Solar Panels UK 2026: Costs, Savings and Whether They Are Worth It
A 4 kW solar system, the size that suits most 2–3 bed UK homes, costs £5,500–£7,000 installed in 2026 and takes around 10 years to pay for itself. Panels last 25–30 years, VAT on domestic installations is 0% until 31 March 2027, and the Smart Export Guarantee pays you for the electricity you send back to the grid.
Solar panel prices on this page were last checked in August 2026. Electricity figures use the Ofgem price cap for 1 July to 30 September 2026: 26.11p per kWh and a 57.19p daily standing charge.
How much do solar panels cost in the UK in 2026?
Solar panels cost £4,000–£9,000 installed for a typical UK home in 2026, depending on system size. A 4 kW system, the most common domestic size, costs £5,500–£7,000. Prices below are Look Into’s installed figures including panels, inverter, mounting, scaffolding and certification, with 0% VAT applied. Battery storage is extra: a battery adds £2,500–£9,000 on top, depending on capacity.
| System size | Panels needed | Suitable for | Installed cost (2026) | Typical annual saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kW | 7–8 panels | 1–2 bed flat or small house | £4,000–£5,500 | £600–£750 |
| 4 kW | 10–11 panels | 2–3 bed semi or terrace | £5,500–£7,000 | £800–£1,000 |
| 5 kW | 12–14 panels | 3–4 bed detached | £6,500–£8,500 | £950–£1,200 |
| 6 kW+ | 15–17 panels | 4+ bed or high usage | £7,000–£9,000 | £1,100–£1,400 |
The annual saving combines two things: the electricity you no longer buy from your supplier, and the Smart Export Guarantee income for what you export. Both depend on a south-facing, unshaded roof and on how much of your generation you use during the day. Look Into’s full solar panel cost breakdown shows what sits behind these figures, and the solar savings calculator runs the numbers for your own usage.
How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?
A 4 kW solar system without a battery pays for itself in around 10 years in the UK. Adding a 5 kWh battery pushes that to roughly 12 to 13 years, because the battery adds £3,000–£5,000 up front and increases savings by less than it costs. Those are Look Into’s figures from the UK Solar Panel Payback Index 2026, which models payback on a south-facing, unshaded roof at current electricity prices. Your own payback moves with three things: what you pay for the system, how much of your generation you use at home rather than export, and your export rate.
How much does a solar battery add to the cost?
A solar battery adds £2,500–£9,000 to a solar installation, depending on capacity. A battery stores daytime generation for use in the evening, which lifts the share of your own electricity you actually use from roughly half to 80% or more. It does not increase how much your panels generate.
| Battery capacity | Cost fitted | Stores enough for | Common models |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3–5 kWh | £2,500–£4,000 | Evening usage in a small home | GivEnergy 5.2, Sofar HYD |
| 5–10 kWh | £4,000–£6,500 | Full evening plus next morning | Tesla Powerwall, GivEnergy 9.5 |
| 10–13 kWh | £6,500–£9,000 | 24 hour backup, high usage | Tesla Powerwall 2, Fox ESS |
A solar battery is worth adding if your home is empty during the day, so most of your generation would otherwise be exported at a few pence per kWh. Look Into’s solar battery storage guide covers sizing and brands in detail.
Which solar panel brands are best in the UK?
SunPower/Maxeon leads UK-available solar panels on both efficiency and warranty, at premium prices. Longi and Trina Solar sit in the middle, and Canadian Solar and JA Solar are the budget options. Efficiency and warranty figures below are the manufacturers’ own published specifications, checked in August 2026; a panel’s real output depends far more on your roof orientation and shading than on the difference between 21% and 23% efficiency.
| Brand | Origin | Efficiency | Product warranty | Performance guarantee | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SunPower / Maxeon | USA / Singapore | 22.8% | 40 years | 92% at 25 yrs | Premium |
| LG | South Korea | 22.3% | 25 years | 90.6% at 25 yrs | Premium |
| Longi | China | 22.0% | 15 years | 87.4% at 25 yrs | Mid-range |
| Trina Solar | China | 21.2% | 15 years | 84.8% at 25 yrs | Mid-range |
| Canadian Solar | Canada / China | 21.6% | 12 years | 84.8% at 25 yrs | Budget |
| JA Solar | China | 21.5% | 12 years | 84.8% at 25 yrs | Budget |
Look Into’s ranking of the best solar panels in the UK compares these brands on real installed performance rather than datasheet figures.
What are the advantages of solar panels?
Solar panels cut a UK household’s electricity bill by 50–70% and keep working for 25–30 years with almost no maintenance. The specific benefits:
- Electricity bills cut by 50–70% on a well-sited system
- Export income from the Smart Export Guarantee, paid by your energy supplier
- Around one tonne of carbon saved per year for each kW installed
- Property value uplift: government research under the former Department of Energy and Climate Change found up to 14%, though that study is now over a decade old
- 25–30 year lifespan, with cleaning the only routine maintenance
- No planning permission on most UK homes, under Permitted Development Rights
- Protection from electricity price rises, which reached 26.11p per kWh under the July 2026 price cap
- Battery storage available later, so evening and overnight use is covered
What are the drawbacks of solar panels?
