Solar Panel Installation Quotes
Compare quotes from vetted solar installers in your area. Solar PV, battery storage and solar thermal — up to 3 free quotes in 24 hours, across 519 towns.
What do you need?
Each option below has its own page with 2026 price ranges, what moves the number, and a quote form matched to that job — so your enquiry reaches installers who do that work. Most households start with panels and add storage later.
How Much Does Solar Installation Cost in the UK?
Full cost guide →A typical 4–6kW system suitable for most 3–4 bedroom UK homes. Reduces grid electricity use significantly during daylight hours. Most systems qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee.
Get quotes for this →Solar PV plus battery storage to use your generated electricity in the evening. Maximises self-consumption and reduces reliance on the grid. Future-proofs your home for time-of-use tariffs.
Get quotes for this →Solar thermal collectors heat water directly, working alongside your existing boiler or immersion heater. Lower cost than solar PV but only benefits hot water, not general electricity use.
Get quotes for this →Solar costs vary by roof size, orientation, shading and local installer rates. Compare 3 quotes from vetted local installers for your exact property.
Get free quotes →Regional pricing note: Solar installation costs vary modestly by region. London and the South East are typically 10–15% above the national average. Rural areas may see slight premiums due to installer travel. Use our cost guide or enter your postcode above for town-specific ranges.
Solar installation costs at a glance — 2026
Typical installed 2026 cost by system type and region band, from this page's cost table.
Source: BestBuilders 2026 regional cost model · 519 UK towns
Solar Installation — What You Need to Know
Solar panels are one of the most effective ways to reduce long-term electricity bills and lower your home's carbon footprint. Modern panels perform reliably in UK conditions, generating meaningful output across most of the year, and adding potential value to your property.
The key to a good solar installation is choosing an MCS-certified installer who understands your roof orientation, shading, household energy use and local grid connection requirements. BestBuilders connects you with vetted local solar specialists — not generalists who have added solar as a sideline.
We vet the installers we pass work to and monitor them for sustained review quality. We do not verify certification or insurance on your behalf, so before you accept a quote ask to see current MCS certification, RECC registration and a public liability certificate — and check each one on the issuing body’s own register.
How we vet installers →How It Works
Before You Hire, Check They:
Planning Permission, MCS & Grid Connection
🏡 Permitted Development
Most domestic solar PV installations qualify under Permitted Development Rights in England, Scotland and Wales, meaning no formal planning application is required. Panels must not protrude more than 200mm from the roof slope. Listed buildings, conservation areas and flats have additional restrictions — your installer will confirm eligibility for your specific property.
📋 MCS Certification
MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accreditation is essential. It confirms quality installation standards, is required to access the Smart Export Guarantee and reduces VAT eligibility on domestic installations. We do not check MCS certification on your behalf, so ask each installer for their MCS certificate and confirm it on the MCS register before work begins.
⚡ Grid Connection
Solar systems connect to your home's consumer unit and (for export) to the grid. Most residential systems up to 3.68kW per phase qualify for simplified G98 notification after install; larger systems need pre-approval via G99. Your installer manages the DNO paperwork end-to-end.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG): If your system is MCS-certified, you can apply to an SEG-licensed energy supplier to be paid for electricity you export to the grid. Export rates vary significantly by supplier (typically 3–15p per kWh) and some require a smart meter. Your installer will advise on the best SEG tariffs available at the time of your install.
Solar Installation Cost by Region (2026)
Live cost ranges sourced from the Best Builders 2026 Cost Index — regional cost model across all 519 UK towns. Solar PV figures cover standard 4–6kW systems; battery and thermal figures cover full installation. All ranges include MCS-certified labour and standard equipment; premium panels/inverters/batteries shift figures upward.
| Region | Solar PV (4–6kW) | Solar + Battery | Solar Thermal |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £5,175 – £9,775 | £9,775 – £17,250 | £4,025 – £7,475 |
| South East | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| Southern | £4,725 – £8,925 | £8,925 – £15,750 | £3,675 – £6,825 |
| Eastern | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| West Midlands | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| East Midlands | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| Yorkshire | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| North West | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| South West | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| North East | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| Scotland (North) | £4,275 – £8,075 | £8,075 – £14,250 | £3,325 – £6,175 |
| Scotland (South) | £4,275 – £8,075 | £8,075 – £14,250 | £3,325 – £6,175 |
| South Wales | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
| Merseyside & N. Wales | £4,500 – £8,500 | £8,500 – £15,000 | £3,500 – £6,500 |
Source: Best Builders 2026 Cost Index, refreshed quarterly across 519 UK towns. Solar costs vary less regionally than building work because equipment dominates total cost. Scotland sees a modest discount (~5%) reflecting tighter installer competition. See full cost index →
How to check a solar installer before you commit
We match you with local trades and step back — the hiring decision is yours. These are the checks that separate a good solar installer from an expensive mistake, and they take about ten minutes.
