What do solar panels actually cost in the UK?
Use the free solar panel cost calculator: nine quick questions for your system size, install price range, battery options, annual savings and payback period. Under a minute. No payment details. No pushy sales calls.
Sample estimate
4 bed semi · Newcastle
System size
5 kWp
13 panels
Install price
£7k to £9k
indicative range
Annual savings
£810 to £1,140
with battery
Payback
6.5 to 9 yrs
break-even
Roof: Excellent (92/100)
South-facing, unshaded
850kWh/kWp
UK generation baseline
£5k to £12k
Typical install bands
6 to 10years
Common payback range
Nine questions. One clear solar estimate.
Built on 2026 UK install costs and regional irradiance data. The estimates are calculated using the same engine an experienced energy modeller would use, not a generic global formula.
- 1
Tell us about your home
Postcode, property type, roof direction, shading, bill, battery interest, any electric vehicle and when you want to install. Plain language. One screen at a time.
- 2
See what suits your roof
Your roof suitability score and the system size and panel count we recommend, straight away. No payment details.
- 3
Get your full estimate
Add your contact details to see install cost, annual savings, payback and battery options, with a copy by email. One trusted local installer follows up.
What solar panels cost in the UK in 2026
Most UK homes pay between £5,000 and £12,000 for a fully installed solar panel system. The right size depends on your roof and how much electricity you use, which is exactly what the calculator works out for you.
| System size | Suits | Installed cost | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 kWp | Smaller home or terrace | £5,000 to £8,000 | £400 to £700 a year |
| 5 kWp | Typical 3 to 4-bed home | £7,000 to £9,000 | £600 to £900 a year |
| 6 to 7 kWp | Larger or EV household | £8,500 to £12,000 | £800 to £1,100 a year |
A home battery adds £2,500 to £6,000. Prices are indicative pending a survey, with 0% VAT on residential installations.
Savings come from two places: the grid electricity you no longer buy at around 27p per kWh, and the Smart Export Guarantee, which pays roughly 15p per kWh for what you export. Together they put the typical UK payback at 6 to 10 years, after which the panels generate effectively free electricity for the rest of their 25-year-plus life. Our solar panel payback guide walks through the maths.
UK panels average about 850 kWh per kWp each year, and the North of England generates around 93 to 95% of that, a far smaller gap than most people expect. See the full solar panel cost UK guide, check how many solar panels you need or jump straight to local figures for solar panels in the North East of England.
"Most online calculators throw a generic global number at you. SunSum uses a UK irradiance model, regional electricity pricing and Smart Export Guarantee rates. The result is a range you can trust, not a fake quote."
SunSum team
Solar panel calculator: the practical questions
- Is this a real solar quote?
- No. The figures you see are an indicative range built from UK average install prices and your inputs. A binding quote follows a roof survey from your local installer.
- Who contacts me after I submit?
- A single trusted, MCS-certified local installer for your region. Just one local company, not follow-up from five different firms.
- What if I am just researching?
- Choose "Just researching" on the timeframe step so the installer knows there is no rush. Seeing your full estimate does mean agreeing to share your details with them, but phone calls need their own tick box, which you can leave empty.
- How does the solar calculator work?
- We model annual generation from your postcode (regional irradiance), roof direction, shading and recommended system size. Savings combine self-consumption at your unit rate with Smart Export Guarantee exports.
- What happens to my data?
- We store only the data needed for the estimate and the installer follow-up. SunSum is run by North Roots Limited, which is responsible for your data. You can request deletion at any time. See the privacy policy.
- Why no instant solar quote?
- Anyone offering an exact quote without seeing your roof is guessing. SunSum shows ranges. The real quote comes after a survey.
- How accurate is the solar panel cost calculator?
- The calculator is built on 2026 UK install prices, regional irradiance data, a 27p per kWh electricity rate and current Smart Export Guarantee rates. It gives a realistic range for your home, typically within the spread of real MCS installer quotes, and a survey confirms the exact figure.
- How many solar panels does a typical UK home need?
- A typical 3-bedroom house suits a 4 to 5 kWp system of around 10 to 13 panels. Smaller terraces often fit 6 to 8 panels and larger detached homes 14 or more. The calculator recommends a size from your usage and roof.