How much do solar panels cost in the UK?

Costs
Last updated on 12 December 202414 min read

Here’s how much solar panels cost, the factors that influence this price, and what to do if the upfront cost is too high.

Josh Jackman
Written byJosh Jackman
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Solar panel costs: at a glance

🌞 A solar panel system costs about £9,000 for the typical three-bedroom home

The average cost of a 3kWp solar panel system for a typical property with two or three bedrooms is about £9,000, including installation.

This amount is just an estimate, and can vary widely on a whole range of factors, including the size of your system and the complexity of the installation.

🏠 Roof-mounted systems are the cheapest type, especially compared to solar tiles

When it comes to affordability, a roof-mounted system is a better choice than ground-mounted.

And solar tiles cost around 300% more than rooftop panels, mostly because installing them involves replacing an entire roof.

This usually takes weeks rather than days, and requires more materials, labour, and scaffolding than a standard job.

🤔 Labour and scaffolding are the biggest cost factors

In most cases, the biggest single contributing factor to the total cost of a solar panel installation is the labour and scaffolding.

This cost can vary significantly, depending on how accessible your roof is. The harder the roof is to reach, the more expensive the scaffolding setup becomes.

Adding a few panels to your system rarely makes a huge difference to cost, but if your scaffolding changes from something routine to something highly specialised, this can add thousands of pounds to the overall price.

🔋 A battery will add around £2,000 to the cost, if you get it at the same time

Opting for battery storage will usually add a chunk to the overall price, as it costs around £2,000 to £3,000 for a 5kWh battery – but a battery provides several excellent benefits.

With a battery, any electricity you don’t use instantly is stored, ready to be called on after the sun goes down.

A battery also gives you access to some of the best solar export tariffs.

💷 You'll usually need to pay for a replacement battery and inverter after 10-12 years

Unless you're signed up to Sunsave Plus, you'll have to buy a new battery and inverter when they stop functioning properly, which usually happens after 10-12 years.

This will typically cost you thousands of pounds.

Solar panels can massively reduce your electricity bills and carbon footprint, while lessening the impact of any energy price rises – but the upfront cost can be a major hurdle.

In this guide, we'll explain how much solar panels cost, how different factors affect the price you’ll pay, and why it's a worthwhile investment for your home and the planet.

If you’re wondering how much a solar & battery system could save you, answer a few quick questions below and we’ll provide you with an estimate.

How much do solar panels cost?

Property size Annual electricity usage (kWh) System size (kWp) No. of solar panels (430W) Estimated cost Annual CO2 savings (kg)
2-3 bedrooms 2,700 3 7 £9,000 641
4-5 bedrooms 4,100 5.2 12 £10,500 1,100
6+ bedrooms 6,500 8.2 19 £13,500 1,741
Source: Sunsave data, 2024

The average cost of a 3kWp solar panel system for a typical property with two or three bedrooms is about £9,000, including installation. This jumps up to around £11,000 if you’re adding a 5kWh battery. 

This is a great time to get a solar & battery system, as there’s currently 0% VAT on both panels and batteries.

These costs are of course just estimates, and can vary widely on a whole range of factors, including the size of your system and the complexity of the installation.

If they seem high, you can use Sunsave Plus to eliminate the upfront cost entirely.

The UK’s first solar subscription provides monitoring and maintenance, free replacements for your battery and inverter, insurance against damage, fire, and theft, and downtime payments if your system doesn’t work.

It also comes with the best-in-class kit that will work seamlessly, look excellent, and save you money from day one.

Verified expert

There are certain solar panel costs that are ‘fixed’, meaning they generally stay the same regardless of how many solar panels you install. This includes labour, scaffolding, plus your inverter and battery. In many cases, adding a few extra solar panels to your system doesn’t add as much to the cost as you might think, whereas it has a big impact on your savings.

Alfie Ireland, Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie Ireland

Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie has worked in green tech for over a decade. During his four years at OVO, he helped develop the world’s largest domestic vehicle-to-grid trial.

Solar panel costs per m²

Solar panels cost £438 per m² on average for a 12-panel system, which is typically the best choice for a four-bedroom household.