Get the quote in writing
An itemised written quote covering labour, materials, waste removal and VAT — not a figure over the phone. If two quotes differ a lot, it is usually because they cover different work, and only the written detail shows you where.
Check the insurance yourself
Ask for the public liability certificate and check the policy is current and in the same trading name as the quote. A logo on a van or a website is not evidence. If the work is notifiable, ask who is registering it.
Ask for recent local work
Two or three jobs of the same type from the last six months, close enough to go and look at. Someone who does good work will offer these before you ask. Be wary of anyone who only has photographs.
On payment: never pay the full amount up front. A deposit against materials is normal; after that, stage payments against completed work are the standard arrangement. Pressure to pay in cash, in full, or on the day is the single most common warning sign.
What’s in a solar price — and what isn’t
Panels are the cheapest part of a solar quote. The inverter, the scaffolding and the electrical work are where two quotes for the same generation figure diverge — so compare the specification, not just the headline kWp.
| Line item | Typical 2026 cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Panels | £250–£450 per panel | A 4kW system is roughly 10 panels |
| Inverter | £800–£2,000 | Hybrid inverters cost more but allow a battery later |
| Mounting and roof fixings | £400–£900 | In-roof mounting costs more than on-roof |
| Scaffolding | £500–£900 | Nearly always separate — check whose quote it sits in |
| Electrical work and isolation | £400–£800 | Generation meter and consumer unit work |
| Battery storage | £2,500–£8,000 | Cheaper fitted at the same time than retrofitted |
| Bird protection mesh | £150–£400 | Worth it — retrofitting means scaffolding again |
| DNO application | usually included | G98 notify after; G99 apply BEFORE on larger systems |
| VAT | 0% until 31 March 2027 | Applies to panels and batteries on domestic installs |
Two things to insist on in writing: the exact inverter model, and whether the quote assumes on-roof or in-roof mounting. If you might add a battery later, a hybrid inverter now saves replacing it. Compare sizes on the solar cost calculator.
How long a solar installation takes
The install itself is quick. What sets your real timeline is the paperwork either side of it — particularly the grid connection on larger systems.
| Stage | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Survey and design | 1–2 weeks | Roof pitch, shading and usage set the system size |
| DNO approval — G98 | notify within 28 days AFTER | Systems up to 3.68kW per phase |
| DNO approval — G99 | up to 45 working days BEFORE | Larger systems. The usual delay |
| Scaffolding up | 1 day | Often a day or two before the installers arrive |
| Panel installation | 1–2 days | A typical domestic array goes up in a day |
| Battery installation | +1 day | Same visit is cheaper than a second mobilisation |
| MCS certificate | within ~10 working days | Needed before you can apply for an export tariff |
Do not sign an export tariff before the MCS certificate lands — suppliers will not process the application without it. Start the DNO application early on anything above 3.68kW per phase; it is the step most likely to move your date.
How long solar panels and batteries last
Panels outlast almost everything else on the roof. The inverter is the component that will need replacing during the system’s life, and that belongs in your payback maths from the start.
| Component | Expected life | What actually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Panels | 25–30 years | Output degrades slowly — typically 80%+ guaranteed at year 25 |
| String inverter | 10–15 years | The usual first replacement — budget £800–£2,000 |
| Hybrid inverter | 10–15 years | Same, but lets a battery be added without replacing it |
| Battery | 10–15 years | Warranty is by cycles or throughput, not just years — read which |
| Mounting and fixings | 25 years+ | Match the panel life; failures are usually workmanship |
| Bird mesh | 10–15 years | Cheap now, expensive later — retrofitting needs scaffolding |
When comparing payback periods, check whether the figure assumes one inverter replacement. Many do not, which quietly flatters the return by a year or more.
Solar Installers Across 519 UK Towns
Each town page shows local solar installers, town-specific cost ranges and nearby areas.
Solar Installation FAQs
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Our sources for this guide
Cost ranges, timelines and regulatory information on this page are compiled from:
- Best Builders 2026 Cost Index — primary source: regional solar cost ranges from our 2026 regional cost model (national cost guides × regional labour index) across 519 UK towns, refreshed quarterly
- MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) — installer certification standards
- RECC — Renewable Energy Consumer Code — consumer protection framework
- Energy Saving Trust — Solar Panels — independent solar guidance
- Ofgem — Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) — current SEG tariff framework
- GOV.UK — 0% VAT on domestic solar (until March 2027)
- Planning Portal — Solar Panels & Planning Permission
Editorial standards & how to reach us
This page is maintained by the Best Builders editorial team. Cost figures are reviewed quarterly against published trade pricing and our regional cost model. Regulatory information (MCS, RECC, SEG, planning, VAT) is checked against current UK government guidance at each refresh. We do not accept payment for editorial coverage; installer listings are earned through our vetting process, not bought.
If you spot an error, have feedback, or want to suggest content improvements, email editorial@bestbuilders.co.uk.