*Prices are shown after applying the 30% federal tax credit.
As of Apr 2024, the average cost of solar panels in Wautoma is $2.46 per watt making a typical 6000 watt (6 kW) solar system $10,338 after claiming the 30% federal solar tax credit now available.
This is lower than the average price of residential solar power systems across the United States which is currently $3.00 per watt.
The size of a solar panel system also plays a role in how much the installation will cost.
Larger solar installations will typically have a lower cost per watt, because the panels can be purchased at a ‘bulk price’. However, these larger solar systems will still have a higher total cost, because they are made up of more individual panels.
System size* | Avg cost per watt |
Avg system cost
(After tax credit) show before tax |
---|---|---|
4kW | $2.69 | $7,535 |
5kW | $2.58 | $9,032 |
6kW | $2.46 | $10,338 |
7kW | $2.44 | $11,936 |
8kW | $2.47 | $13,821 |
9kW | $2.38 | $15,024 |
10kW | $2.36 | $16,515 |
Best unit price
$320.00 ($0.96 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,721.85
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1K-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$562.50 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,120.18
($2.49 p/w)
LG375A1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$430.00 ($1.15 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,919.30
($2.65 p/w)
LG375Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$473.34 ($1.30 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$13,231.07
($2.59 p/w)
LG365Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
365 watts
Efficiency
21.1
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$432.00 ($1.20 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,276.66
($2.63 p/w)
LG360Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$530.85 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,386.87
($2.49 p/w)
LG355Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
355 watts
Efficiency
20.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$495.00 ($1.38 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,091.06
($2.60 p/w)
LG360Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$407.97 ($1.10 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.2kW system
$13,159.30
($2.54 p/w)
LG370Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
370 watts
Efficiency
21.4
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$323.39 ($0.97 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,691.01
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$338.19 ($0.99 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$0.00
($0.00 p/w)
LG340N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
340 watts
Efficiency
19.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$600.00 ($1.83 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,808.41
($2.61 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-COM overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$800.00 ($2.22 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,201.67
($2.62 p/w)
SPR-X22-360 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
22.2
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,703.10
($2.79 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-D-AC overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,610.59
($2.77 p/w)
SPR-E20-327 overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$181.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$11,003.04
($2.16 p/w)
CS6K-300MS overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.33
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$196.11 ($0.65 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$9,948.02
($1.95 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-300M overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.1
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$172.00 ($0.56 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,568.53
($1.96 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-305M overview
Rated power
305 watts
Efficiency
18.4
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$165.00 ($0.53 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$9,761.72
($1.97 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-310M overview
Rated power
310 watts
Efficiency
18.7
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$228.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,579.65
($1.94 p/w)
LR4-60HPH-380M overview
Rated power
380 watts
Efficiency
20.9
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$234.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$10,126.74
($2.00 p/w)
LR6-72HBD-390M overview
Rated power
390 watts
Efficiency
19.4
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
4.84 481 Reviews
C , 1 day ago
After buying our first home we found that our electric and heating bills were unfathomably high. On average we were using 1500kwh per month and were spending $1,200 to $1,500 per month for oil and electric and it was untenable so after 6 months in our home we decided to look into Solar. The ecofriendly benefits were a bonus but realistically we desperately needed to stabilize our electric cost. I like to get as much information as possible to make the most financially sound decision and get the most bang for my buck. The first go around we received many quotes through Energy Sage, did a ton of research, and ultimately met with 8 different solar reps to review their proposals. We were pleased to learn that our house was somewhat of a golden goose for solar so we encountered so really aggressive salespeople who were promising the moon and 120% production estimates. Outside of the scheduled meetings we were getting doorknockers from newer companies frequently (sometimes multiple times per day) so it was important for me to find a company that had an established history in the business, were transparent, and realistic. Of all of the people we met with Molly Verville from All Energy Solar was the only one to tell me that it would be disingenuous to give us a production guarantee based on 6 months of electric usage data, recommended that we consult with an electrician, change our energy supplier, and prioritize weatherizing our home so that we can get a more accurate proposal. She gave one of the more conservative production estimates and actually raised some concerns about the impact that unnecessarily high production could have on our net metering credits due to some unimplemented legislative changes. I had a ton of questions and she knew her stuff. I never felt like she was trying to obfuscate or that she was just trying to make a quick sale which was a breath of fresh air. We followed her recs which were helpful and 6 months later we decided that buying solar panels still made the most sense and we had more reliable data to work from with updated proposals. We decided to go with All Energy knowing that we may be paying a bit more but would be getting top tier service. After signing our contract we were assigned to work with Carlo Maloni who was a great advocate for us through the process. He kept in communication with us with calls and emails every two weeks to keep us in the loop, ensured that if he didn’t know the answer to a question that he would get us in touch with someone who did, and made sure that we knew ahead of time if there were any potential delays. He coordinated a seamless transition of our project to his manager Annalise for the 2 months while he was on paternity leave, and when he came back he picked things up with us right were we left off fully up to speed. Our panels have been on for almost two months and they were so proactive with startup monitoring that in the first couple of weeks they identified a minor issue before I was even aware of it and their electrician Mike came over the same day to make sure it was fixed. So far our production has been exceeding our consumption and it the monitoring app has been extremely useful for us to be able to identify what is still contributing to high usage. Overall, working with him and everyone from All Energy made this a painless process. I am really happy we chose All Energy and I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking to switch to solar.