Since this figure includes installation costs like scaffolding, it drops as you add more solar panels to your project – so however many panels you're planning on buying, you should ideally have them installed at the same time.

Solar panel costs by installation type

Roof-mounted
Flat roof
Roof-integrated
Solar tiles
Ground-mounted
Cost of a 3kWp system
£9,000
£11,250
£10,000
£36,000
£12,100

A roof-mounted system is the best choice for most households when it comes to costs, other than Sunsave Plus, which avoids the upfront cost completely.

Generally, flat roof installations cost 25% more than a standard rooftop installation. As your installer won't be able to drill into the roof without creating a high chance of leaks, they'll use expensive ballasts to keep your panels in place.

This extra cost is worth it to avoid the price of water damage, but it's almost always better to simply avoid putting a system on a domestic flat roof.

Roof-integrated systems typically cost 11% more than getting rooftop panels, to pay for the time and skill it takes to remove the right roof tiles and fit panels flush with the other tiles.

Solar tiles cost around 300% more than rooftop panels, mostly because installing them involves replacing an entire roof. This usually takes weeks rather than days, and requires more materials, labour, and scaffolding than a standard job.

Getting ground-mounted solar panels is about 34% more expensive than buying a rooftop system because it takes more time and money to secure panels to the earth, and to do so at the right angle.

You'll also have to apply for planning permission, which you normally won't need if you're getting solar panels on your roof.

Black solar panels on a brown tiled roof, under brick chimneys and a blue sky

The average cost of a 3kWp solar panel system is £9,000

Why are solar panels so expensive?

Solar panels are expensive because they require a complex installation that generally takes place on your roof.

This process throws up a large number of associated costs that you have to pay if you want your system to work effectively.

As well as the panels, you’ll pay for materials like the inverter, cables, racks, and potentially a solar battery, as well as for business costs including the labour, scaffolding, electrical expertise, and installer overheads.

These are unavoidable costs. The roof is usually the best place for your solar panels, and unless you’re certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or Flexi-Orb, you shouldn’t install the panels yourself.

🤔 Thinking of going solar? Here's why a larger system makes sense ⬇️

When you’re switching to solar, it's worth getting as large a solar & battery system as you can.

A few extra solar panels won't add much to the overall cost, but in most cases they'll have a big impact on your energy bill savings.

And for the majority of homes, a larger battery will significantly increase the value you get from your solar panels.

To understand all the key reasons in detail, check out the articles below.

The cost of solar panels over the years, 1975-2023

The cost of solar panels has fallen dramatically over the past few decades.

Customers across the world paid $130.70 (£102.89) per watt in 1975 – meaning a 3kWp system would've cost you £297,750, with all prices adjusted for inflation.

That figure has plummeted by 99.8% since then, with the average global price of solar now standing at just 26¢ (21p) per watt.

This massive drop is down to increased manufacturing capacity, improved processes, increasingly cheap materials, and skyrocketing demand, as the solar panel has evolved from a quirky piece of promising technology to a transformative addition to the energy mix.

Solar is becoming increasingly popular in the UK, and currently more than 5% of the country's households have a solar panel system.

However, this long-term decline in solar panel costs looks like it's flatlining, and potentially start to increase. You can find out more in our article: Will solar panels get cheaper?

Black solar panels on a house's roof in the UK, blue sky in background, bar chart on the right hand side showing lower energy bills after getting solar

The UK's first solar subscription

  • No upfront cost
  • Fixed monthly fee
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What factors make up the cost of solar panels?

The biggest factor in determining the cost of your solar panels is usually labour and scaffolding.

This is because it's both extremely variable and pretty expensive, compared to the other aspects of your installation – as you can see in the chart below.

Solar panel cost breakdown, 2024

As you can also see in this chart, there are plenty of other important – and costly – parts of a solar panel installation.

Let's go into more detail about each factor.

1. Labour and scaffolding

In most cases, the biggest single contributing factor to the total cost of a solar panel installation is the labour and scaffolding.

This cost can vary significantly, depending on how accessible your roof is. The harder the roof is to reach, the more expensive the scaffolding setup becomes.

