Find out how much solar panels cost in your area and compare to Tesla's prices
Tesla is often synonymous with luxury. Despite seeming like a high-end brand, Tesla solar panels are pretty affordable. Coming in at about $2.82 per watt, a Tesla solar system is cheaper than the average $3.03 per watt price tag most solar installers offer.
Not only does Tesla have low installation costs, but it also offers its own financing option. You can get a solar loan through Tesla with no additional fees.
So, what's the catch? Going solar with Tesla seems like a no-brainer from a cost perspective. However, the company's poor customer service history makes us hesitant to recommend getting solar through the tech giant.
Key takeaways
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Tesla solar panels average cost: $2.82 per watt
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How much you pay for Tesla solar panels can vary by location, with some quotes being as high as $3.08 per watt.
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Tesla solar panels qualify for the same rebates, incentives, and solar tax credits as other solar panel brands.
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You can finance your solar panels with a solar loan through Tesla, which comes with a 7.5% APR and no additional dealer fees.
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Tesla has a reputation for low-quality customer service that homeowners should consider before signing a contract.
How much do Tesla solar panels cost?
An average-sized Tesla solar panel system will cost about $20,304 before incentives, which is about $2.82 per watt of solar installed. Once you factor in the federal solar investment tax credit, the cost drops to $14,212.
We ran the numbers and found that Tesla offers slightly different pricing in different states. In New Jersey, Tesla quoted prices as high as $3.08 per watt, which is actually higher than the national average cost of solar. But in Califonia, it was $2.82 per watt. The price of Tesla solar panels can also vary with the size of the system.
The following table shows how much Tesla solar panels cost for different-sized solar systems:
System Size | Cost (before incentives) | Cost (after tax credit) | Estimated monthly electric bill savings |
|---|---|---|---|
4.1 kW | $11,562 | $8,093 | $88 |
6.15 kW | $17,343 | $12,140 | $132 |
8.2 kW | $24,280 | $16,996 | $184 |
10.25 kW | $28,905 | $20,233 | $219 |
15.17 kW | $42,779 | $29,945 | $324 |
*Based on Tesla solar system installed in California using an average electric rate $0.17 per kWh and full retail net metering.
Do you have to install a Tesla battery with Tesla solar panels?
You don't need to install a Tesla Powerwall battery with Tesla solar panels. If you want an energy storage system, a Powerwall 3 costs $15,400 on top of installing solar panels. A Tesla Powerwall battery paired with 6.15 kW of Tesla solar panels will have a total cost of about $32,743 total before tax incentives or rebates are considered.
Do Tesla solar panels qualify for solar incentives?
Yes, Tesla solar panels do qualify for solar incentives! Tesla's solar panels are just like any other brand of panels, so they qualify for the same incentives.
The most significant way to save on solar panels is using the 30% federal tax credit, which can save you thousands of dollars on your federal income taxes. Additional local solar incentives and rebates might be available that can reduce the cost of going solar with Tesla even further!
You might also be eligible for discounts when you order solar panels through Tesla. The company lowers the cost of going solar when you install an 8.2 kW system or larger, and there is a bundled discount when you pair your solar panels with a Powerwall home battery storage system.
Can you finance Tesla solar panels?
Tesla offers financing to homeowners who are going solar. With a solar loan, you get to enjoy the benefits of solar even if you don't have the cash to cover the upfront cost of the panels right away. You can make monthly payments to Tesla to pay off your system.
Tesla's solar loan has no additional dealer fees, 10 or 15-year terms, and an APR of around 7.5%, but the extract rate will vary depending on your credit.
Financing any project right now is hard, thanks to sky-high interest rates. Tesla offers loans with APRs of around 7.5%, which is higher than the interest rates reported in our 2025 Solar Industry Survey, which ranged from 1.99% to 6.22%.
However, those typical interest rates include a dealer fee, which can add around 22% to the loan's principal but lower the APR. Tesla's financing option doesn't have this additional fee, making the higher interest rate reasonable and still providing a reasonable payback period.
Other Tesla Energy products
esla is best known for its electric vehicles, but it has several home energy and solar products from which homeowners can choose.
Tesla Powerwall: Tesla's 13.5 kWh solar battery is one of the most popular energy storage options on the market. It helps homeowners keep their lights on during a power outage and maximize their solar energy usage, and it comes at a reasonable price.
Tesla Solar Roof: Tesla's solar shingles are a luxury home energy upgrade that lets homeowners power their homes with solar without sacrificing their home's curb appeal with the look of traditional solar panels. The Tesla Solar Roof includes both active solar roof tiles and non-active metal shingles, giving you a new roof with a uniform look that still generates clean energy.
Tesla commercial solar options: Tesla's commercial solar options provide large-scale solar and energy storage solutions.
Are Tesla solar panels worth it?
From a financial perspective, Tesla solar panels make a lot of sense. Tesla’s panels are good quality, but they don’t offer groundbreaking performance specs and they come with a standard warranty.
The pricing of a Tesla solar panel installation, however, can be hard to resist. Despite not being as cheap as they once were, they’re still an affordable option for home solar power.
But you get what you pay for. Tesla Energy is notorious for poor customer service, greeting homeowners with radio silence if something goes wrong with their system or installation. What you might save in costs, you could sacrifice in support that you could need throughout the 25-year lifespan of your system. Plus, with recent political controversies surrounding Elon Musk, many seeking out Powerwall alternatives and electric cars from brands besides Tesla.
You may avoid the service issue by installing through a Tesla Certified installer, but then you might not get the same low pricing that makes Tesla attractive in the first place. You can read our expert review of Tesla solar panels to learn more about if they're the right choice for you.
We recommend getting quotes from multiple solar companies in your area before you sign a deal with Tesla. Shopping around will give you an idea of what's available in your area, and find a company that you think will support you over the 25-year life of the system!
Catherine has been researching and reporting on the solar industry for five years and is the Written Content Manager at SolarReviews. She leads a dynamic team in producing informative and engaging content on residential solar to help homeowners make informed decisions about investing in solar panels. Catherine’s expertise has garnered attention from leading industry publications, with her work being featured in Solar Today Magazine and Solar ...
Learn more about Catherine Lane