How Much Do Solar Panels in the UK Cost? 2024 Prices

Solar panels are a great way to produce renewable electricity for your home, but how much do they cost in the UK, and what factors determine their final price? 

Advances in solar technology have made them more affordable, while government schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee can help you earn money and shorten the payback period. This article will explore the costs of buying and installing a solar panel system, including an optional solar battery, and examine the savings and financial benefits that come with this.

To help you navigate this process, GreenMatch can provide you with up to 4 solar panel quotes from top-rated installers. You can compare their offers and choose the one that suits your needs and budget. This can save you days of research and secure you the best deal possible. Click below to get your free quotes.

As of April 2024, average solar panel costs in the UK typically range from £2,500 - £10,500, including supply and installation, depending on the size of the system, along with other factors.

One of the most common domestic sizes is a 4 kilowatt (kW) solar panel system, which costs around £5,000 - £6,000 (incl. supply and installation) and will cover around 16 square metres of your roof. If you opt for solar panels with a larger than average kW size, for example, 12kW costs can go up to £12,000 - £13,000. Although it is possible to opt for cheap solar panels, this is generally not recommended as they are less efficient and have shorter warranty periods.

The system you require may vary based on your energy consumption which is why we’ve broken down the estimated costs for each household size in the table below. Typically, per year, smaller homes consume an average of 1,800kWh, while medium homes consume approximately 2,700kWh, and large homes usually 4,100kWh or more.

While global solar panel costs have significantly decreased over the past decade, the trajectory in the UK has been less consistent. 

Despite fluctuations, UK government data indicated an overall increase in solar panel prices from 2013 to 2023. In 2024, however, we saw a decrease in the cost of solar panels. The price seems to be back at the level it was before COVID-19. Indicating that the industry has finally recovered.

The prices we’ve listed in this article are estimates based on data released by the UK government and the ​​Microgeneration Certification Scheme. If you’re looking for more accurate and specific pricing for your unique home situation, then we recommend comparing quotes from trusted installers.

Use our free service and get the most competitively priced quotes from up to 4 trusted solar panel installers today. Don’t waste hours of your life researching and vetting local installers, simply complete our 30-second form and we’ll do the rest. The best part is that any quotes you receive are free and come with no obligation to accept. Click the button below to get started.

The UK offers several government grants and schemes to promote solar panel use and reduce carbon emissions. 

These include free solar panel grants, loans, and VAT reductions, each with different application processes and eligibility criteria. Below we've provided an overview of some of the most notable grants available today. 

*Available solar panel grants in the UK as of July 2024

In the UK, the typical break-even time for solar panels is 8 to 10 years. However, this depends on the size of your solar panel system, your installation costs, the export tariff, your energy consumption and electricity prices at the moment. 

10 years may sound like a long time, but you should consider that most solar panels have warranties for 25 years or more. This means that after the first 10 years, your system will have paid for itself, and you will enjoy essentially free solar power for another 15 years. You can see some examples in the graph below:

Prices and savings figures shown are estimates. For the best prices we recommend contacting professional installers

*The figures in the graph and table above are calculated based on the national average household energy consumption, an example SEG tariff rate (5.5p/kWh), and the current price of electricity (Ofgem). This is a broad estimate and figures may vary according to the size, type, and quality of the solar panel system, as well as export tariffs.

You can cut down on your electricity bills with the use of solar panels. The electricity that you use when your panels are active is entirely free, and it can result in annual savings of £440 - £1,005, as of April 2024. Of course, the specifications of every household are necessary to be precise in the estimation. You can see some examples of what you could save in the graph below:

*The figures in the graph and table above are calculated based on the national average household energy consumption, an example SEG tariff rate (5.5p/kWh), and the current price of electricity (Ofgem). This is a broad estimate and figures may vary according to the size, type, and quality of the solar panel system, as well as export tariffs.

To maximise savings from solar panel installations, it's important to optimise your electricity usage during peak generation periods. Using appliances and devices during daylight hours when solar panels are actively producing electricity can significantly reduce reliance on the grid and enhance overall savings. 

Additionally, investing in a solar battery to store excess solar panel energy allows you to store excess energy for later use, particularly during periods of low sunlight or high energy demand.

Average installation costs in the UK will also include labour costs. There are two common ways of calculating the labour costs for solar panel installations in the UK:

The most common way to calculate the labour costs of a solar panel installation is to charge 20 pence per watt. So, for a 4kW system, you would be paying 20 pence for 4000 watts, resulting in £800.

While it is possible to avoid labour costs by installing a DIY solar system, there are downsides to this. Namely, you may not qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee earning without an MCS-accredited installer. Aside from that, it is also a difficult and potentially dangerous undertaking.

How much does a solar panel cost in the UK, really? As we've already seen, they cost quite a bit upfront, but are there any other hidden costs?

There are two other potential costs to consider before installing solar panels: maintenance and repair.