Adding a few panels to your system rarely makes a huge difference to cost, but if your scaffolding changes from something routine to something highly specialised, this can add thousands of pounds to the overall price.

For example, the scaffolding needs to rest on the ground, and if there's a low roof in its way (e.g. from a conservatory or extension), your installer may need to 'bridge' over it, which makes the project more complex and expensive.

At the same time, you may also pay more if your scaffolding is on the bigger side, or if the installers have limited access to your home – for instance, if it’s a terrace house.

There are also specific roof features that can make the layout of your panels more complicated, which can mean more railings, and therefore a higher price.

These features include:

  • Velux windows, also known as skylights
  • Chimneys
  • Pipes, e.g. soil vent pipes or flue pipes
  • Dormers
  • Gable roofs

For more information, check out our guide to how solar panels are installed.

2. Battery storage

The next biggest chunk of the total cost is usually the battery hardware.

Opting for battery storage adds around £2,000 to £3,000 to the overall price, although it can be more than this if you choose a larger battery (i.e. 10kWh or more).

However, a battery is well worth it, as it provides several excellent benefits.

Without a battery, all the electricity your solar panels generate must be used at the moment it’s created, otherwise it’s automatically sold to the grid. This makes it tricky for people who aren’t home much during the day to actually make use of their solar panels. 

With a battery, any electricity you don’t use instantly is stored, ready to be called on after the sun goes down. A battery also gives you access to some of the best solar export tariffs.

It's also possible to get a storage battery that can provide emergency power during outages, although we generally don't recommend this.

EPS for solar is rarely necessary in the UK, because the typical home is barely affected by power cuts, if at all.

The average household experiences 0.4 outages per year, and loses electricity for around 35 minutes in total, according to the latest Ofgem report.

3. The number of solar panels

Another deciding factor behind your system's cost is the number of solar panels.

The more solar panels you buy, the higher the price tag, as you'll have to pay for more brackets and possibly a larger inverter – as well as a bigger solar battery, if you get one.

However, more panels also means proportionally more savings, since most of the associated costs of installation – like scaffolding, labour, and vehicle expenses – don't typically increase by as much as the amount an extra solar panel will save you.

For that reason, it's generally worth maximising the space on your rooftop and getting as many solar panels as possible.

To find out how much a solar & battery system could save you, fill in a few details below and we'll generate an estimate for you.

4. Solar panel type and quality

The two most common types of solar panels are monocrystalline and polycrystalline, and your choice will affect the overall cost. It’ll also affect your system’s efficiency – that is, how much of the light that hits your panels they can transform into electricity.

Monocrystalline panels are more expensive but have a higher efficiency of up to 24%. As each panel is made from a single silicon crystal – hence ‘mono’ – these panels have a black colour and sleek appearance.

Polycrystalline panels are more budget-friendly, but less efficient – usually around 15%. These panels are made from several blended silicone fragments, so have a speckled,  blue-tinged colour, and a slightly less glossy appearance. 

However, even if you settle on getting monocrystalline panels, these can obviously range in quality. Some are far more efficient and more powerful than others, which will have an impact on cost.

5. Inverter type and quality

A standard string inverter that’s responsible for the entire solar panel system is usually less expensive than microinverters, which are installed on every single panel.

Microinverters will ensure that your system is more efficient, but there’s a significantly larger initial cost. 

In total, it'll typically cost you around 20-30% more to get microinverters rather than a string inverter.

Verified expert

For roofs with significant amounts of shading, microinverters are a much more sophisticated solution than optimisers. They’re about three times the price of optimisers, but you save on not having to buy a string inverter. You also get what you pay for; microinverters will significantly increase the amount of electricity your system can generate.

Alfie Ireland, Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie Ireland

Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie has worked in green tech for over a decade. During his four years at OVO, he helped develop the world’s largest domestic vehicle-to-grid trial.

6. Racking

Racking is the network of clamps, flashings, mounts, and rails that will securely hold your solar panels for the next few decades.

Considering its importance to your system, racking makes up a small proportion of the total cost of your installation, at just 7%.