Read more
C , 1 day ago
After buying our first home we found that our electric and heating bills were unfathomably high. On average we were using 1500kwh per month and were spending $1,200 to $1,500 per month for oil and electric and it was untenable so after 6 months in our home we decided to look into Solar. The ecofriendly benefits were a bonus but realistically we desperately needed to stabilize our electric cost. I like to get as much information as possible to make the most financially sound decision and get the most bang for my buck. The first go around we received many quotes through Energy Sage, did a ton of research, and ultimately met with 8 different solar reps to review their proposals. We were pleased to learn that our house was somewhat of a golden goose for solar so we encountered so really aggressive salespeople who were promising the moon and 120% production estimates. Outside of the scheduled meetings we were getting doorknockers from newer companies frequently (sometimes multiple times per day) so it was important for me to find a company that had an established history in the business, were transparent, and realistic. Of all of the people we met with Molly Verville from All Energy Solar was the only one to tell me that it would be disingenuous to give us a production guarantee based on 6 months of electric usage data, recommended that we consult with an electrician, change our energy supplier, and prioritize weatherizing our home so that we can get a more accurate proposal. She gave one of the more conservative production estimates and actually raised some concerns about the impact that unnecessarily high production could have on our net metering credits due to some unimplemented legislative changes. I had a ton of questions and she knew her stuff. I never felt like she was trying to obfuscate or that she was just trying to make a quick sale which was a breath of fresh air. We followed her recs which were helpful and 6 months later we decided that buying solar panels still made the most sense and we had more reliable data to work from with updated proposals. We decided to go with All Energy knowing that we may be paying a bit more but would be getting top tier service. After signing our contract we were assigned to work with Carlo Maloni who was a great advocate for us through the process. He kept in communication with us with calls and emails every two weeks to keep us in the loop, ensured that if he didn’t know the answer to a question that he would get us in touch with someone who did, and made sure that we knew ahead of time if there were any potential delays. He coordinated a seamless transition of our project to his manager Annalise for the 2 months while he was on paternity leave, and when he came back he picked things up with us right were we left off fully up to speed. Our panels have been on for almost two months and they were so proactive with startup monitoring that in the first couple of weeks they identified a minor issue before I was even aware of it and their electrician Mike came over the same day to make sure it was fixed. So far our production has been exceeding our consumption and it the monitoring app has been extremely useful for us to be able to identify what is still contributing to high usage. Overall, working with him and everyone from All Energy made this a painless process. I am really happy we chose All Energy and I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking to switch to solar.
4.74 167 Reviews
Raj Prajapati, 1 day ago
Really great experience. They followed through as promised. Very quick response, very quick service, following the time guideline. They worked with ComEd, helped me with the rebates etc. Their app is pretty good, panels are pretty good as well producing really good energy as promised. I have had it for about 8 months and have no issues so far. They only thing they didn't mention is that you are paying taxes for the rebate money you received and it was a lot (close to $4000 for $18,304 rebate that I received from the state). I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.