For general maintenance and check-ups, you can ask your installer or a certified professional for an annual service, which typically costs between £100 and £200 (about £9.50 per panel). Alternatively, you can also do it yourself for free. While annual servicing isn't always required, many installers recommend it to monitor any changes in condition. Most solar systems come with some form of monitoring - normally from data gathered by the inverter. It is relatively easy to check in on this once a month to detect any serious problems yourself.

Solar panels are low maintenance due to having no moving parts, so repairs are rarely needed. However, the inverter will need replacement after 10-15 years, costing between £500 and £1,500. Additionally, most top solar manufacturers offer warranties of 20–25 years, likely covering any issues. Be sure to check the warranty terms and conditions beforehand. Today, some microinverter companies offer 25-year warranties. In this case, you wouldn't need an inverter replacement.

Before deciding to move forward with the installation process, you’ll want to know what it entails. A solar panel installation in the UK occurs in the following steps:

Getting an experienced, qualified installer ensures that these steps are carried out properly. However, finding one by yourself can be difficult and take up hours of your time. That's why we at GreenMatch offer an exclusive service that lets you compare tailor-made quotes from the top-rated installers around your area. 

Fill in our 30-second form, and before long, you'll have up to 4 quotes to compare. Get your quotes from GreenMatch to save yourself time and money. Simply click the button below to get started. 

The estimated costs of solar panels mentioned in the table are typically what you can expect based on the system you choose. However, the cost of installing solar panels for your specific home will depend on the following factors:

Solar panels come in various sizes and the right solar panel system size depends on the size of the home and individual electricity consumption requirements. Simply put, the larger the solar panel system is, the higher the installation cost. An average system size of 4kW will cost around £5,000 - £6,000 including installation. It’s also important to note that generally, the price per kW decreases the larger your system size is.

The three most common types of solar panels used for domestic purposes are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film solar panels. Monocrystalline panels, also known as black solar panels, are the best since they have the highest solar panel efficiency, but they also cost more. Monocrystalline solar panels cost £1 to £1.50 per watt, whereas a polycrystalline panel costs £0.90 to £1 per watt.

Another factor that affects the cost of solar panels is the ease of installation. It is possible to either install the solar panels yourself or professionally. When installing it yourself, you have to take into account the number of panels, the angling of the panels (the best angle for solar panels in the UK is between 30° and 40°) and the strength of the roof.

However, despite being able to do the installation yourself, you still need to hire a professional to certify your solar panel system if you want to benefit from the Smart Export Guarantee to earn money when you send energy back to the grid.

If you’re looking to install additional components while installing the solar panels, this will increase your cost of equipment but can decrease the installation costs. Additional components can include pigeon-proofing, costing up to £600, or solar batteries, which typically cost between £2,500 - £10,000. For those with flat roofs, additional mounting equipment can cost £100 - £300 per panel. 

Typically, it is best to combine them with installing the panels so that you can decrease the overall installation cost.

The price of installing solar panels will usually include labour costs, however, this will change based on the location and the per hour rate of labour in your area. Typically it costs between £300 - £500 for a person per day and this can be higher or lower based on your location in the UK.  Normally the cost quoted for a system in cost per Watt includes all costs including labor.

We asked solar panel expert Joshua M. Pearce, Ph.D more about what you can expect from a solar panel installation in the UK:

The price of a solar panel system and battery ranges from £12,000 - £19,500 for the average UK home. This is because the average home would require a 3kW to 4kW system and a matching battery size (10kW to 20kW lithium-ion battery or twice that for lead).

Adding a solar battery storage system will inevitably increase the overall costs of your solar panel investment, but it can also mean that you get even more out of your solar panels by using stored electricity when the sun has gone down. The size solar battery you need in the UK can vary based on your home energy consumption.

Solar battery storage prices can range between £2,500 and £10,000, depending on the battery type, lifespan, and quality. The best solar batteries tend to start around £6,000 upwards. So, if you want to include a storage solution be prepared to pay more up-front. However, once installed, a solar battery could help reduce your electricity bill by as much as 70%, according to the Energy Savings Trust.

Is it worth it to buy solar panels? Well, as of April 2024, the average 4kW system costing £5,000 - £6,000 could yield annual savings of around £660, with a break-even point of approximately 8 years.

You can also capitalise on various grants, including the ECO4, to help cover the costs of installation. Once installer, the Smart Export Guarantee can potentially gain you up to another £85 per year, based on an example tariff of 5.5p/kWh. 

What's more, research from Admiral Money shows they can raise property value by up to 25%. The appeal of lower energy bills and environmental sustainability enhances property value for buyers.

If you're looking to invest in solar panels, GreenMatch can provide up to 4 quotes from reliable installers based in and around your area. With multiple quotes to compare, you are best placed to find a great deal. 

Fill out our 30-second form to get started and save hours on research and vetting installers by yourself. Click below to begin.