How much do solar panels cost in Honolulu?
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Most 8 kW solar installs in Honolulu cost $20,300–$32,000 for an 8 kW home system with standard panels, installed. $24,800 is the typical price, and there is no federal tax credit to take off it in 2026.
How we get this data- Typical
- $24,800
- Low end
- $17,150
- High end
- $39,850
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Honolulu's price band
Honolulu is pricier than 94% of the 195 US metros we price for solar panel work.
Expect $20,300–$32,000 for 8 kW of panels, $24,700–$38,850 for 10 kW, and $12,250–$19,700 more for a Tesla Powerwall 3. Every price here is before incentives, and the federal homeowner credit is gone for 2026 installs.
Hawaii pays the highest electricity prices in the country (38 cents a kWh across all customers in EIA's 2024 data), and Hawaiian Electric's programs for new solar customers favor using your own power over exporting it, so nearly every Oahu quote includes a battery. Hawaii's state credit is 35% of the cost, up to $5,000.
Prices are before incentives. The federal homeowner credit is gone for 2026 installs (it ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025), so any help now comes from your state, your utility or a lease company's own business credit.
Comparing cities, or after the US-wide picture? See the national guide: Solar panel cost in the USA.
$20,300–$32,000 installed in Honolulu for an 8 kW home solar system with standard panels, typically $24,800 with no federal tax credit in 2026. That is about $3,100 per kW. Verified November 2026. Get free Honolulu quotes →
- 8 kW system, installed: $20,300–$32,000 ($24,800 typical, about $3,100 per kW)
- 6 kW: $16,000–$25,150; 10 kW: $24,700–$38,850; premium panels add 10–25%
- Battery added with solar: $9,600–$19,700 for 10–13.5 kWh
- No federal tax credit for systems you own installed after December 31, 2025
- About 37 kWh a day from 8 kW at local sun levels; exports earn less here, so use or store the power
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 42+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Installed prices before any state or utility incentive, and with no federal credit. Honolulu metro, re-verified November 2026. Battery and inverter hardware is priced nationally, so those lines move less from city to city.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 kW solar system, standard panelsinstalled | $20,300installed | $24,800 | $32,000 |
| 6 kW solar system, standard panelsinstalled | $16,000installed | $19,500 | $25,150 |
| 6 kW solar system, premium panelsinstalled | $17,600installed | $22,400 | $31,450 |
| 8 kW solar system, premium panelsinstalled | $22,350installed | $28,500 | $40,000 |
| 10 kW solar system, standard panelsinstalled | $24,700installed | $30,100 | $38,850 |
| 10 kW solar system, premium panelsinstalled | $27,200installed | $34,650 | $48,600 |
| 12–13 kW solar system for a large homeinstalled | $29,400installed | $37,100 | $49,300 |
| Price per kW, standard panelsper kW | $2,550per kW | $3,100 | $4,000 |
| 5 kWh battery added with solarinstalled | $5,850installed | $7,450 | $9,050 |
| 10–13 kWh battery added with solarinstalled | $9,600installed | $13,850 | $18,100 |
| Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh), installedinstalled | $12,250installed | $15,700 | $19,700 |
| Hybrid inverter upgrade (battery-ready)installed | $2,650installed | $3,750 | $5,850 |
| String inverter replacementinstalled | $1,600installed | $2,450 | $3,750 |
| Microinverter replacement, one unit (out of warranty)per unit | $330per unit | $490 | $810 |
| Solar panel cleaning (15–25 panels)per visit | $170per visit | $330 | $550 |
| System health check / inspectionper visit | $170per visit | $280 | $390 |
| Remove and reinstall panels for a re-roof (about 20 panels)per job | $3,900per job | $5,550 | $8,850 |
| Critter guard around the array (8–10 kW)installed | $780installed | $1,350 | $1,900 |
| Main panel upgrade for solar (to 200 amps)installed | $1,650installed | $2,700 | $4,900 |
| Monitoring subscription, where chargedper year | $0per year | $120 | $240 |
| Ground mount instead of roof mount (8 kW)extra | $4,450extra | $7,200 | $11,050 |
| Clay or concrete tile roofextra | $1,100extra | $1,950 | $2,750 |
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Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 42+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Figures cover the Honolulu metro area. Jobs in Downtown, Chinatown & Kakaako can run higher; simple roofs in Kapolei & the Windward side sit closer to the low end.
