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How much does solar panel installation cost?
The Federation of Master Builders puts the cost of a home solar panel system, including installation and a battery, at between £4,850 and £13,000 depending on the size of the household [S1]. Your quote depends on the roof, the system size, the panels and whether you add a battery.
Last reviewed:What does a solar panel installation cost?
Solar panels, also called solar PV, turn daylight into electricity for your home. The price depends mainly on how big a system you need and whether you add a battery to store some of the power.
The Federation of Master Builders publishes typical costs by home size, with data correct as of November 2026 [S1].
| Home size | System size and panels | Panels and installation | Battery | Total with battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | 1.5kW, 4 panels [S1] | £3,850 [S1] | £1,000 [S1] | £4,850 [S1] |
| 2 bedrooms | 3kW, 8 panels [S1] | £5,500 [S1] | £2,000 [S1] | £7,500 [S1] |
| 3 bedrooms | 4.5kW, 12 panels [S1] | £7,300 [S1] | £2,500 [S1] | £9,800 [S1] |
| 4+ bedrooms | 6kW, 16 panels [S1] | £9,000 [S1] | £4,000 [S1] | £13,000 [S1] |
| VAT | Energy-saving materials in homes [S2] | Relief at 0% until 31 March 2027 [S2] | Ask how the quote shows it | Check the VAT line |
These are FMB guide figures, not a quote for your home. FMB says the cost depends on the panel brand, the efficiency and power of the panels, the size of the system, the installer and labour costs in your area, and extras such as a battery [S1].
Our solar and EV charger installers page covers the trade. QuoteZila starts in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach first, and anyone in the UK can post a solar job.
What changes your solar quote?
System size. More panels mean more generating power and a higher price. The size that suits you depends on how much electricity you use, when you use it, and how much roof space faces the sun.
Panels and inverter. Panels differ in power and efficiency. The inverter turns the panels' output into the kind of electricity your home uses. Some systems use micro-inverters or optimisers on each panel, which cost more but can help on roofs with some shade.
Battery. A battery stores power generated in the day for use in the evening. FMB's table shows the battery as a separate cost for each home size [S1].
The roof. Pitch, direction, shading, roof covering and the condition of the roof all matter. Fixing panels to slate or plain clay tiles is fiddlier than to large concrete tiles. Flat roofs need frames.
Access. Panels go on at height. Scaffolding is usually needed, and it may be priced in or listed separately.
Wiring route. The cable has to run from the roof to the inverter and on to the consumer unit. A long or awkward route, or a consumer unit that needs work, adds cost.
Is your roof ready for panels?
Panels are fixed to the roof for many years, and taking them off for a roof repair later costs money. FMB's roofing guide suggests booking a professional roof survey if you plan to fit solar panels on an ageing roof [S8].
Before you get quotes, think about:
- slipped, cracked or missing tiles, especially on the slope where panels would go
- the age of the roof covering and the felt or membrane underneath
- chimneys, vents and roof windows that would sit among the panels
- trees or nearby buildings that shade the roof at different times of day
If repairs are needed, it is usually simpler to do them first. Our roofers page covers roof repairs, and the roof repair cost guide explains what changes that price.
Do you need permission?
Planning Portal says installing solar panels on homes may be permitted development, with no need to apply for planning permission, but there are important limits and conditions [S4]. It suggests discussing with your local authority whether all of them will be met [S4]. If your home is listed, in a conservation area or a flat, raise it with the council early.
Electrical Safety First says the building owner is responsible for registering a solar PV system with the local Distribution Network Operator, and a credible installer should be able to do this for you [S5]. Ask each installer to confirm they will handle the registration.
How do export payments work?
When your panels produce more than your home is using, and any battery is full, the extra goes to the grid. Ofgem says the Smart Export Guarantee requires some electricity suppliers to pay small-scale generators for low-carbon electricity exported back to the grid, providing certain criteria are met [S3]. Installations must be in Great Britain [S3].
Ofgem says the suppliers set the rate, contract length and terms, and that SEG rates must always be above zero [S3]. It suggests shopping around for the tariff that suits you [S3]. This guide does not print savings or payback times, because they depend on your energy use, tariff and system.
Why must solar be installed by a professional?
Solar PV is electrical work, and it is fitted on a roof.
Electrical Safety First says it is vitally important to use a skilled, trained and qualified solar PV installer registered with a competent person scheme [S5]. It says the risk of fire from solar panels is low, but problems can come from bad installations, poor connections and cable damage from vermin and weathering [S5]. It recommends having the system inspected and tested at least every five years [S5]. You can read its solar panel safety advice. Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician; NICEIC; NAPIT. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation.
Fitting panels also means working at height. HSE's guidance for workplaces says to avoid work at height where it is reasonably practicable to do so, and otherwise to prevent falls using the right type of equipment [S7]. HSE: work at height. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation. HSE explains more in its introduction to working at height.
This guide does not give any DIY steps for fitting or wiring solar panels.
Battery now or later?
A battery adds a large line to the quote, so some people fit panels first and add a battery later. Others prefer to do it all at once, with one installer and one set of paperwork.
If you might add a battery later, tell the installer now. Ask whether the inverter they are quoting can work with a battery, where a battery would go, and whether the wiring will be left ready. Changing an inverter later adds cost.
