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Solar Panels & Home Batteries: how to choose

Compare rooftop solar panels, inverters, and batteries for household electricity, backup power, and long-term energy planning.

Lifespan, DIY and permitsDIY: pro-only; roof work, electrical connecti10 brands7 cost linesUpdated Nov 2026

Decide these first

  1. How much electricity does your home use across a full year?
  2. Is your roof unshaded, in good condition, and suitable for panels?
  3. Do you want outage backup, bill savings, or both?
  4. Will you buy the system, finance it, or use a lease or power agreement?
  5. What do your utility's export credits and interconnection rules allow?

Specs that actually matter

TermWhat it meansLook for
Annual electricity useYour past utility bills show how much generation a system should be sized to provide.Use 12 months of bills; include planned EVs or heat pumps.
System capacityKilowatts describe the combined rated output of the solar array.Compare modeled production for your address with NREL PVWatts.
Roof suitabilityRoof age, shade, direction, slope, and structure affect production and installation choices.Resolve likely roof repairs and shading before signing.
InverterAn inverter converts panel electricity into power your home can use.Check system compatibility, monitoring, warranty, and backup configuration.
Battery capacity and outputKilowatt-hours measure stored energy; kilowatts measure how quickly it can be delivered.Size backup around essential loads, desired runtime, and outage goals.

Good, better, best

Good

A grid-tied array with standard panels and monitoring, sized to your current electricity use.

$18,261–$36,409 installed for a typical home system

Better

Higher-output panels and a well-matched inverter for tighter roof-space or monitoring needs.

$20,000–$27,000 for a typical installed system

Best

A solar array paired with battery storage and controls configured for selected backup loads.

$6,000–$12,000 installed for a battery, plus the solar system

What it costs

ItemUnitTypical US rangeSource
4 kW residential solar system, installed
Installed project range; roof, equipment, and electrical work affect the quote.		project$8,000 to $13,000Angi (2026)
6 kW residential solar system, installed
Installed project range; local labor and roof complexity vary.		project$12,000 to $19,000Angi (2026)
8 kW residential solar system, installed
Installed project range; excludes any separate battery system.		project$15,000 to $23,000Angi (2026)
10 kW residential solar system, installed
Installed project range; upgrades and roof repairs can add cost.		project$18,000 to $27,000Angi (2026)
Home solar battery system, installed
Includes battery and installation labor; capacity and wiring needs affect total.		project$6,000 to $12,000Angi (2026)
Solar battery installation labor
Labor only; battery and other equipment are additional.		project$2,000 to $3,500Angi (2026)
400-watt solar panel, retail
Panel only; material only; retail or online listings.		each$280 to $430Solar.com (2026)

Calculators

Solar system size and cost

System size, panel count and gross cost from your yearly electricity use.

Results

Solar system size and cost

Major brands and where to buy

Links go to each manufacturer. Tier is a rough price position, not a quality score.

QcellsResidential panels and complete energy solutionsMidREC GroupHigh-efficiency residential solar panelsPremiumCanadian SolarSolar modules and energy storageValueJinkoSolarSolar modules and storage systemsValueSilfab SolarNorth American-made residential panelsMidEnphaseMicroinverters, batteries, and energy managementMidSolarEdgeInverters, batteries, and home energy systemsMidTeslaSolar panels, roofing, and Powerwall storagePremiumFranklinWHWhole-home energy storage and backupPremiumGeneracHome batteries and energy managementMid

Retailers

EnergySageThe Home DepotLowe'sSignature Solar

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Signing before checking roof condition, shade, and likely replacement timing.
  • Sizing from home square footage instead of electricity use and future loads.
  • Comparing quotes with different system sizes, equipment, or financing fees.
  • Assuming a battery can power every appliance for any length of outage.
  • Overlooking local export-credit rules, utility approval, permits, and inspections.

Questions to ask a pro

  1. How did you model production for my roof, shade, and utility rate?
  2. What equipment, permits, utility approvals, and electrical upgrades are included?
  3. Which loads can the battery support, and for how long under my usage?
  4. What are the cash price, financing total, warranties, and service terms?

How long it lasts

Panels commonly last 25–30 years; batteries often need replacement after 10–15 years.

Can you DIY it?

pro-only; roof work, electrical connections, permits, and grid interconnection call for qualified professionals.

Permits

Solar installations typically need local building and electrical permits, utility approval, and inspection; confirm requirements with your jurisdiction and utility.

Ready to hire?

Get up to 3 quotes from licensed, insured local pros.

Trusted resources

From the Journal

Sources

  1. https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-install-solar-panels.htm
  2. https://www.angi.com/articles/solar-battery-cost.htm
  3. https://www.solar.com/learn/solar-panel-cost/
  4. https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/distributed_solar_storage-2026_data_update_final.pdf
  5. https://stage.energy.gov/cmei/systems/homeowners-guide-solar

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