How much do solar panels cost?
A clear guide to solar panel installation costs and potential payback for UK homes.
Solar panels are a long-term investment offering even longer-term savings – but how much do they actually cost to install?
The price of solar panels has come down significantly over the past decade, while energy prices have stayed high. That’s made solar one of the most affordable and impactful home upgrades you can make today. In this article, we break down what affects solar panel pricing, what you can expect to pay for a Good Energy installation, and how to compare quotes confidently.
What affects the cost of installing solar panels?
No two homes are quite the same, which is why solar panel costs can vary depending on the size, layout and energy needs of your property. Here are some key factors that influence the total cost:
1. How many solar panels should I install?
Put simply, the more solar panels you install, the higher your upfront cost. One the other hand, the larger the system, the more electricity that’s generated, meaning more long-term savings. What’s more, a larger system doesn’t just cover more of your own consumption; it also lets you earn more by exporting surplus power back to the grid through an export tariff, accelerating your overall pay-back period.
A typical UK home can fit around 10 panels – a solid starting point that balances affordability with meaningful financial and environmental impact. But, because scaffolding and labour make up a large share of installation costs, you’ll usually get the best value by filling as much of your roof space as your budget allows.
As industry expert Richard Fuell puts it: “The future will be all about generating as much power as you can, so do it right on day one.”
2. Do I need battery storage?
Adding a battery to your system increases the upfront cost but helps you store and use more of your solar energy at home. Without a battery, 10 solar panels would provide 30% – 50% of a typical household’s annual usage. With a battery, your solar panels could cover up to 80% of your home electricity usage.
Batteries also unlock the benefits of dual-rate smart tariffs which can lower your energy bills all year round, not just in the summer months.
To help you decide if adding a battery is worth it for your home, you can read our blog here: Are solar batteries worth it?
3. Which type of inverter is best for solar panels?
Your inverter is the part of your system that converts solar energy into usable electricity. String inverters are the most common and cheapest option, but they do have their drawbacks, such as the efficiency of all panels in the string being impacted if one is dirty or shaded.
At Good Energy, we offer optimised or micro-inverter systems as standard. While this does increase the price upfront, it helps your system generate more power in real-world conditions, improving your return on investment and shortening your payback period. They offer greater fire safety and monitoring too.
Find out more about the difference between string, optimised and micro-inverter systems.
How much do solar panels cost with Good Energy?
We install reliable, high-efficiency solar systems using trusted products and in-house experts. Here are two example costs – one without a battery (starting from £6,380) and one including a Tesla Powerwall 3 (starting from £13,900).
Silver: 10 solar panels, optimised for efficiency
- SolarEdge optimsed solar panel system, for maximised savings
- Designed for efficient performance even on cloudy days
- Leading product warranties: 25 years for solar, 12 years for inverter
- Easy sign up to Good Energy’s 12p/kWh Solar Savings export tariff
- Prices start from £6,380
Gold: 10 solar panels + Tesla Powerwall 3
- SolarEdge optimsed solar panel system, for maximised savings
- 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall 3 with power cut protection
- Leading product warranties: 25 years for solar, 12 years for inverter, 10 years for Powerwall 3
- Access to Good Energy’s 25p/kWh exclusive export tariff for 12 months
- Prices start from £13,900
These prices may vary based on roof access, electrical upgrades, or system size. A free personalised quote will confirm the exact solar panel costs for your home, and it’s completely obligation-free, so a great way to explore your options.
Can I get funding for solar panels?
To help spread the cost, all home solar and battery installations currently benefit from 0% VAT, and there are a range of financing options available through some mortgage providers and banks. For a clear breakdown of what support is genuine, what’s currently available, and what to avoid, read our guide to solar panel funding and incentives.
How long do solar panels take to pay back?
Your solar panel payback time depends on how much electricity you use at home and how much you export to the grid. Most of our customers achieve solar payback in 8 years or less*, and enjoy at least 20 years of low energy bills after that. The key to breaking even faster is getting a great quality install for a good price, using your power as it’s generated, and signing up to a generous export tariff, like Good Energy’s Solar Savings.
Over the lifetime of your system, even small efficiency gains can mean hundreds of pounds in extra savings – money you’d otherwise lose. That’s why choosing a trusted installer and high-quality panels isn’t just important, it’s essential for getting the most from your investment.
* Based on modelling from 157 Good Energy domestic solar proposals. Payback varies by property. Of these 157 proposals: 42.7% of proposals had an estimated payback period of 7 years or under, 38.2% had an estimated payback period of between 8 – 10 years, and 19.1% had an estimated payback period of 11 years or more.
See what real customers have saved with solar
David’s story: A future-proofed home with solar panels and a heat pump
“The impact of burning fossil fuels has been shown to be harmful for the planet and ultimately unsustainable. If technology can be used to get electricity from other sources, it’s the way forward.
