How much does a 6kW solar power system cost and how much electricity does it produce?
Updated
A 6,000 watt (6kW) solar system produces enough energy to cover the monthly electric bill of almost half of American households. The power generated by your solar system will vary depending on the direction of your roof, your geographical location, and any impediments to sun rays such as trees or nearby tall buildings.
(Related: What is a kilowatt?)
What is a 6,000 watt (6kW) solar system?
A 6,000 watt (6kW) solar system includes solar panels, racks and mounts, breakers, inverters, and wiring. You may also need AC/DC disconnects, sub-panels, and additional piping.
Top-quality solar panels produce between 275 watts (60 cells) and 400 watts (72 cells). You can calculate how many panels you will need by dividing 6000 by the wattage of the solar panel you are looking at produces. So, for example, you will need between 15 and 22 solar panels for a 6kW solar system.
How much does an average 6kW solar system cost?
For a quick ballpark estimate, a solar system costs between $2.30 and $3.10 per watt, so a 6000-watt solar system will cost between $13,800 and $18,600 before you start to subtract federal, state, and local incentives. Competition in the solar installation industry is high, so prices often change daily.
Take a few minutes to browse our compilation of 6kW installation prices by state and brand. If you click through to 'details,' we've made charts showing how quickly the installation will pay for itself and how much you will profit over 25 years.
Does the cost for a 6kW solar system vary by state?
The cost of a 6kW solar system varies by state. We've created a chart listing the installation costs in each state. By choosing 6kW in the drop-down box, you'll see the average price in your state before and after the 26 percent federal tax credit.
Will I save money if I pay cash for a 6kW solar system?
Paying cash for a 6kW solar system will save you 10-15 percent over financing the same system. However, if you can't afford to pay cash, there are some great financing deals available. Financing your solar system will take you a little longer to break even on your investment, but you will still profit in the long run.
How much energy is produced by a 6kW solar system?
In optimal conditions – that means your roof faces south and has no shade between 9 am and 3 pm – a 6kW solar system produces somewhere between 17.4 and 27.6 kWh a day (or 6351kW and 10,074kW per year). The amount your system produces varies by your location, roof tilt, shading, and the time of year. Solar-Estimate has an excellent map that shows how much electricity solar panels produce per day in each state.
How much roof space do I need for a 6kW system?
It takes about 66 square feet to produce 1kW of solar energy. So, you will need 396 square feet of roof space with enough sun exposure for a 6kW system. If you don't have enough roof space, you can also install solar panels on a carport or other buildings on your property.
How much energy does my home need?
Your energy bills over the last 12 months show you how many kilowatts hours of power you used last year. You need an energy system that will generate enough solar energy to cover your bill. Look for “kilowatt hours used” or "kWh hours used" to see if your utility measures by the hour, day, or month. If you'd rather not calculate the number yourself, our Solar-Estimator uses a database of almost every utility in the US to estimate how many solar panels you need to power your home. Our estimate is based on the exact location of your home, so you will need to enter your address and some personal details.
Is a 6kW solar system the right size for my home?
A 6kW solar system produces enough electricity for almost half the private homes in the US, so there's a good chance that it is the right size for you. For a rough guide, compare the amount of electricity you purchased last year to the amount that solar panels in your state produce. The map shows the average amount per day, so you'll need to multiply the number by 365 before you can make a comparison.
What about the price, power output, size and savings for a 5kW system?
5kw solar systems used to be an average sized system. However, with the decreasing cost of solar over time, the average size of residential systems has increased. A 5kw system is essentially the same as a 6kw system but just a bit smaller. The power output is smaller, it’s smaller in size, and cheaper overall. The difference is very simple with the caveat that the cost per watt is just slightly higher.
Author: Andrew Sendy | Home Solar Journalist
Andy is deeply concerned about climate change but is also concerned about cost of living pressures on American families. He advocates for solar energy and solar battery storage only to the extent that they make financial sense for homeowners. He is not affiliated with any particular solar company in the United States.