This means an average household will typically pay between £600 and £1,000 for racking, though your total will depend on the number of panels, the shape of your roof, and the type of roof tiles you have.

Slate tiles, for instance, make for a trickier racking process – but the right installer will ensure your panels are fitted safely while leaving your roof intact.

7. Local delivery & logistics

If an installer has to travel relatively far to get to you, they'll charge you more, so you should generally choose a local installer.

However, installers don't tend to take jobs that are especially far away, as it raises their costs.

This in turn means they have to increase their prices – which makes them uncompetitive against local installers.

8. Accreditations & DNO approval

You want your installer to have all the right accreditations, as this proves they're a top-tier company.

Accreditations are baked into the prices offered by trustworthy installers, meaning you might pay more – but when you're making a significant change to your home in order to save hundreds of pounds every year for decades, it's worth the extra initial cost.

A good installer will also handle your G98 or G99 application for you.

If your inverter’s maximum capacity is less than 3.68kW on a single-phase system, your installer can move ahead without getting approval from your region's Distribution Network Operator (DNO), which runs the hardware that provides your area of the UK with electricity.

They'll then send a completed G98 form to your DNO within 28 days of switching on your system.

However, you or your installer must submit a G99 application to the DNO if your inverter’s maximum capacity is more than 3.68kW per phase.

This application makes your DNO aware of the system, so it can take the extra electricity into account while running its part of the grid.

DNOs generally accept G99 applications, but not always – and a rejection can lead to increased costs if more work is required.

For instance, if you need to switch your home to three-phase electricity to get your G99 approved, it’ll cost around £5,700.

Verified expert

If your inverter is larger than 3.68kW then you will need DNO approval, but Sunsave will take care of everything. We’ll apply for the G99 on your behalf, and if the grid requires, we can limit export from your inverter at the point of installation - so you can use its full power at home, whilst still meeting the export requirements of the grid.

Alfie Ireland, Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie Ireland

Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie has worked in green tech for over a decade. During his four years at OVO, he helped develop the world’s largest domestic vehicle-to-grid trial.

How much money do solar panels save you?

A solar & battery system will reduce your electricity bills by 103%, on average, which means you across a year you actually earn more than you spend.

This might sound too good to be true, but it’s all because of the high performance of modern solar panels and storage batteries, as well as export income. The panels will dramatically reduce the amount of electricity you buy from the grid, and you’ll also earn money by selling your unused electricity to the grid.

These savings are based on a household experiencing average UK irradiance with a 4.4kWp solar panel system and a 5.2kWh battery, using 3,500kWh of electricity each year and signed up to the Intelligent Octopus Flux export tariff.

Bar chart showing a vast reduction in energy bill savings once someone switches to solar (£783 vs -£29)

What solar export tariffs are available?

Provider Name of tariff Rate (p/kWh) Customers only? Avg annual income**
Octopus Intelligent Octopus Flux 29.4* Yes £350
Octopus Octopus Flux 26* Yes £317
E.ON Next Export Premium v2 21 Yes £266
OVO OVO SEG Tariff (exclusive) 20 Yes £254
EDF Empower Exclusive 20 Yes £254
So Energy So Bright 20 Yes £254
E.ON Next Export Exclusive 16.5 Yes £209
British Gas Export and Earn Plus 15.1 Yes £192
Octopus Outgoing Fixed 15 Yes £190
ScottishPower SmartGen+ 15 Yes £190
Good Energy Solar Savings 15 Yes £190
OVO OVO SEG Tariff 15 Yes £190
Tables notes and sources

* Time of use tariffs pay different amounts depending on the time of day and their location in the UK. For those tariffs, we've given the average peak rate.

** These figures are based on a home with a 4.4kWp system, a 5.2kWh battery, an annual consumption of 3,500kWh, and typical UK solar irradiance (850kWh/kWp), which exports 34% of its solar electricity. Intelligent Octopus Flux and Octopus Flux generate additional income by using electricity arbitrage - that is, charging from the grid at cheaper times, then exporting back to the grid at more profitable times. We've used lower rates to estimate the income from these tariffs, to be conservative.

You can use any of these best export tariffs to sell your excess electricity to the grid.