It’s a comfort to know that the electricity being used in my house really is renewable, not just being generated by fossil fuels somewhere else.”
Steve’s story: Solar panels and Tesla Powerwall
“I used to think that conditions needed to be optimal for solar panels to work properly in the UK. But going through the process I found out that solar panels would work well on our East facing roof, and they don’t even need direct sunlight to generate.
Our installation took place in the winter, and from the very first month our solar panels and battery have covered most of what we are using at home.”
Simon’s story: upgrading to a smarter, solar-powered home
“The system made a huge difference to our energy costs, particularly at a time when the energy market became extremely volatile.
The common question people ask is if the figures “really” match the prediction… in this case, it couldn’t be any closer!”
Solar panel price FAQs
As standard, Good Energy solar installation includes:
- A survey of your existing electrics, to confirm your home’s wiring can safely support your new system before any work begins.
- A central inverter, converting the DC power your panels generate into usable AC electricity.
- Weatherproof mounting and cabling, tested to perform reliably through UK weather for the lifetime of your system.
- Comprehensive long-term protection, including a 25-year product warranty and a 30-year performance guarantee for solar panels.
If you opted for a SolarEdge system, you can also expect:
- SolarEdge optimizers fitted to each panel, so shading or debris on one panel doesn’t drag down the output of the whole system.
- Panel-level monitoring, giving you visibility of exactly how each panel is performing via the SolarEdge app.
Installing solar panels and battery storage at the same time can be more cost-effective than arranging two separate installations. That’s because the work can usually be completed in one go, helping you avoid paying twice for labour and other installation costs. However, you can always add a compatible battery later if you would prefer to spread the cost. A good solar installer can help advise what’s best for your home and budget.
Click here to discover which solar batteries our experts recommend: The best solar batteries explained
Some homes may require additional work, such as electrical upgrades, specialist scaffolding or equipment to accommodate a complex roof.
A detailed survey and personalised quote should identify these costs before you commit to an installation.
The best solar panel installer for your home will be transparent about every cost throughout, clearly explaining what is included and whether you may need to pay anything extra.
Many UK homes can accommodate around 10 solar panels, although the right number depends on your available roof space, budget and electricity use. Because scaffolding and labour account for part of the installation cost, using the most of your roof space as your budget affords usually offers better long-term value.
You can learn more about our average customers’ solar panel payback period here: Solar bill savings explained
Yes, a well designed solar array can lead to significant savings on your energy bills. This works by:
- Reducing the amount of electricity you need to buy from the grid, and
- Earning you additional income through export payments when surplus electricity is sent to the grid.
With Good Energy, export payments can be added directly to your energy bill credit.
Your savings will depend on how much electricity your system generates and how much you use while it is available. Additionally, a battery can help you store surplus solar electricity to use later.
Your savings will depend on your system size, how you use electricity, your tariff rates and more. Based on data from 150 Good Energy solar installations, a typical 10-panel (4.75kWp) solar system could save you up to £852.85 a year through reduced grid usage and earnings from our Solar Savings export tariff, with even greater savings available when you add a battery.
Total annual bill savings are based on average generation data from 150 Good Energy solar installations completed between 2018 and 2025, with an average system size of 4.75kWp (10 panels). The average system is estimated to generate 5,035kWh per year, of which 1,762.25kWh is used at home, reducing electricity bought from the grid, and 3,272kWh is exported through Good Energy’s Solar Savings export tariff at 12p / kWh. Actual savings will vary depending on system size, tariff rates, rooftop orientation, shading and household electricity use. Solar packages start from £6,380, including installation (June 2026). Price varies by property and system specification. See our full workings here.
Additionally, if you install your solar panels and battery through Good Energy, you’ll unlock our Solar Savings Exclusive export tariff for your first 12 months, paying 25p per kWh on exported electricity. Because a battery also allows you to use more of the electricity your panels generate at home, your first-year savings could be significantly higher.
Solar panels may increase your home’s value by making it cheaper to run and improving its energy efficiency rating. Their impact will depend on factors such as the system’s age, condition and expected output, whether you own it outright, and whether warranties and maintenance records can be passed to the buyer. A newer system with battery storage may be particularly appealing, but an increase in value is not guaranteed.
Solar panels generally require relatively little maintenance because they have no moving parts. Occasional cleaning, system monitoring and periodic checks can help identify faults and keep the system performing effectively. Inverters and batteries may need replacing before the panels themselves.
Good Energy offer solar panel maintenance and cleaning, and you can choose one of our three Solar Care packages depending on whether you’re after an annual service, a solar panel clean, or unlimited engineer call outs.
Find out more here: goodenergy.co.uk/solar-care
