Solar with a battery vs solar only: what it costs
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Solar only
Typical home; about 970 kWh a month
Solar + battery
Backup in outages and evening use where exports earn little (California, Hawaii)
Solar only runs $18,350–$28,900 installed and solar + battery runs $29,300–$46,500 installed in the US (November 2026). Solar alone is the cheapest way to cut a power bill; a battery adds backup and helps most where exports earn little. See prices for your city ↓
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 42+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Solar System Sizes Compared: Cost, Output and Who Each Fits
An 8 kW system is the typical US home size at $18,350–$28,900 installed. Daily output assumes the US average of about 5 peak sun hours and normal losses; monthly use is what each size roughly covers.
| System size | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 4 kW system — about 16 kWh a day | $10,700–$16,850 installed | Small home or condo; about 480 kWh a month |
| 6 kW system — about 24 kWh a day | $14,450–$22,700 installed | Smaller home; about 730 kWh a month |
| 8 kW system — about 32 kWh a day | $18,350–$28,900 installed | Typical home; about 970 kWh a month |
| 10 kW system — about 40 kWh a day | $22,300–$35,100 installed | Larger home, central AC or one EV; about 1,200 kWh a month |
| 12 kW system — about 48 kWh a day | $26,550–$41,800 installed | Big home, pool or electric heat; about 1,450 kWh a month |
| 15 kW system — about 60 kWh a day | $32,050–$50,400 installed | Very large all-electric home or two EVs; about 1,800 kWh a month |
| 8 kW solar + 13.5 kWh battery | $29,300–$46,500 installed | Backup in outages and evening use where exports earn little (California, Hawaii) |
| 13.5 kWh battery only (no solar) | $11,500–$18,500 installed | Backup without panels, or a shaded roof |
Bigger systems cost less per kW: about $3,250 at 4 kW against $2,600 at 15 kW. Size yours on 12 months of bills, not on how much roof you have. Berkeley Lab puts the 2025 US median at 7.7 kW.
Solar Only vs Solar + Battery vs Battery Only
Solar alone is the cheapest way to cut a power bill; a battery adds backup and helps most where exports earn little. Here is how the three compare on a typical home.
| Factor | Solar only (8 kW) | Solar + battery | Battery only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost, installed | $18,350–$28,900 | $29,300–$46,500 with a Powerwall 3 | $11,500–$18,500 for 13.5 kWh |
| Power during an outage | No. Grid-tied panels shut off when the grid goes down | Yes. Runs essentials, and solar recharges the battery each day | Yes, until the battery runs down (hours to about a day) |
| Cuts your bill | Yes: about 11,600 kWh a year at average US sun | Yes, and shifts solar power into the evening peak | Only on time-of-use rates or utility battery programs |
| Simple payback | Fastest; about 8–16 years at 12–25 cents a kWh with full export credit | Slower; the battery adds cost faster than savings | Rarely pays back on savings alone |
| Best where | Exports are credited at the full rate (Florida's big utilities) | Exports earn little (California's Solar Billing Plan) or outages are common | You want backup but the roof is shaded or unsuitable |
| Federal credit in 2026 | None for systems you own | None for systems you own | None |
| Upkeep | Little; one string inverter swap in 10–15 years | Little; battery warranties are usually 10–15 years | Little; app monitoring |
Solar only if your utility credits exports at the full rate and outages are rare. Solar plus a battery if you are on California's Solar Billing Plan, in Hawaii, or in hurricane or wildfire-shutoff country. A battery alone only if backup is the goal and panels will not work on your roof.
Solar with or without a battery: prices in the largest US cities
Local installed prices for each option, November 2026. Open a city for its full price list and a free quote.
| City | Solar only | Solar + battery |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $20,800–$32,800 installed | $32,600–$51,800 installed |
| Los Angeles, CA | $18,950–$29,850 installed | $30,050–$47,750 installed |
| Chicago, IL | $19,850–$31,200 installed | $31,300–$49,650 installed |
| Dallas, TX | $17,300–$27,200 installed | $27,850–$44,150 installed |
| Houston, TX | $16,550–$26,100 installed | $26,850–$42,700 installed |
| Washington, DC | $21,050–$33,150 installed | $32,950–$52,300 installed |
| Atlanta, GA | $18,950–$29,850 installed | $30,100–$47,750 installed |
| Philadelphia, PA | $18,500–$29,100 installed | $29,450–$46,700 installed |
| Miami, FL | $9,350–$14,750 installed | $26,150–$41,550 installed |
| Phoenix, AZ | $16,400–$25,800 installed | $26,600–$42,250 installed |
| Boston, MA | $20,150–$31,700 installed | $31,750–$50,300 installed |
| San Francisco, CA | $19,300–$30,400 installed | $30,550–$48,500 installed |
| Riverside, CA | $18,350–$28,900 installed | $29,300–$46,500 installed |
| Detroit, MI | $19,650–$30,950 installed | $31,050–$49,300 installed |
| Seattle, WA | $18,950–$29,850 installed | $30,100–$47,750 installed |
| Minneapolis, MN | $19,600–$30,850 installed | $30,950–$49,150 installed |
| San Diego, CA | $18,750–$29,500 installed | $29,800–$47,250 installed |
| Tampa, FL | $9,650–$15,250 installed | $26,850–$42,700 installed |
| Orange County, CA | $18,750–$29,500 installed | $29,800–$47,250 installed |
| Denver, CO | $11,550–$18,150 installed | $31,250–$49,550 installed |
| Oakland, CA | $18,750–$29,500 installed | $29,800–$47,250 installed |
| Charlotte, NC | $18,150–$28,600 installed | $29,000–$46,100 installed |
| Baltimore, MD | $18,050–$28,400 installed | $28,900–$45,800 installed |
| St. Louis, MO | $17,500–$27,550 installed | $28,150–$44,650 installed |
| Orlando, FL | $9,650–$15,250 installed | $26,850–$42,700 installed |
Get two real solar panel quotes
Local licensed pros · free · max 2 will contact you · no spam.
- New York, NY →$20,800–$32,800 installed
- Los Angeles, CA →$18,950–$29,850 installed
- Chicago, IL →$19,850–$31,200 installed
- Dallas, TX →$17,300–$27,200 installed
- Houston, TX →$16,550–$26,100 installed
- Washington, DC →$21,050–$33,150 installed
- Atlanta, GA →$18,950–$29,850 installed
- Philadelphia, PA →$18,500–$29,100 installed
- Solar cost: full US guide →