: Micro-inverters cost £500-1,000 more than string inverters but perform better with shading
Roof complexity: Scaffolding, steep pitches, or listed building requirements add cost
Region: London and South East installers charge 10-15% more than Midlands/North

Is It Worth It?

At £6,000 for a 4 kW system generating £600/year in savings, typical payback is 8-12 years. Over 25 years (panel warranty period), you save £10,000-15,000 after deducting the initial cost.

Use our solar calculator to work out payback time for your situation.

Sources

Energy Saving Trust (2026). Solar panel costs and savings. energysavingtrust.org.uk. Accessed 2026-05-19.
Solar Energy UK (2026). Residential solar installation costs. solarenergyuk.org. Accessed 2026-05-19.
HMRC (2026). VAT on energy-saving materials. gov.uk. Accessed 2026-05-19.