Costs & savings
How much do solar panels cost in the UK in 2026?
Typical installed prices for 3 kW to 6 kW systems, what drives the quote up or down, and how long the payback really takes.
The short answer
A typical UK home pays between £5,000 and £11,000 for a fully installed solar system, before any battery. Most three-bedroom houses land on a 4 kW to 5 kW array costing roughly £7,000 to £9,000 fitted by an MCS-certified installer.
What you actually pay for
- Panels — usually 20–35% of the bill. Premium modules add £500–£1,500 over budget tiers on a typical roof.
- Inverter — £700–£1,600 depending on whether you take a string inverter or microinverters.
- Scaffolding and labour — often £1,500–£2,500, and the main reason a difficult roof costs more.
- Battery storage — £2,500–£6,000 extra, and optional. It raises savings but lengthens payback.
What pushes a quote higher
Steep or tiled roofs, three-storey properties, two separate roof faces, older consumer units needing an upgrade, and long cable runs to the inverter all add cost. Scaffolding on a terrace with no side access is a common surprise.
Payback in plain terms
With a 4 kW system at £8,000, average generation of around 3,400 kWh a year, and typical self-consumption plus Smart Export Guarantee income, most households see £550–£750 a year back. That puts payback in the 11 to 14 year range, against a panel life of 25 years or more.
Getting a fair price
Always compare at least three quotes, insist on MCS certification, and check the quote lists panel model, inverter model, expected annual generation and the warranty terms in writing. If a quote is missing any of those, it is not a quote — it is a sales pitch.