Every large supplier must now provide a solar export tariff, thanks to the government-backed Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), though some suppliers also offer more profitable rates that usually require you to become a customer.

Verified expert

The best solar export tariff for your household depends on a few factors. For instance, if you have a heat pump and/or an electric car with your solar panels, it could be worth considering an export tariff like Octopus Outgoing and combining it with import tariffs like Octopus Go or Cosy Octopus. At Sunsave, we’ll always recommend an export tariff that’s best for you.

Alfie Ireland, Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie Ireland

Alfie Ireland

Alfie has worked in green tech for over a decade. During his four years at OVO, he helped develop the world’s largest domestic vehicle-to-grid trial.

How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?

A solar & battery system takes just under eight years to pay for itself, for the average UK household.

This estimate is based on an average of 32 different solar & battery system designs from Sunsave’s database, for homes from all over England and Wales. Each system uses 430W solar panels and a 5.8kWh battery, and is signed up to the Octopus Flux export tariff.

Your payback period can rise or fall, depending on multiple factors. These include the initial cost of the system, the panels’ electricity generation, local electricity rates, and the export tariff.

This is also just an average – your system's break-even point will depend on how much energy solar panels can produce on your roof, so it may be considerably shorter if you live in a sunny location and own a roof that's well-suited to solar panels.

Here are several solar & battery designs we’ve created, with their different payback periods.

Location
System size (kWp)
Total annual savings
Payback period (years)
Wiltshire
5.59
£1,371
5.2
Bedfordshire
5.16
£1,191
5.8
Suffolk
4.3
£1,036
6.3
Merseyside
4.73
£1,044
6.9
Somerset
8.6
£1,502
7.3
Tyne and Wear
6.88
£1,112
7.8
Greater Manchester
5.16
£1,020
8.8

If you’d like to learn more, read our guide that explains how long solar panels last after their break-even point.

Verified expert

Any household appliance that heats or cools should be used as efficiently as possible to keep running costs low. Some of the most energy-hungry everyday appliances include washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers and EV chargers. If your home has solar panels, these are the things to use in the middle of the day when you’re generating the most energy.

Headshot of Dr Steve Buckley, Head of Data Science

Dr. Steve Buckley

Energy Doctor and Head of Data Science at Loop

With a background in statistics and data science, Steve is in charge of product direction at Loop and has worked at multiple successful startups.

Solar with heat pumps and EVs

Powering your heat pump and electric vehicle with electricity generated by your own solar panels is a fantastic way to save money on your heating and transport costs.

Unless you're on a solar export tariff which charges exactly the same rate for imports and exports (such as Intelligent Octopus Flux), consuming the electricity your panels produce is usually better than sending it to the grid, since other tariffs don’t offer identical import and export prices.

And using your own solar generation is much easier to do when your heating and car run on electricity – though of course, this approach does require you to pay for a heat pump, electric vehicle, and EV charger.

Purchases of both technologies are rising rapidly though, as homeowners move to save money on their energy and fuel bills, while also cutting their carbon footprints.

Verified expert

If you’re thinking about electrifying your heating by switching to a heat pump, solar panels are a no-brainer. A heat pump will dramatically increase the amount of electricity your household uses, but solar panels can step in and provide a big chunk of it. You also don’t need to get a specific, “solar-compatible” heat pump - all heat pumps work with solar panels.

Alfie Ireland, Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie Ireland

Head of Operations & Technical at Sunsave

Alfie has worked in green tech for over a decade. During his four years at OVO, he helped develop the world’s largest domestic vehicle-to-grid trial.

How to keep the costs of solar panels down

If you're looking to save money on solar panels, try these strategies:

  • Look into no-upfront-cost solar panels
  • See if you’re eligible for a government grant
  • Check out your local Solar Together scheme
  • Avoid cheap solar panels

Look into no-upfront-cost solar panels

You can get solar panels at no upfront cost with a subscription like Sunsave Plus, which offers all the benefits of going solar without the burden of the initial payment.

With Sunsave Plus you’ll the best-in-class kit, all in one easy package that works seamlessly, looks excellent, and can save you money from day one.

