*Prices are shown after applying the 30% federal tax credit.
As of Apr 2024, the average cost of solar panels in Branchdale is $2.19 per watt making a typical 6000 watt (6 kW) solar system $9,199 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 | $2.39 | $6,689 |
5kW | $2.29 | $8,014 |
6kW | $2.19 | $9,199 |
7kW | $2.17 | $10,610 |
8kW | $2.18 | $12,224 |
9kW | $2.12 | $13,380 |
10kW | $2.10 | $14,693 |
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
4.92 370 Reviews
JLF, 2 weeks ago
Lumina installed my solar system about three weeks ago, and it is already up and running. The experience from day 1 -- sales representative, schedulers, installers, etc. -- was excellent on all counts. Installation went according to schedule with no hiccups. I chose Lumina as the first among three firms that I investigated, and received bids. In addition to be the best value for the money in terms of the quality of panels, microinverters, installation hardware, critter guards., I found them to be the most honest regarding estimating real production given shading cover on the south side of my house. Another firm suggested that their proposed system would deliver 100% of capacity, which was not the case. Still another firm wanted me to cut down some trees (a non starter). Lumina also used the Aurora solar modeling software in which the Lumina representative worked with me (interactively) to develop the best design given the tree cover, roof angle, etc. We were able to test different designs in which we varied the number of panels, their placement, etc. There was no hard sell pressure, and the sales rep. explained with detail and clarity all issues related to warranties, risks, solar bonds, Maryland grants, and federal tax credits. The price paid was the price quoted. I should state that my goal was never 100% coverage of my electricity consumption. I will be happy with 70%. Finally, as the case with all solar companies Lumina runs a financial model estimating the number of years until payback of the investment (due to savings in one's electricity bill). While Lumina's model is sound, it does not account for the cost of money (discount rate). However, this is not a criticism. I know of no other company that uses a discount rate in their modeling.
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JLF, 2 weeks ago
Lumina installed my solar system about three weeks ago, and it is already up and running. The experience from day 1 -- sales representative, schedulers, installers, etc. -- was excellent on all counts. Installation went according to schedule with no hiccups. I chose Lumina as the first among three firms that I investigated, and received bids. In addition to be the best value for the money in terms of the quality of panels, microinverters, installation hardware, critter guards., I found them to be the most honest regarding estimating real production given shading cover on the south side of my house. Another firm suggested that their proposed system would deliver 100% of capacity, which was not the case. Still another firm wanted me to cut down some trees (a non starter). Lumina also used the Aurora solar modeling software in which the Lumina representative worked with me (interactively) to develop the best design given the tree cover, roof angle, etc. We were able to test different designs in which we varied the number of panels, their placement, etc. There was no hard sell pressure, and the sales rep. explained with detail and clarity all issues related to warranties, risks, solar bonds, Maryland grants, and federal tax credits. The price paid was the price quoted. I should state that my goal was never 100% coverage of my electricity consumption. I will be happy with 70%. Finally, as the case with all solar companies Lumina runs a financial model estimating the number of years until payback of the investment (due to savings in one's electricity bill). While Lumina's model is sound, it does not account for the cost of money (discount rate). However, this is not a criticism. I know of no other company that uses a discount rate in their modeling.
4.86 80 Reviews
Govind, 6 hours ago
I recently had TerraSol install solar panel system on my home. I'm thrilled with the entire experience, from the initial consultation to the final inspection. Rob was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, answering all my questions thoroughly. The installation crew was professional, efficient, and kept the worksite clean. TerraSol made switching to solar a breeze.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$25,900 ($5.18 per watt)
Govind, 6 hours ago
I recently had TerraSol install solar panel system on my home. I'm thrilled with the entire experience, from the initial consultation to the final inspection. Rob was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, answering all my questions thoroughly. The installation crew was professional, efficient, and kept the worksite clean. TerraSol made switching to solar a breeze.
4.86 115 Reviews
Al, 2 weeks ago
The crew worked well together, efficient and very concerned with safety. They took time to answer all my questions with professionalism. I am pleased with the instillation. I just wish they could make it so that it is only cloudy at night.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$16,000 ($3.20 per watt)
Al, 2 weeks ago
The crew worked well together, efficient and very concerned with safety. They took time to answer all my questions with professionalism. I am pleased with the instillation. I just wish they could make it so that it is only cloudy at night.
4.84 114 Reviews
Charles L., over 1 month
I started working with Exact Solar in June 2021. They were consistently responsive and very helpful in all aspects of the design and permitting part of the process. Once the necessary approval and supply issues were taken care of, the installation itself was completed quickly and professionally, with the system going online in December/January. Exact Solar was also very helpful with setting up net metering and SREC accounts. I highly recommend their services!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$12,400 ($2.48 per watt)
Charles L., over 1 month
I started working with Exact Solar in June 2021. They were consistently responsive and very helpful in all aspects of the design and permitting part of the process. Once the necessary approval and supply issues were taken care of, the installation itself was completed quickly and professionally, with the system going online in December/January. Exact Solar was also very helpful with setting up net metering and SREC accounts. I highly recommend their services!
