Solar panel costs: what UK homes actually paid
Published 26 October 2026. Figures for April 2025 to March 2026, published 28 May 2026.
Most solar cost pages quote installers’ price lists. These figures are what people actually paid: the government publishes the cost of every installation registered with MCS, the certification scheme you need for export payments. 264,742 installations in 2025/26 had cost data, a record.
By system size
The government publishes cost per kW in size bands. For panels added to an existing home, the closest match to buying for the house you live in, the average in 2025/26 was:
| System size | Existing homes, average per kW | All installations, median per kW |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 4 kW | £2,109 | £1,595 |
| 4 to 10 kW | £1,651 | £1,546 |
The median across all installations is lower because it includes new-build homes and businesses, which pay less. Both include VAT where it applied and leave out batteries.
Multiplied out for common sizes in the 4 to 10 kW band:
| System | Existing home (average) | All installations (median) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | £8,300 | £7,700 |
| 6 kW | £9,900 | £9,300 |
| 8 kW | £13,200 | £12,400 |
The up-to-4 kW band includes very small systems, which cost the most per kW, so multiplying its average by 4 would overstate a 4 kW system. For a smaller roof, get quotes rather than scaling these figures.
Why bigger systems cost less per kW
Some costs barely change with size: scaffolding, the inverter, the electrician’s time, the paperwork. Spread over more panels, they cost less per kW, which is why a 4 to 10 kW retrofit averaged £457 less per kW than a smaller one. If your roof has space, a slightly bigger system often costs little more.
By region
Average cost per kW in 2025/26, across all installations, cheapest first for 4 to 10 kW systems:
| Region | Up to 4 kW | 4 to 10 kW |
|---|---|---|
| Wales | £1,838 | £1,424 |
| North East | £1,760 | £1,540 |
| Scotland | £1,767 | £1,578 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £1,800 | £1,617 |
| North West | £1,800 | £1,627 |
| West Midlands | £1,778 | £1,628 |
| South West | £1,887 | £1,631 |
| East Midlands | £1,840 | £1,642 |
| East of England | £1,796 | £1,663 |
| South East | £1,859 | £1,721 |
| London | £2,101 | £1,759 |
London was the most expensive for a 4 to 10 kW system and Wales the cheapest, about 24% apart. These are averages, so it’s worth getting more than one quote wherever you live.
The trend
| Year | Median, up to 4 kW | Median, 4 to 10 kW | Installations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | £1,910 | £2,067 | 178,441 |
| 2024/25 | £1,667 | £1,641 | 207,912 |
| 2025/26 | £1,595 | £1,546 | 264,742 |
Per kW, a 4 to 10 kW system’s median has fallen from £2,067 in 2023/24 to £1,546, before inflation. After inflation, the last year alone took 9% off.
VAT
Installing solar panels on a home in Great Britain is zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, so a quote for a home shouldn’t add VAT on top.
Is it worth it?
That depends on how much of the electricity you use yourself, which saves you your full unit rate, and what you get for the rest from an export tariff. The solar and battery calculator models a year hour by hour for your region and compares every current export tariff. Thinking of adding a battery? Read why most don’t pay for themselves first.
Common questions
How much do solar panels cost in the UK?
Panels added to an existing home cost an average of £1,651 per kW for a 4 to 10 kW system in 2025/26, so about £8,300 for 5 kW and £9,900 for 6 kW, from government data on MCS-certified installations. The median across all installations, including new builds and businesses, was lower at £1,546 per kW.
Do these prices include a battery?
No. The government figures cover the panels, the inverter, installation, connection and any VAT, but not a battery or an extended warranty. A battery adds thousands of pounds, and on its own it rarely pays for itself.
Is there VAT on solar panels?
Not on a home in Great Britain until 31 March 2027: installing solar panels in residential accommodation is zero-rated for VAT until then.
Are solar panel prices still falling?
Yes. After inflation, the median cost of a 0 to 4 kW system fell 7% and a 4 to 10 kW system 9% in 2025/26 compared with the year before, while installations hit a record.
Costs from DESNZ, Solar PV cost data (Total Installed Capacity), May 2026, based on the MCS installation database, Great Britain only, per kW of total installed capacity. Checked 26 October 2026.