Sunsave Plus also comes with the 20-year Sunsave Guarantee, which provides monitoring and maintenance, free replacements for your battery and inverter, insurance against damage, fire, and theft, and downtime payments if your system doesn’t work.

To learn more about no-upfront-cost solar panels, check out our general guide to solar panel loans.

See if you’re eligible for a government grant

There are several grants and schemes on offer which can help with the cost of solar panels. For instance, schemes like the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) focus on improvements to energy efficiency for low-income households and some social housing tenants.

The Home Upgrade Grant and PPA schemes also offer other forms of financial support, making solar installations more accessible for certain groups of people.

To find out if you could be eligible for a solar panel grant, click the button below to try out our eligibility checker.

Check out your local Solar Together scheme

Check if your local area has signed up for the Solar Together scheme.

This community-based programme negotiates group discounts for solar panel installations, making them more affordable for individual homeowners – though you’ll still need to pay an upfront cost.

To find out more, read our full guide to Solar Together.

Avoid cheap solar panels

Second-hand or cheap solar panels are always attractive to cost-conscious customers – but buy them at your peril.

Purchasing them will usually just kick the cost further down the line, since low-cost panels that other people don’t want will almost always be less efficient, less effective, and less long-lasting.

This means you probably won’t break even on them, and will end up buying another set of panels before too long.

If you’re investing in your future, you should do it with high-quality equipment.

Solar panel maintenance costs

Solar panel maintenance can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds over your panels’ lifespan, if you don’t have a maintenance plan in place.

Some technical experts in the industry estimate that a solar & battery system in the UK will need three maintenance call-outs across a 20-year period - one for the panels, one for the battery, and one for the inverter.

Fortunately, this is hassle you can avoid by opting for Sunsave Plus instead – more on that below.

Solar panel servicing

Solar panels don't have any moving parts, which means they rarely encounter technical problems, though they're still vulnerable to impact damage from the likes of falling branches and debris.

Unfortunately, the inverter is a much weaker part of the system, with more than 10% of solar owners saying it had caused them problems, according to Which?.

Sunsave Plus, on the other hand, comes with a 20-year monitoring & maintenance package called the Sunsave Guarantee.

This unique offering also includes a free replacement inverter and battery, insurance, and downtime cover – all of which means you don’t need to worry about finding someone to fix your panels, should they stop working.

If you don't opt for Sunsave Plus, the MCS recommends that you get an ‘intermediate’ maintenance check from an MCS-certified technician every 10 years, and a ‘full’ maintenance check every 15 years. These checks also include your inverter.

These checks ensure that everything is functioning correctly and safely, potentially saving you from further repair or replacement costs in the long run.

If something does go wrong and you need to call out someone for repairs, this can typically cost around £100, although obviously it depends on the nature of the issue.

Solar panel cleaning

Solar panels in the UK come with a hydrophobic coating, meaning rainwater runs off them like a duck’s back – but even better, since the water also takes any dust, dirt, and detritus with it.

The main silver lining of living in this wet country is that you'll only need to give them a clean every couple of years, unless you live in a particularly dusty area or on the coast.

Use an soft, extendable clearing brush, as it’s much safer than going on the roof, and do so in line with the manufacturer's recommendations, so you don’t void your panels' warranty.

Don’t use a pressure washer or soap, as they may damage the panels or leave a residue, respectively.

You can also hire someone to do it professionally, which will usually cost around £10 per panel – so the total cost will depend on how many panels you have.

If it snows on your panels, don't brush it off, as this will probably cause them damage. It'll melt on its own.

To learn more, read our guide to solar panel cleaning.

Next steps

In the great majority of cases, solar panels come at a high upfront cost, with households spending thousands of pounds before they can start saving.

It's definitely worth the investment, as solar panels can help you cut your electricity bills by hundreds of pounds per year, recoup their initial cost decades before they stop producing electricity, and even raise your home's value.

But if you can't afford to get a system installed on your roof, you can't benefit. Sunsave Plus is our solution to this problem, as it provides you with best-in-class kit with no upfront cost - instead, you pay a fixed monthly fee for 20 years.