Solar panels cost £4,000–£9,000 up front and take around a decade to pay back, and they generate least in the months you use most electricity. The specific drawbacks:
- Up-front cost of £4,000–£9,000, before any battery
- Generation drops sharply from November to February, when UK demand peaks
- A south-facing roof is ideal; east or west works, at roughly 15–20% less output
- Heavily shaded roofs are not worth doing, whatever the quote says
- The inverter needs replacing after 10–15 years, at around £800
- A battery adds £2,500–£9,000 and lengthens payback rather than shortening it
- Payback runs to around 10 years without a battery, longer with one
- Scaffolding is usually needed on two-storey homes and is often quoted separately
How much does the Smart Export Guarantee pay in 2026?
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) pays solar owners for surplus electricity exported to the grid, and rates in August 2026 run from about 12p per kWh on tariffs open to any customer up to 25p per kWh on tariffs that require you to buy your system from that supplier. Every licensed supplier above a certain size must offer an SEG tariff, but they set their own rate, so the tariff you can actually get depends on who supplies your electricity and who installed your panels. Rates below were compiled in August 2026 from supplier tariff listings; check the current rate with the supplier before signing anything.
| Supplier | Tariff | Export rate | What it requires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Energy | Solar Savings Exclusive | 25p/kWh | System bought through Good Energy, plus their import tariff |
| So Energy | So Bright Export | 20p/kWh | So Energy install plus import |
| OVO Energy | SEG Install Exclusive | 20p/kWh | OVO-installed system plus OVO import |
| EDF Energy | Export Exclusive 12m | 18p/kWh | System bought from EDF, plus EDF import |
| E.ON Next | Export Premium v3 | 17.5p/kWh | E.ON installation plus E.ON Next import |
| EDF Energy | Export 12m | 15p/kWh | EDF import customer, any installer |
| Scottish Power | SmartGen Premium Plus | 15p/kWh | Scottish Power install plus import |
| E.ON Next | Export Exclusive v3 | 13p/kWh | E.ON Next import customer, any installer |
| Octopus Energy | Outgoing Octopus | 12p/kWh | Octopus import customer, any installer |
| British Gas | Export Premium | 12p/kWh | British Gas import customer, any installer |
| Octopus Energy | Flux (peak window) | 29.32p/kWh | Battery required, time-of-use export 4–7pm |
Two things decide what the Smart Export Guarantee is actually worth to you: the rate, and how much you export rather than use. A household that is out all day exports most of its generation and benefits from a high rate. A household with a battery exports little, so the headline rate matters much less. A smart meter is required for every SEG tariff.
How much electricity will solar panels generate where you live?
A 4 kW solar system generates roughly 3,200 kWh a year in Scotland and 4,200 kWh in the South East, a difference of about 30% across the UK. Solar is still worth doing everywhere in Britain: the gap between the sunniest and least sunny regions is smaller than the gap between a south-facing roof and a shaded one. Figures below are Look Into’s modelled annual output for a 4 kW south-facing, unshaded array.
South East
South West
East Anglia
Midlands
Wales
Yorkshire
North West
Scotland
How are solar panels installed, and how long does it take?
Solar panels take one to two days to fit on the roof, but the whole process from first survey to your first Smart Export Guarantee payment usually runs four to eight weeks. Most of that time is design, scheduling and registration rather than work on your house.
| Stage | What happens | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Survey | The installer inspects your roof, checks shading, and assesses the electrics and structural suitability | 1–2 hours |
| 2. Design | The system is designed around your roof size, orientation, electricity usage and budget | 3–7 days |
| 3. Scaffolding | Scaffolding goes up if needed, which is usual on homes of two storeys or more | Morning of install day |
| 4. Installation | Mounting rails, panels, inverter and wiring are fitted, plus the battery if you are having one | 1–2 days |
| 5. Commissioning | The system is tested, your network operator is notified, the MCS certificate is issued and the smart meter is configured | Same or next day |
| 6. SEG registration | You register for a Smart Export Guarantee tariff with an energy supplier and start earning for exports | 1–4 weeks |
Do you need planning permission for solar panels?
Most UK homes do not need planning permission for solar panels. Roof-mounted domestic solar falls under Permitted Development Rights in England and Wales, provided all four of these hold:
- The panels do not protrude more than 200mm from the roof surface
- The panels do not sit above the highest part of the roof, excluding the chimney
- The property is not in a Conservation Area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or World Heritage Site
- The property is not a listed building
Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own rules, and any property in the last two categories needs a conversation with the local planning authority before you order anything. Look Into’s guide to planning permission for solar panels covers the exceptions.
Solar panel FAQs
How much do solar panels cost in the UK?