Read more
Raj Prajapati, 1 day ago
Really great experience. They followed through as promised. Very quick response, very quick service, following the time guideline. They worked with ComEd, helped me with the rebates etc. Their app is pretty good, panels are pretty good as well producing really good energy as promised. I have had it for about 8 months and have no issues so far. They only thing they didn't mention is that you are paying taxes for the rebate money you received and it was a lot (close to $4000 for $18,304 rebate that I received from the state). I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.
4.63 31 Reviews
Marie N, over 1 month
We picked Arch to install our solar after shopping around quite a bit. We choose them because they (Stanley specifically) answered my many questions with detail, patience, and was very knowledgeable. There was no pressure like with other companies we got quotes from. Crew was efficient and courteous during installation. There was a small problem with our internet setup connecting with the monitoring system when it was turned on but they came out quickly & had it resolved soon.
Read more
Marie N, over 1 month
We picked Arch to install our solar after shopping around quite a bit. We choose them because they (Stanley specifically) answered my many questions with detail, patience, and was very knowledgeable. There was no pressure like with other companies we got quotes from. Crew was efficient and courteous during installation. There was a small problem with our internet setup connecting with the monitoring system when it was turned on but they came out quickly & had it resolved soon.
4.60 68 Reviews
Ron and Michele, over 1 month
We are extremely impressed with Energy Concepts. They designed and installed a residential solar system that has been functioning perfectly. The system (now in operation for a full year) has exceeded all expectations. Throughout the design and installation process Energy Concepts was consistently professional and they have remained responsive to any questions well after installation. Russel and Claudia represent what we all want from a business, honest and hardworking people who strive for excellence. We thank Energy Concepts for a great experience and give them our highest possible recommendation.
Read more
Ron and Michele, over 1 month
We are extremely impressed with Energy Concepts. They designed and installed a residential solar system that has been functioning perfectly. The system (now in operation for a full year) has exceeded all expectations. Throughout the design and installation process Energy Concepts was consistently professional and they have remained responsive to any questions well after installation. Russel and Claudia represent what we all want from a business, honest and hardworking people who strive for excellence. We thank Energy Concepts for a great experience and give them our highest possible recommendation.
Power, over 1 month
Installation was smooth as promised.
4.53 15 Reviews
Tom Chambers, over 1 month
Very professional. Owner is an expert in this field, and very willing to provide education to staff and students.<br />
Read more
Tom Chambers, over 1 month
Very professional. Owner is an expert in this field, and very willing to provide education to staff and students.<br />
4.50 11 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
If I could give more than 5 stars I would. These guys were so patient with us. It took us several years before we were ready to commit to such a large expenditure. They told us what they thought would work, not just what we wanted to hear. They installed the system in early December of 2013, during an early, frigid, snowy time. Everything was just what they said it would be. We are now making more electricity than we use! (Or should I say, the sun is making the energy, all we do is smile when we see the sun shining!
Read more
Anonymous, over 1 month
If I could give more than 5 stars I would. These guys were so patient with us. It took us several years before we were ready to commit to such a large expenditure. They told us what they thought would work, not just what we wanted to hear. They installed the system in early December of 2013, during an early, frigid, snowy time. Everything was just what they said it would be. We are now making more electricity than we use! (Or should I say, the sun is making the energy, all we do is smile when we see the sun shining!
4.40 36 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
We had a home installation that went very smoothly. Mike from Full Spectrum assisted us with applying for tax credits and in our hookup with the local power company. Things were seamless and we are currently up and fully functional. Staff was friendly and efficient and costs were as predicted. We are very happy with the results so far. Installation was in late December so we are about 3 months out.
Read more
Anonymous, over 1 month
We had a home installation that went very smoothly. Mike from Full Spectrum assisted us with applying for tax credits and in our hookup with the local power company. Things were seamless and we are currently up and fully functional. Staff was friendly and efficient and costs were as predicted. We are very happy with the results so far. Installation was in late December so we are about 3 months out.
4.35 21 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
Steve and John were very helpful and professional from the beginning to the end on my solar panel project, the installation process went well and without any added costs. Their crew were also very professional, it sure is nice not having a electric bill.
