- Last updated
- October 2026
Solar quotes vary a lot, and it’s hard to tell a fair price from an inflated one. So what should you actually expect to pay?
Here’s the short answer. In 2026, a solar panel system from Simple Solar costs roughly £4,500-£6,500 fully installed, depending on its size. That covers a 3-6 kWp setup of 6-12 panels, without a battery.
A typical three-bedroom home in Devon, Cornwall or Somerset suits 4 kWp, or 8 panels, priced at about £5,500.
Below, you’ll find our full price list, what’s included, what can push the total up and how much a battery adds.
We also show how long solar takes to pay for itself, and why it makes sense to get your panels fitted before 31 March 2027.
Price list
Our 2026 Solar Panel Prices
We price systems by size and use advanced SunPower panels. Each panel is rated at around 500W, so 8 panels make a system of about 4 kWp.
| System size | Panels | Typical home | Price, fully installed | Price per kWp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kWp | 6 | Smaller homes, or homes that use less electricity | £4,500 | £1,500 |
| 4 kWp | 8 | Typical 3-bedroom home | £5,500 | £1,375 |
| 5 kWp | 10 | Larger 3- or 4-bedroom home | £6,000 | £1,200 |
| 6 kWp | 12 | 4-bedroom home, or a home with an EV or heat pump | £6,500 | £1,083 |
Prices are for a straightforward installation on a pitched roof, without a battery. We confirm the figure as a fixed quote after a free survey at your home.
Why does the price per kWp fall as systems get bigger? Some costs barely change from one system to the next: scaffolding, the survey and the paperwork. Spread across more panels, they make up a smaller share of the total.
How do our prices compare?
Each year, the government publishes what MCS-certified solar installations cost. In 2024-25, the median for systems of up to 4 kWp was £1,876 per kWp.
Our 4 kWp package, with premium SunPower panels, works out at just £1,375 per kWp.
Price per kWp
What you get
What’s Included in the Price?
Our prices cover everything you need for a working, certified system:
- SunPower solar panels
- Solar inverter
- Roof mountings
- Standard scaffolding
- All electrical work, and connection to your home’s supply
- Notifying National Grid Electricity Distribution, your local network operator
- Your MCS certificate, which you need to claim Smart Export Guarantee payments
- A free survey at your home before you commit
Extra costs
What Can Make Solar Cost More?
Most homes pay very close to our guideline prices. A few things can add to it.
Your roof
Slate roofs are common across Devon and Cornwall. Panels sit perfectly well on them, but the fixings require more care and cost more than for normal concrete tiles, so a slate roof can cost a little more.
Standard scaffolding is included. Homes with awkward access – three storeys, a conservatory in the way or a narrow street with nowhere to put it – may be priced higher.
Shading
If a chimney, tree or neighbouring building casts a shadow over part of your roof, we may recommend ‘optimisers’. These small devices fit behind the panels and stop one shaded panel dragging down the output of the rest. They’re an extra, but they can win back generation you’d otherwise lose.
Your electrics
Older homes sometimes need a new consumer unit (fuse box) before solar can be connected safely. We’ll tell you at the survey if yours does.
Which panels you choose
The panels explain a lot of the difference between solar quotes. We only fit market-leading SunPower panels, which can cost a little more than standard brands, but give you higher efficiency (more power from the same roof space) and longer warranties.
So, if another company comes in cheaper, check which panels it’s planning to fit.
Bigger systems
Systems with more than 3.68 kW of inverter capacity on an ordinary single-phase supply usually need approval from National Grid Electricity Distribution before they’re connected. We handle the application for you, but it can lengthen the wait.
Battery storage
How Much Does a Solar Battery Add?
A battery stores some of the excess electricity your panels make during the day, so you can use it in the evening instead of exporting it for less.
For a 4 kWp system, a 5 kWh battery adds around £1,300-£2,500, depending on the model. Bigger batteries of 10 kWh and up suit homes with higher usage.
We’re a certified Tesla Powerwall installer. The latest model, the Powerwall 3, stores 13.5 kWh and has a solar inverter built in.
How much difference does a battery make? MCS benchmark figures suggest a typical home uses about 26% of its own solar electricity without a battery, and about 62% with one. We show what that means in pounds in the worked examples below.
You don’t have to buy everything at once. Most solar systems can take a battery later, and one fitted on its own still qualifies for 0% VAT until 31 March 2027.
0% VAT deadline
VAT: Why 31 March 2027 Matters
Right now, solar panels and batteries installed in homes in Great Britain carry 0% VAT. That ends on 31 March 2027.
From 1 April 2027, the rate goes back up to 5%, according to HMRC, unless the government decides to extend it.