Solar panels cost £5,500–£7,000 installed for a 4 kW system in 2026, the size that suits most 2–3 bed homes. A 3 kW system runs £4,000–£5,500 and a 6 kW system £7,000–£9,000. Adding a battery brings £2,500–£9,000 more depending on capacity. VAT on domestic solar is 0% until 31 March 2027.
How long do solar panels last?
Solar panels last 25–30 years and usually carry a 25-year performance guarantee. After 25 years a panel typically still produces 80–85% of its original output. The inverter is the part that wears out first: expect to replace it once during the panels’ life, at around £800.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
Yes. Solar panels generate from daylight rather than direct sunlight, so they still produce on an overcast day, at roughly 10–25% of peak output. In the UK most of the year’s generation lands between March and October, but panels produce something year-round.
How many solar panels do I need?
A typical UK home uses 3,500–4,500 kWh of electricity a year, which a 4 kW solar system of 10–11 panels covers most of. Larger homes, or homes with an electric vehicle or a heat pump, are usually better served by 5–6 kW. The installer sizes the system from your actual usage and the usable area of your roof.
Can I install solar panels myself?
You can, but a DIY solar installation cannot be MCS certified, and without MCS certification you cannot claim the Smart Export Guarantee. Connecting an inverter to the mains is also notifiable electrical work. For almost every household the lost export income alone outweighs the labour saved.
Are solar panels worth it in 2026?
For a household with a south-facing, unshaded roof, solar panels are worth it in 2026: a 4 kW system pays back in around 10 years and then runs for another 15 to 20. Electricity at 26.11p per kWh under the July 2026 price cap makes every self-used kWh worth more than it was two years ago. Solar panels are not worth it on a heavily shaded roof, or if you expect to move within a few years.
Do solar panels add value to my home?
Solar panels do appear to add value, though the evidence is thin. Government research under the former Department of Energy and Climate Change put the uplift at up to 14%, but that study is more than a decade old and predates both current panel prices and current energy prices. Treat any specific percentage with caution and treat the bill saving as the real return.
Do I pay VAT on solar panels?
No. Solar panel and battery installations on homes in Great Britain are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027. On a £6,000 system that relief is worth about £1,200. After March 2027 the rate is scheduled to return to 5%.
Are there grants for solar panels?
Grants for solar panels are limited to low-income and vulnerable households. ECO4, the main scheme, runs until 31 December 2026 after a nine-month extension, and the Great British Insulation Scheme sits alongside it. Most owner-occupiers pay privately and the 0% VAT rate until March 2027 is the relief they actually get. Look Into’s guide to solar panel grants has the eligibility rules.
Should I add a battery to my solar panels?
Add a battery if your home is empty during the day, because that is when your panels generate and when you would otherwise export at a low rate. A battery lifts the share of your own generation you use from roughly half to 80% or more, but it costs £2,500–£9,000 and lengthens payback from around 10 years to 12 or 13. Panels alone pay back fastest.
Solar panel buyer’s checklist
Work through this checklist before signing a solar panel contract. It is ordered so the items that can kill a project, shading and certification, come before the ones that only change the price.
- Get at least three quotes from MCS-certified installers
- Check your roof orientation: south is best, east and west lose roughly 15–20%
- Assess shading from trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings across the whole day
- Read your annual electricity usage off your bills or smart meter before anyone sizes a system
- Decide on battery storage: it raises savings but lengthens payback
- Ask for all three warranties in writing: product, performance and workmanship
- Confirm whether planning permission applies, which it will for listed buildings and conservation areas
- Check the installer handles the network operator notification and MCS registration
- Compare Smart Export Guarantee rates before you commit to a supplier’s install-linked deal
- Allow for future load: an EV charger or heat pump changes the right system size
Hidden costs in a solar panel quote
Solar panel quotes vary by thousands of pounds for the same system, and the difference is usually in what has been left out rather than the panels themselves. Check whether the quote includes each of these:
- Scaffolding, which is often priced separately on two-storey homes
- Roof repairs or structural reinforcement needed before panels can go on
- The battery and its installation, if you are having one
- Bird and pigeon proofing around the array
- An upgraded inverter or an export meter
How to choose a solar panel installer
Choose a solar installer who is both MCS-certified and RECC-registered. MCS certification is what makes your system eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee, and RECC registration is what gives you consumer protection if the work goes wrong. Get every quote in writing, ask what each warranty actually covers, and compare at least three installers before deciding. Look Into’s guide to choosing a solar installer lists the questions worth asking on the survey visit.
How Look Into’s free solar quotes work
Look Into connects you with MCS-certified solar installers covering your postcode, at no cost and with no obligation. The service is free to use across the whole UK. Here is the sequence:
- You tell us your postcode and roughly what you are looking for
- We match you with local installers who cover your area
- You compare up to four free, no-obligation quotes and choose, or walk away
Compare solar panel quotes
Compare quotes from MCS-certified solar installers covering your area, and see what a system costs on your roof rather than an average one.
Could you get help with the cost? See solar panel grants and 0% VAT.