5 kW solar system, you'll spend anywhere from $16,600 to $20,500 before accounting for tax credits or rebates. Solar panels cost between $2. Average price of solar modules, expressed in US dollars per watt, adjusted for inflation. Data source: IRENA (2025); Nemet (2009); Farmer and Lafond (2016) – Learn more about this data Note: Costs are expressed in constant 2024 US$ per watt. Global estimates are used before 2010; European market. Each year, the U. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and its national laboratory partners analyze cost data for U. These benchmarks help measure progress toward goals for reducing solar electricity costs. As of 2026, the average cost of residential solar panels in the U. This typically translates to about $2. 50 per watt installed, making the technology more accessible than ever before. Federal Tax Credit Urgency: With Congress proposing to end the 30% federal tax credit after 2025, homeowners.
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