Are solar panels worth it in the UK?
For most UK homeowners, solar panels are worth it. A typical system saves between £400 and £1,150 a year and pays for itself in roughly 6 to 10 years, then continues generating largely free electricity for 25 years or more. They are most worthwhile if you own your home, have a south, east or west-facing roof with little shading and use a fair amount of electricity during the day.
Whether solar is worth it for you comes down to four things: your roof, your electricity use, whether you add a battery and how long you plan to stay in the home. Here is how each one affects the return.
When solar panels are clearly worth it
- You own the property and plan to stay several years.
- Your roof faces south, east or west and is not heavily shaded.
- Your electricity bill is £100 a month or more.
- You use electricity during the day, or you add a battery to store it.
- You have, or plan to add, an electric vehicle or heat pump.
When the case is weaker
- You rent, or do not control the roof (for example, most flats).
- Your only usable roof faces north, which generates around half as much.
- Heavy shading from trees or buildings covers the roof for much of the day.
- You expect to move within a couple of years.
The numbers behind the decision
Savings come from two sources: the grid electricity you no longer buy (around 27p per kWh) and the surplus you export for payment under the Smart Export Guarantee (around 15p per kWh). Because imported electricity is worth far more than exported electricity, the more of your own generation you use, the better the return. A battery lifts self-use from roughly 37% to around 70%, which is why it improves the payback for many homes.
| System size | Without battery | With battery |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 kWp | £350 to £600 | £500 to £800 |
| 5 kWp | £450 to £800 | £650 to £1,000 |
| 6 to 7 kWp | £600 to £950 | £800 to £1,150 |
Check your own payback
The honest answer to are solar panels worth it is specific to your roof and your bills. Run your postcode and monthly bill through the SunSum calculator to see your estimated cost, annual saving and payback period in under a minute.
Frequently asked questions
- How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?
- Most UK systems pay back in 6 to 10 years. A well-sited system with high daytime usage or a battery can pay back faster.
- Do solar panels add value to a house?
- An owned solar system with low running costs can make a home more attractive to buyers, particularly as energy efficiency ratings matter more. Leased systems are more complicated.
- Are solar panels worth it without a battery?
- Yes, especially if you use electricity during the day. A battery improves savings but adds cost, so it is worth modelling both.
Related questions
Indicative estimates based on UK average data. Last updated 26 May 2026.