Solar panel prices across Honolulu
The panels cost the same across Honolulu; the roofs do not. Flat and older roofs in Downtown, Chinatown & Kakaako push labor up, and big simple roofs in Kapolei & the Windward side keep it down.
Downtown, Chinatown & Kakaako
- 8 kW installed
- $21,500–$34,550 installed
- Typical job
- $16,950–$41,950 / 6–10 kW system
The priciest part of the metro to install in: tight access, older wiring and roofs that may need work first. The panels cost the same; the labor and paperwork do not.
Kalihi & Waipahu
- 8 kW installed
- $20,300–$32,000 installed
- Typical job
- $16,000–$38,850 / 6–10 kW system
Middle-of-the-range jobs. Good roof space on most homes; tree shade is the thing to check.
Kaimuki & Mānoa
- 8 kW installed
- $20,100–$31,350 installed
- Typical job
- $15,850–$38,050 / 6–10 kW system
Smaller, older houses and many rentals. Owners pay standard metro prices, and small roofs often cap the system at 6 kW or less.
Kapolei & the Windward side
- 8 kW installed
- $19,900–$32,000 installed
- Typical job
- $15,700–$38,850 / 6–10 kW system
Big roofs and big bills. Larger systems cost less per kW, and this is where most 10–12 kW jobs in the metro are.
Real solar jobs in Honolulu
Here's what common solar panel jobs cost in Honolulu in 2026, installed, before incentives.
Smaller home: 6 kW, standard panels
About 28 kWh on an average day at Honolulu's sun levels. Smaller systems cost more per kW, about $3,250 here against $3,100 for 8 kW.
Typical home: 8 kW, standard panels
About 37 kWh a day and 13,600 kWh a year. $24,800 is the typical Honolulu price for a pitched shingle roof in good shape.
Solar plus a Powerwall 3
An 8 kW system with a 13.5 kWh battery for outages and evening use. Doing both in one job shares the crew, the permit and the utility paperwork.
Big home or EV owner: 10 kW, premium panels
Premium panels make more power per square foot, which helps on small or shaded roofs. Standard panels at 10 kW are $24,700–$38,850.
Re-roof with solar already on it
Taking about 20 panels off and putting them back after the roofers leave, on top of the roof itself. If your roof has less than 10 years left, replace it before solar goes on.
How much do solar panels cost in Honolulu?
An 8 kW system costs $20,300–$32,000 to install in Honolulu; $24,800 is the middle of the market. The low end is standard panels on an easy roof from a local installer. The high end adds premium panels, a hard roof or a big national brand's sales costs.
There is no federal credit to take off these numbers any more. What still cuts the bill in Honolulu is a second or third quote, the right system size for your actual use, and any state or utility program. Figures re-verified against 42 sources in November 2026.
Solar prices in Honolulu (2026): the lines on a quote
An 8 kW system is $20,300–$32,000 installed, a battery adds $9,600–$19,700, and a panel upgrade adds $1,650–$4,900 if your panel is full.
| Line on the quote | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 kW system, standard panels | $20,300 | $24,800 | $32,000 |
| 8 kW system, premium panels | $22,350 | $28,500 | $40,000 |
| Tesla Powerwall 3, added at install | $12,250 | $15,700 | $19,700 |
| Main panel upgrade (to 200 amps) | $1,650 | $2,700 | $4,900 |
| Tile roof, extra | $1,100 | $1,950 | $2,750 |
| Ground mount, extra | $4,450 | $7,200 | $11,050 |
| Critter guard | $780 | $1,350 | $1,900 |
| String inverter replacement (later) | $1,600 | $2,450 | $3,750 |
The panels are the most visible line, but not where Honolulu quotes differ most. Compare the inverter type, the warranty, and whether roof work, a panel upgrade and permits are in the price.
What moves a solar quote in Honolulu:
- System size — bigger systems cost less per kW: about $3,250 at 6 kW against $3,000 at 10 kW.
- Panel and inverter brand — premium panels run 10–25% more; microinverters cost more than one string inverter but last longer.