Here’s what that would mean on our current prices:
| System size | Price now (0% VAT) | Price from 1 April 2027 (5% VAT) | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kWp | £4,500 | £4,725 | £225 |
| 4 kWp | £5,500 | £5,775 | £275 |
| 5 kWp | £6,000 | £6,300 | £300 |
| 6 kWp | £6,500 | £6,825 | £325 |
Please note: these figures assume our prices stay the same apart from VAT.
Savings and payback
How Much Could Solar Save You?
Before the numbers, here’s how we’ve worked them out. We use:
- Generation: 4,000 kWh a year, the middle of our indicative range of 3,800-4,200 kWh for a south-facing 4 kWp system.
- Self-consumption: MCS benchmark figures of 26% without a battery and 62% with one.
- Electricity price: 26.32p per kWh, Ofgem’s capped average for October-December 2026 (Direct Debit). There’s no VAT on household electricity until 31 March 2027.
- Export payments: 12p per kWh, a typical Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) rate. The money comes from the SEG-licensed energy supplier you choose, not from Simple Solar.
Example 1: 4 kWp solar, no battery
- Electricity you use at home: 1,040 kWh (4,000 kWh x 26%), saving £274 (1,040 kWh x 26.32p)
- Electricity you export: 2,960 kWh, earning £355 (2,960 kWh x 12p)
- Total benefit: about £629 a year
- Payback: about 8.7 years (£5,500 ÷ £629)
Example 2: 4 kWp solar with a 5 kWh battery
- Electricity you use at home: 2,480 kWh (4,000 kWh x 62%), saving £653 (2,480 kWh x 26.32p)
- Electricity you export: 1,520 kWh, earning £182 (1,520 kWh x 12p)
- Total benefit: about £835 a year
- Cost: £6,800-£8,000 (£5,500 for the panels, plus £1,300-£2,500 for the battery)
- Payback: about 8-10 years
Worked examples
So, what do the examples tell you? Here, the battery adds about £206 annually, which means it takes 6-12 years to cover its own cost from solar savings alone.
Where batteries really earn their keep is with a smart tariff: charging from the grid at cheap overnight rates, then using that power when prices are high. We haven’t counted that here, because it depends on which deal you pick, but can add valuable extra savings.
Thinking about a heat pump too? Solar can help run it. See our guide to heat pumps and solar panels.
“We put our prices online because you should know roughly what solar will cost before anyone visits your home. We only fit SunPower panels, and the survey is there to check the details and give you a fixed price, not to start a sales pitch.”
Finance
Ways to Pay
You can settle the bill upfront or spread the cost with finance. Ask us about the options when we survey your home.
Simple Solar (SW) Ltd is an Introducer Appointed Representative (Financial Services Register No. 1009359) of Phoenix Financial Consultants Limited (Phoenix). Phoenix is a credit broker, not a lender. Phoenix is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 539195), and offers finance from its panel of lenders. All finance subject to status and credit checks.
Running costs
Running Costs Over the Years
Solar panels have no fuel to buy and no moving parts, so they cost very little to keep going. Here’s what to budget for.
- Inverter: this converts the power from your panels into electricity your home can use. Most systems need a new one at some point over their lifetime.
- Cleaning: on a pitched roof, rain usually does the job for you. Homes with a lot of bird activity may need the occasional wash.
- Monitoring: if your system has an app, check it now and then. A sudden drop in output is usually the first sign of a problem.
Comparing quotes
How to Compare Solar Quotes
Getting more than one quote is sensible. To compare them fairly, check:
- The installer is MCS-certified. Without its certificate, you can’t claim SEG payments.
- The system size in kWp, plus the make, model and wattage of the panels.
- The inverter brand, and its warranty.
- The generation estimate, worked out using the MCS method.
- What’s included: scaffolding, electrical work, network operator paperwork and any extras.
- Whether the price is fixed after a survey at your home, or estimated from satellite images.
- Membership of a consumer code approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. MCS installers must belong to one.
Your questions answered
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 4 kWp solar system cost?
With Simple Solar, a 4 kWp system costs approximately £5,500 fully installed, without a battery.
How many solar panels does a 3-bedroom house need?
Usually 8 panels, making a system of about 4 kWp. The right number depends on your roof space and how much electricity you use, and we’ll recommend a size after your survey.
Is there VAT on solar panels?
Not until April 2027. Panels and batteries installed in homes carry 0% VAT up to 31 March 2027, after which the rate is due to rise to 5%.
Can I add a battery to my solar panels later?
Yes. A battery can be added to most existing solar systems, and it qualifies for 0% VAT if it’s installed by 31 March 2027.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?
In our worked example, a 4 kWp system breaks even in about 8-9 years without a battery, based on MCS benchmark figures and October-December 2026 electricity prices. Yours could be shorter or longer, depending on when and how much power you use.
Free survey
Get Your Fixed Price
The quickest way to find out what solar will cost for your home is a free survey. We’ll look at your roof and electrics, recommend the right size and give you a price that won’t change.
Book a visit or call us on 01752 916 013.