If you would like to see the savings you could get from a solar & battery system, just answer a few quick questions below and we’ll provide an estimate.

Solar panel costs: FAQs

Are solar panels in the UK worth it?

Although the UK isn't the sunniest place, solar panels are still worth the investment. They work well, even on cloudy days, to help slash your electricity bills and carbon emissions, making them good for both your wallet and the planet.

Plus, Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariffs and other export rates will pay you for the electricity you don't use. So if you're thinking green and planning long-term, solar panels are definitely worth it.

How much do solar panels cost for a three-bedroom house in the UK?

A three-bedroom house in the UK would typically need a 3kWp solar panel system, which costs around £9,000. However, this price can vary widely based on the quality of the panels and the complexity of the installation, amongst other things. 

While this might sound pricey, remember that solar panels can significantly reduce your electricity bills. They're also an eco-friendly choice, helping you lower your carbon footprint. It's a large upfront investment, but one that pays off in the long run.

How much does a 3kW solar panel cost in the UK?

A 3kWp solar panel system (comprising seven 430 W solar panels) typically costs around £9,000 in the UK, including installation and VAT.

It's a significant upfront investment, but your new solar panel system will start saving you money on your electricity bills immediately, and it will reduce your annual carbon footprint.

How much does one solar panel cost in the UK?

One solar panel costs around £300-£450 in the UK if you buy wholesale, but only companies can get this price – and unless you’re a certified solar engineer, you’ll also have to pay for the installation process.

This usually adds thousands of pounds onto the cost, since you’ll have to pay for the labour, scaffolding, and electrical expertise of your installers.

The other equipment you need alongside solar panels – like cables, racks, and the inverter, – will also add to the price.

The good news is the cost of adding an extra solar panel to your project will still cost £300-£450, so it’s relatively cheap to maximise your roof space – and your savings.

Can I get free solar panels in the UK?

It’s possible to get free solar panels in the UK, though only if you’re eligible for help from government grants like the Home Upgrade Grant and ECO4 scheme.

These programmes are only open to homes which aren’t connected to the gas grid or are electrically heated, respectively, and can pay the entire cost of your solar installation.

If you don’t qualify for either of these initiatives, consider Sunsave Plus, a tailored solar & battery subscription that comes with monitoring and maintenance, all for no upfront cost.

How many solar panels do I need for a four-bedroom house in the UK?

You’ll generally need 12 solar panels for a four-bedroom house in the UK, assuming each panel has a peak power output of 430 watts.

This creates a 5.2kWp system, which will supply you with 4,420kWh per year, on average – more than enough to power the typical four-bedroom home.

This type of system will usually cost around £10,500, or £12,500 if you want to add a solar battery to gain access to the best export tariffs and increased savings.

Is a 12kW system enough to run a house?

A 12kW solar panel system is absolutely enough for most households in the UK, cutting hundreds of pounds from your annual electricity costs in the process – but you'll still need the grid sometimes.

After all, solar panels don't generate electricity after the sun goes down each day, and also produce less electricity during winters. For a large chunk of the time though, a 12kW system will run your home's electricity.

And though the average system is much smaller, you should go big if you can afford to. The more solar panels you can put on your roof, the better for your bank balance in the long term.

How much is the grant for solar panels in the UK?

There are a few grants in the UK that can get you heavily discounted or completely free solar panels, but they come with strict requirements.

A government scheme called ECO4 provides solar panels to electrically heated, low-income households with a vulnerable resident who receives a qualifying benefit.

You may also be able to qualify for the Home Upgrade Grant, another government initiative that's provided funding to local authorities around England to spend on energy-efficient improvements including solar panels.

If you live in a low-income, energy-inefficient household that isn't on the gas grid, you could be eligible.

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Written byJosh Jackman

Josh has written about the rapid rise of home solar for the past five years. His data-driven work has been featured in United Nations and World Health Organisation documents, as well as publications including The Eco Experts, Financial Times, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Times, and The Sun. Josh has also been interviewed as a renewables expert on BBC One’s Rip-Off Britain, ITV1’s Tonight show, and BBC Radio 4 and 5.

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