- The roof — tile adds $1,100–$2,750, a ground mount $4,450–$11,050, and a worn roof should be replaced first.
- The electrical panel — a full or 100-amp panel can add $1,650–$4,900 for an upgrade.
- Who sells it — sales and marketing are about 15% of a typical price; local installers often quote less than national brands.
Ask every Honolulu installer for the same five things: system size in kW, panel and inverter models, the price per kW, the warranty terms, and what roof, panel and permit work is included. Compare those lines, not the total. Get a quote for your solar install →
Solar Panel Cost in Honolulu by System Size
A 6 kW system is $16,000–$25,150, 8 kW is $20,300–$32,000, and 10 kW is $24,700–$38,850, installed with standard panels, before any state or utility incentive.
Worked example: a Honolulu home using about 1,150 kWh a month gets an 8 kW system at $24,800. If the panel is 100 amps, add an upgrade at $2,700 for $27,500. Add a Powerwall 3 in the same job and the total is about $42,400.
A larger home with central AC or an EV may need 10–12 kW: $30,100 for 10 kW, or $37,100 for 12–13 kW at typical prices. Premium panels on 10 kW run $27,200–$48,600.
Honolulu Solar Panel Costs by System Size
| System size | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 4 kW system — about 19 kWh a day | $11,850–$18,650 installed | Small home or condo; low bills or a small roof |
| 6 kW system — about 28 kWh a day | $16,000–$25,150 installed | Smaller home or modest power use |
| 8 kW system — about 37 kWh a day | $20,300–$32,000 installed | Typical home; about 1,150 kWh a month of use |
| 10 kW system — about 47 kWh a day | $24,700–$38,850 installed | Larger home, central AC or one EV |
| 12 kW system — about 56 kWh a day | $29,400–$46,300 installed | Big home, pool or electric heat |
| 15 kW system — about 70 kWh a day | $35,500–$55,800 installed | Very large all-electric home or two EVs |
| 8 kW solar + 13.5 kWh battery | $31,950–$50,700 installed | Backup in outages and evening use where exports earn little |
| 13.5 kWh battery only (no solar) | $12,250–$19,700 installed | Backup without panels; shaded roofs |
Hardware vs everything else: where a Honolulu solar quote goes
Panels, inverter, racking and wiring are only about 41% of a typical US solar price. On a $24,800 Honolulu job that is roughly $10,150. Sales and marketing take about 15%, design, paperwork and overhead about 20%, installer profit about 16%, and the install labor itself only about 6%.
That is why the payback math matters more than the panel brand. An 8 kW system here makes about 13,600 kWh a year. At Hawaii's 2024 average of 38.0 cents a kWh across all customers (EIA; home rates usually run higher), that power is worth about $5,150 a year, a simple payback near 5 years. Hawaiian Electric's programs for new solar customers favor using your own power over exporting it, so real payback depends on how much you use at home or store.
What's included in a Honolulu solar quote (and what costs extra)
A standard quote covers the panels, inverter, racking, wiring, the install crew, permits, inspection and the utility hookup paperwork. The headline price often leaves out:
- Roof work — repairs, or $1,100–$2,750 extra for a tile roof
- Panel upgrade — $1,650–$4,900 if your electrical panel is full or 100 amps
- Critter guard — $780–$1,900 to keep birds and squirrels out from under the panels
- A battery — $9,600–$19,700 for 10–13.5 kWh of storage, if you want backup
Get the warranty terms in writing: panel and inverter years, the workmanship warranty, and who fixes roof leaks around the mounts.
What's local
Hawaii pays the highest electricity prices in the country (38 cents a kWh across all customers in EIA's 2024 data), and Hawaiian Electric's programs for new solar customers favor using your own power over exporting it, so nearly every Oahu quote includes a battery. Hawaii's state credit is 35% of the cost, up to $5,000.
System size
An 8 kW system is $20,300–$32,000. A 6 kW system is $16,000–$25,150 and 10 kW $24,700–$38,850; the price per kW drops as the system grows.
Panels and inverters
Premium panels add 10–25% ($22,350–$40,000 for 8 kW). Microinverters cost more upfront than one string inverter but usually carry 20–25 year warranties; a string inverter often needs replacing once ($1,600–$3,750).
