A single solar panel costs between $120-$315 for the equipment only, or $1,000-$1,200 when professionally installed. Most homeowners spend between $12,600 and $33,376 to install a complete residential solar system in 2026, with the national average at $19,873 before incentives. Your actual cost depends on your home's energy needs, roof characteristics, location and other factors, all of which we'll break down in. System purchases offer dramatic savings: Buying panels as part of a complete solar system costs 40-65% less per panel ($0. 50/watt) compared to individual retail purchases ($0. Department of. Average U. The most accurate pricing metric is still cost per watt, but per-sq-ft estimates are helpful for ballpark figures. 50 per watt of installed capacity (more on price per watt below).