4.83 358 Reviews
Fitzsik, 1 week ago
We have had on overall excellent experience with Green Power Energy. During my evaluation of Solar installation options the Green Power Energy solution differentiated themselves is a few key areas. Each solar panel has its own inverter, this configuration eliminates a single point of failure and also eliminated the need to mount a large inverter in my garage which saved having to dedicate wall space. The panels themselves are of high quality and the solar metric application is very informative. The solar system installation team impressed me as being quite knowledgeable and their work was very well executed. I was also kept informed of the status through all the phases of the service deployment.
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Fitzsik, 1 week ago
We have had on overall excellent experience with Green Power Energy. During my evaluation of Solar installation options the Green Power Energy solution differentiated themselves is a few key areas. Each solar panel has its own inverter, this configuration eliminates a single point of failure and also eliminated the need to mount a large inverter in my garage which saved having to dedicate wall space. The panels themselves are of high quality and the solar metric application is very informative. The solar system installation team impressed me as being quite knowledgeable and their work was very well executed. I was also kept informed of the status through all the phases of the service deployment.
4.83 541 Reviews
eugenio garay, 3 hours ago
I wanted to express the excellent work carried out on my property by the solarEnergyworld company the person who helped me and my wife Mayra was Zach kalb ,a very professional person who explained the intire process step by step. it was nice experence we had and we are happy with all the work.thas was carried out we recommend this installation company, they are very professional and from the beginning to the end thank very much good service
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eugenio garay, 3 hours ago
I wanted to express the excellent work carried out on my property by the solarEnergyworld company the person who helped me and my wife Mayra was Zach kalb ,a very professional person who explained the intire process step by step. it was nice experence we had and we are happy with all the work.thas was carried out we recommend this installation company, they are very professional and from the beginning to the end thank very much good service
4.79 79 Reviews
Janet W, over 1 month
My family and I have wanted to install solar on our home for years, but unfortunately were never able to do so until our recent move. Our new home is perfectly situated for solar, so I started searching for a solar company in the tail end of December 2023. I wound up with two options, one of which was SavKat Solar, and made appointments with both companies. Jay from SavKat came out to our house on 12/26/2023 and spent several hours explaining EVERYTHING to me in great detail. He reviewed whether or not my house was a good fit for solar and why, then went over the different system sizes that are available and the warranties that go with each one. He explained the entire installation process from start to finish, including how long each of the steps in the process usually takes, and worked with me to figure out how many panels my family and I would need, as well as what the best location for each panel would be. He was open and honest about pricing and repayment options, and thoroughly answered and addressed each and every one of my questions and concerns. And when my daughter came home from work, he even spent extra time explaining everything to her! Neither one of us felt rushed or pressured into making a decision. He made us both feel extremely comfortable about asking him questions, and made sure that we understood everything. He told us to reach out to him with any questions we thought of after he left, and even e-mailed us all of the information that he spoke with us about so that we could review it and make a decision in our own time. Talk about service! I can't say the same about the other company. Jay also invited us to take a tour of the SavKat facilities, which I did on 1/3/2024. While there, I met multiple employees - including the owner - who were not only kind, but also quick to answer all of the questions that I had as well. After talking things over with my family, we decided to request an additional 3 panels so that we could be sure that we had enough wattage, and both Jay and the employees at SavKat were more than willing to accommodate our request. We signed a contract with them that day. Each and every step of the entire project happened faster than Jay had led us to expect, part of which might have been due to the fact that not a lot of people install solar in the beginning of the year. When the solar panels themselves were installed, every one of the employees were nice, quick, and efficient, and everything was explained to my family and I after it was done. Our new electric meters were installed today, so I'm hoping that we'll get permission to operate tomorrow. I can't say enough wonderful things about everyone at SavKat, especially Jay. Every time I've reached out to Jay, even when he was on a business trip, he has been extremely responsive, no matter how small my question might seem, and I was never once spoken down to or made to feel like I should know something that I didn't. If I could work with SavKat forever, I would. I wish more companies were as amazing as they are!