Your roof
Clay or concrete tile adds $1,100–$2,750, a ground mount $4,450–$11,050. If the roof has less than about 10 years left, re-roof first: removing and reinstalling panels later costs $3,900–$8,850.
Your electrical panel
A full or 100-amp panel is a common surprise. Upgrading to 200 amps adds $1,650–$4,900 in Honolulu, and it is cheapest done with the solar job.
Adding a battery
A 10–13 kWh battery adds $9,600–$18,100, a Tesla Powerwall 3 $12,250–$19,700. Batteries make the most sense where outages are common or exports earn little.
Permits and the utility in Honolulu
Permits and inspections are about 3% of a typical price, and the utility must approve the hookup before you can switch on. Ask who files the paperwork; a good installer does all of it.
- Get three quotes.Same panels, different sales costs. Honolulu quotes for 8 kW run $20,300–$32,000; a second and third bid is the fastest way to find the padding.
- Compare the price per kW.Divide each quote by its size in kW. About $2,550–$3,100 per kW is a good Honolulu price for standard panels; much above $4,000 needs a reason.
- Size it to your bills, not your roof.Use 12 months of bills. A system that makes more than you use only pays off if your utility credits exports well.
- Fix the roof first.Re-roofing under existing panels means paying $3,900–$8,850 to take them off and put them back.
- Bundle the panel and battery work.A panel upgrade ($1,650–$4,900) or a battery done in the same job shares the permit, the inspection and the utility visit.
- Check state and utility help.Hawaii's state solar tax credit is 35% of the cost, up to $5,000 (state incentive guides, November 2026). Ask your utility about rebates and how it credits exports before you sign.
Before you pay a deposit to a Honolulu solar installer, get these in writing:
- System size in kW and the expected output in kWh a year
- Panel and inverter brand and model
- Price per kW and the total before incentives
- Roof work, tile or ground-mount extras, priced as their own lines
- Any panel upgrade, priced as its own line
- Permit, inspection and utility interconnection, and who files them
- Warranties: panels, inverter, workmanship and roof leaks
- Payment schedule, and what happens if the utility hookup is delayed
How much do solar panels cost in Honolulu?
$20,300–$32,000 installed for an 8 kW system, and $24,800 is typical. A 6 kW system is $16,000–$25,150 and 10 kW is $24,700–$38,850, before incentives.
What is the price per kW for solar in Honolulu?
About $3,100 per kW for an 8 kW system with standard panels, within $2,550–$4,000. Smaller systems cost more per kW and larger ones less.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in Honolulu?
Not for systems you buy. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and the IRS treats the expense as made when installation is complete. Lease and PPA companies may still claim a business credit and pass some of it on in their price.
How much does solar with a battery cost in Honolulu?
About $31,950–$50,700 for 8 kW of panels plus a Tesla Powerwall 3. A 10–13 kWh battery from another brand adds $9,600–$18,100 to the solar price.
How long does solar take to pay off in Honolulu?
Roughly 5 years for a typical 8 kW system at Hawaii's 2024 average power price from EIA (38.0 cents a kWh across all customers), with every kWh worth the full price. Hawaiian Electric's programs for new solar customers favor using your own power over exporting it, so real payback depends on how much you use at home or store.
How much power will an 8 kW system make in Honolulu?
About 37 kWh on an average day, or 13,600 kWh a year, based on about 5.8 peak sun hours a day for Honolulu in NREL data.
Do I need a new electrical panel for solar in Honolulu?
Not always. Many 200-amp panels take solar as they are. A full or 100-amp panel may need an upgrade, about $1,650–$4,900 here.
What does solar panel cleaning and upkeep cost in Honolulu?
Cleaning is $170–$550 a visit and a health check $170–$390. Many roofs never need cleaning; rain does most of it. Budget $1,600–$3,750 for one string inverter replacement over the life of the system.
How much does it cost to remove solar panels for a new roof in Honolulu?
$3,900–$8,850 to take about 20 panels off and put them back, on top of the roof itself.
What permits does solar need in Honolulu?
A building or electrical permit, an inspection, and the utility's approval to connect. Your installer should file all of it; permits and inspections are about 3% of a typical price.
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 42+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Prices for the Honolulu metro area, November 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
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