5 kW solar system, you'll spend anywhere from $16,600 to $20,500 before accounting for tax credits or rebates. Solar panels cost between $2. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and its national laboratory partners analyze cost data for U. These benchmarks help measure progress toward goals for reducing solar electricity costs. Like price per square foot for homes, this metric (typically $2 to $3 per watt) helps you compare solar companies fairly, regardless of system size. Data source: IRENA (2025); Nemet (2009); Farmer and Lafond (2016) – Learn more about this data Note: Costs are expressed in constant 2024 US$ per watt. This typically translates to about $2. Department of. A 7. 03 per watt of solar installed. The federal solar tax credit lowers solar system costs by $6,544, bringing the price down to $15,271.
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