Read more
Anonymous, over 1 month
Steve and John were very helpful and professional from the beginning to the end on my solar panel project, the installation process went well and without any added costs. Their crew were also very professional, it sure is nice not having a electric bill.
4.35 22 Reviews
Dani, over 1 month
I had an awesome experience with Greenify Energy Savers. My upgrades included: window installation, solar panels, electric panel upgrade, attic insulation and radiant barrier. Wyck and Marleen were available and trustworthy throughout the process. Their team always showed up as planned, and did great work. The actual price matched the bid with different financing options, no surprises. Feels nice to run off the sun :)
Read more
Dani, over 1 month
I had an awesome experience with Greenify Energy Savers. My upgrades included: window installation, solar panels, electric panel upgrade, attic insulation and radiant barrier. Wyck and Marleen were available and trustworthy throughout the process. Their team always showed up as planned, and did great work. The actual price matched the bid with different financing options, no surprises. Feels nice to run off the sun :)
Where there is no specific pricing information available for a brand then we have used state pricing data for that brand.
Solar panel manufacturer | Avg. cost per watt |
---|---|
Canadian Solar | $2.30 |
LG Solar | $2.73 |
SunPower | $2.87 |
Panasonic | $2.77 |
LONGi Solar | $2.21 |
The most important difference between buying solar panels and any other purchase is that solar panels last 25-30 years. This is a long, long time and you will need customer service over all that time. The reviews below of the two largest corporate solar installation companies indicate larger corporate solar companies are not delivering this support to their customers.
We recommend you find a small or mid-size, local, family-owned solar company. These companies tend to care more about you and your specific job. You don't want to be on hold to a corporation's call center for the next 25 years!
The cost of solar doesn't just include the equipment and installation costs - it’s also made up of permitting costs, inspection costs, and installer profit margins.
These different components are what make the price of solar fluctuate between installations. Some of the factors that affect solar power system installation costs for specific homes include:
Homes that use more electricity will need more solar panels to cover their energy needs.
Although solar panels do get cheaper on a per-watt basis, the overall cost of the system will increase as more panels are added.
But, the higher a home’s energy usage, the more solar panels can save the homeowners on their energy bills.
The price of solar panels can vary depending on the type of solar panels you choose.
There are two main types of solar panels for residential solar installations: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient and more expensive than other solar panels. Polycrystalline panels have a lower efficiency rating and come at a lower price point.
The type of inverter you buy will also influence the cost of your solar system.
You may see some solar quotes with prices that seem too good to be true.
If you get quoted for a ridiculously cheap price, the installer might be using low-quality equipment or an unsustainable pricing model. You want to use a solar installer that is charging enough so that they can stay in business - as you’ll be relying on them for the next 25 years!
It’s important to make sure that your installer is giving you the best quality at the best price possible. This is why getting multiple solar quotes is so important.
The overall cost of solar can be influenced by the solar incentives available.
Across the U.S., homeowners can apply for the federal solar tax credit. The solar tax credit makes installing solar more cost-effective by providing homeowners with a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of their installed solar panel system.
Local solar tax incentives and rebates can end up saving homeowners thousands on a solar installation, especially when they’re used with the federal solar tax credit.
See what solar incentives are available in your area by using our solar panel calculator.
The cost of installing residential solar panels in Wautoma varies with the brand of solar panels and inverters you choose, the installation company you choose to install them, the relative ease or difficulty of installing solar panels on your home, and of course the amount of solar panels you need. The amount of solar panels you need is, in turn, related to your energy usage.
The table below shows the data extracted from a real life quote delivered through the SolarReviews marketplace recently for a fairly typical home in Wautoma.
As you can see the payback period is relatively short and equates to a much better return on investment than he historical returns that have been available from investing in things like shares or property.
System information | Value |
---|---|
System Size (for 100% usage offset) | 9.31 kW |
Annual power generation | 13,625 kWh |
Pay-back time (assuming Cash purchase) | 8.7 Years |
Internal rate of return (IRR) on investment | 7.8% |
Gross cost | $21,183 |
Total Upfront Incentives and Rebates | -$5,508 |
Net Cost of System after rebated and incentives | $15,677 |
Total Cost of Utility Power Avoided over 25 years | $60,473 |