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Janet W, over 1 month
My family and I have wanted to install solar on our home for years, but unfortunately were never able to do so until our recent move. Our new home is perfectly situated for solar, so I started searching for a solar company in the tail end of December 2023. I wound up with two options, one of which was SavKat Solar, and made appointments with both companies. Jay from SavKat came out to our house on 12/26/2023 and spent several hours explaining EVERYTHING to me in great detail. He reviewed whether or not my house was a good fit for solar and why, then went over the different system sizes that are available and the warranties that go with each one. He explained the entire installation process from start to finish, including how long each of the steps in the process usually takes, and worked with me to figure out how many panels my family and I would need, as well as what the best location for each panel would be. He was open and honest about pricing and repayment options, and thoroughly answered and addressed each and every one of my questions and concerns. And when my daughter came home from work, he even spent extra time explaining everything to her! Neither one of us felt rushed or pressured into making a decision. He made us both feel extremely comfortable about asking him questions, and made sure that we understood everything. He told us to reach out to him with any questions we thought of after he left, and even e-mailed us all of the information that he spoke with us about so that we could review it and make a decision in our own time. Talk about service! I can't say the same about the other company. Jay also invited us to take a tour of the SavKat facilities, which I did on 1/3/2024. While there, I met multiple employees - including the owner - who were not only kind, but also quick to answer all of the questions that I had as well. After talking things over with my family, we decided to request an additional 3 panels so that we could be sure that we had enough wattage, and both Jay and the employees at SavKat were more than willing to accommodate our request. We signed a contract with them that day. Each and every step of the entire project happened faster than Jay had led us to expect, part of which might have been due to the fact that not a lot of people install solar in the beginning of the year. When the solar panels themselves were installed, every one of the employees were nice, quick, and efficient, and everything was explained to my family and I after it was done. Our new electric meters were installed today, so I'm hoping that we'll get permission to operate tomorrow. I can't say enough wonderful things about everyone at SavKat, especially Jay. Every time I've reached out to Jay, even when he was on a business trip, he has been extremely responsive, no matter how small my question might seem, and I was never once spoken down to or made to feel like I should know something that I didn't. If I could work with SavKat forever, I would. I wish more companies were as amazing as they are!
4.79 84 Reviews
Eric G, over 1 month
I decided to get solar early in 2023. When I signed the contract, there were supply delays with the panel manufacturer, and they gave me a late 2023 (Oct-Nov) timeframe for installation. But they worked with the manufacturer and were able to get them sooner and installed second week of August. I've had them now for 3 months. In August, since it was a partial month, I had a small electric bill. But Sept and October, my net usage was 0, so my bill was $15 (the monthly customer charge). And I banked almost 400 kwh in those 3 months. Overall, I'm happy with my solar. The panels that I chose aren't the cheapest around but they are one of the best on the market. The Evoke team have specific people dedicated to each step, from ordering to permits to install to post-install. And you can get one of the owners (husband/wife) on the phone easily if you have questions, Very easy to work with.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$23,200 ($4.64 per watt)
Eric G, over 1 month
I decided to get solar early in 2023. When I signed the contract, there were supply delays with the panel manufacturer, and they gave me a late 2023 (Oct-Nov) timeframe for installation. But they worked with the manufacturer and were able to get them sooner and installed second week of August. I've had them now for 3 months. In August, since it was a partial month, I had a small electric bill. But Sept and October, my net usage was 0, so my bill was $15 (the monthly customer charge). And I banked almost 400 kwh in those 3 months. Overall, I'm happy with my solar. The panels that I chose aren't the cheapest around but they are one of the best on the market. The Evoke team have specific people dedicated to each step, from ordering to permits to install to post-install. And you can get one of the owners (husband/wife) on the phone easily if you have questions, Very easy to work with.
4.73 583 Reviews
Klensi, 2 days ago
I’m happy with the service and everything going good till now
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Klensi, 2 days ago
I’m happy with the service and everything going good till now
4.66 48 Reviews
The Hess Family, 2 weeks ago
The process was very easy and quick. Almost everything was done via text or email. The workers that did the installation were superb! They were so friendly and did excellent, neat work. They made it a point to keep us informed of everything they did. We were extremely pleased.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$12,000 ($2.40 per watt)
The Hess Family, 2 weeks ago
The process was very easy and quick. Almost everything was done via text or email. The workers that did the installation were superb! They were so friendly and did excellent, neat work. They made it a point to keep us informed of everything they did. We were extremely pleased.
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 | $2.04 |
LG Solar | $2.43 |
SunPower | $2.55 |
Panasonic | $2.46 |
LONGi Solar | $1.97 |
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 Branchdale 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 Branchdale.
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) | 10.17 kW |
Annual power generation | 11,317 kWh |
Pay-back time (assuming Cash purchase) | 9.5 Years |
Internal rate of return (IRR) on investment | 6% |
Gross cost | $23,447 |
Total Upfront Incentives and Rebates | -$6,097 |
Net Cost of System after rebated and incentives | $17,353 |
Total Cost of Utility Power Avoided over 25 years | $58,076 |