If you are fitting a battery from the start, ask where it will sit, how it is protected, and what happens to it during a power cut. Some systems keep certain circuits running, many do not.
What happens on installation day?
Most of the work happens on the roof and around the consumer unit. Expect scaffolding to go up first, then the roof fixings, rails and panels. The installer then runs cables to the inverter, fits any battery, and connects the system to your consumer unit.
Electrical Safety First says the correct type of RCD or RCBO should be used with the PV system, and that this should be checked with the manufacturer [S5]. That is a check for the installer, but it is worth asking what protection they are fitting and why.
At handover, ask for the paperwork for the system, the guarantees, how to read the inverter or app, and what to do if the system shows a fault.
How do you look after the panels?
Electrical Safety First suggests regular visual checks for cracks, breaks, loose connections and cable damage caused by vermin and weathering, and contacting a professional if you spot problems [S5]. Look from the ground or a window. Do not climb onto the roof.
How do you avoid a poor solar deal?
Electrical Safety First says reputable solar installers should be signed up to a consumer code, such as RECC, to prevent pressure-selling tactics [S5]. It says to be suspicious if a company contacts you out of the blue or pushes you to buy quickly, especially with time-limited discounts [S5]. It also warns that low prices may not include all the necessary parts and services [S5].
Citizens Advice suggests trying to get written quotes from at least 3 different traders before you decide on one [S6]. If a deposit is asked for, it suggests not agreeing to more than 25%, and always getting a receipt [S6].
What should a solar quote include?
A clear written quote names:
- the number of panels, their make, model and power
- the inverter make and model, and any optimisers
- the battery make, model and storage size, if included
- where the panels, inverter and battery will go
- scaffolding and roof fixings for your roof covering
- any consumer unit or wiring work needed
- registration with the network operator and paperwork at handover
- the guarantees on panels, inverter, battery and workmanship, in writing
- how VAT is shown
Our solar panel cleaning guide covers looking after panels once they are fitted.
Jobs you might post
These are examples, not taken from real job posts.
- "Three-bed semi, south-west facing rear roof with no shade. Please quote for solar panels with a battery, including scaffolding."
- "Bungalow with a hipped roof. Please advise how many panels would fit and quote with and without a battery."
- "We already have panels and would like to add a battery. Please quote and say whether the inverter needs changing."
Posting a solar panel job
Add photos of each roof slope, a photo of your consumer unit, and roughly how much electricity you use in a year if you know it. Your job goes to up to five matched local businesses [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].
Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.
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Questions about solar panel installation costs
How much do solar panels cost for a 3-bed house?
The Federation of Master Builders gives £7,300 for a 4.5kW system of 12 panels with installation, or £9,800 including a battery, as of November 2026. Your own quote depends on your roof, the panels chosen and the installer.
Is there VAT on solar panels?
GOV.UK says energy-saving materials installed in homes, including solar panels, are subject to VAT relief at 0% until 31 March 2027. Ask each installer to show VAT on the quote so you can see it has been applied.
Can I get paid for the electricity I export?
Possibly. Ofgem says the Smart Export Guarantee requires some electricity suppliers to pay small-scale generators for low-carbon electricity they export, providing certain criteria are met. Suppliers set their own rates, so Ofgem suggests shopping around.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
Often not. Planning Portal says solar panels on a house may be permitted development, but there are important limits and conditions. It suggests discussing with your local authority whether they will be met, especially for listed buildings and conservation areas.
How do I spot a poor solar sales pitch?
Electrical Safety First says to be suspicious of companies that contact you out of the blue or put you under pressure to buy quickly. It also says low prices may not include all necessary parts and services. Take time to compare written quotes.
Does QuoteZila check solar installers?
No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.
This page is general information, not professional or legal advice. QuoteZila does not check Gas Safe, WaterSafe, NFRC, NICEIC or other registrations against the register on your behalf: look them up yourself.
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Related pages
- Solar Panel Cleaning: What to Ask First. Solar panel cleaning in Cheshire starts with the installer's maintenance guide and safe access. Count the panels and say where they sit before you book.
- Cost to Tile a Bathroom: What Sets the Price. What sets the cost to tile a bathroom: area, tile choice, strip-out, wall and floor prep, waterproofing, trims and grout, plus FMB figures for labour and tiles.
Sources
- QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and FAQ copy.
- QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila FAQ How does getting quotes work.
- S1: How much do solar panels cost in the UK in 2026?, Federation of Master Builders. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.fmb.org.uk/homepicks/solar-panels/cost-of-solar-panels/
- S2: VAT rates on different goods and services, GOV.UK (HMRC). Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rates-of-vat-on-different-goods-and-services
- S3: Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), Ofgem. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/smart-export-guarantee-seg
- S4: Solar panels: Planning permission, Planning Portal. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/solar-panels/planning-permission
- S5: Electrical safety advice for solar panels, Electrical Safety First. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/product-safety/solar-panels/
- S6: Before you get building work done, Citizens Advice. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
- S7: Introduction to working at height safely, Health and Safety Executive. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-at-height/introduction.htm
- S8: The ultimate guide to roofing, Federation of Master Builders. Accessed 2026-11-02. https://www.fmb.org.uk/find-a-builder/ultimate-guides-to-home-renovation/the-ultimate-guide-to-roofing.html