Prices and savings
What do solar panels cost in 2026?
The short answer
As of October 2026, solar typically costs about 90c a watt installed, after the federal rebate and with GST: about $4,500 to $8,500 for 6.6 kW, about $8,000 to $12,000 for 10 kW and about $10,000 to $15,500 for 13 kW, based on current installer prices on Homerise and published Australian market data. Premium panels and inverters sit at the top of each range. The federal solar rebate is worth about $1,665 on 6.6 kW in Sydney and gets smaller every 1 January until 2030.
How much does solar cost, installed?
Solar typically costs about 90c a watt after the federal solar rebate, GST included, with standard installation (October 2026):
| System | Typical price | Panels (about) |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6 kW | about $4,500 to $8,500 | 15 |
| 10 kW | about $8,000 to $12,000 | 22 to 23 |
| 13 kW | about $10,000 to $15,500 | 29 to 30 |
Ranges, not quotes, from current installer prices on Homerise and published Australian market data. Standard products sit lower in each range and premium ones higher. Perth tends to be cheapest; Hobart and especially Darwin cost more. Your price depends on your roof and switchboard: we show it before you share your details, and your installer confirms it after a site check.
Per watt, bigger systems cost a little less: the installation, the inverter's base cost and the paperwork don't double when the panels do.
How much is the solar rebate?
The federal solar rebate comes as small-scale technology certificates (STCs). How many you get depends on the system's size, your postcode's zone (sunnier zones get more) and the year it's installed: systems installed now are credited with 5 years of output, falling to 4 from 1 January 2027, then by a year each January until it ends after 2030.
| City | 6.6 kW | 10 kW | 13.2 kW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney zone 3 | $1,665 | $2,553 | $3,367 |
| Melbourne zone 4 | $1,443 | $2,183 | $2,886 |
| Brisbane zone 3 | $1,665 | $2,553 | $3,367 |
| Adelaide zone 3 | $1,665 | $2,553 | $3,367 |
| Perth zone 3 | $1,665 | $2,553 | $3,367 |
| Hobart zone 4 | $1,443 | $2,183 | $2,886 |
| Canberra zone 3 | $1,665 | $2,553 | $3,367 |
| Darwin zone 2 | $1,850 | $2,812 | $3,737 |
Estimates at an STC value of $37 after fees, for each capital's CBD postcode. Work out yours with the STC calculator. More: solar rebates in 2026.
What size solar system do you need?
Most homes now install 6.6 to 13 kW. A 6.6 kW system is about 15 panels of 440 W. Size it to your use and your plans: an electric car, going all-electric or a battery later all justify more panels; exporting a lot at a few cents a kWh doesn't. See kW vs kWh and feed-in tariffs.
What changes the price of solar?
Five things change the price of solar:
- System size. More panels cost more in total and a little less per watt.
- Panels and inverter. Brands and efficiency differ in price; a hybrid inverter costs more now and makes a battery easier later.
- Your roof. A two- or three-storey roof, a tiled roof, three-phase power or a switchboard upgrade each add from a few hundred dollars to about $1,200.
- Where you live. Your STC zone, and state help where you qualify (see rebates in your state).
- When it's installed. STCs fall each 1 January until 2030.
Solar with a battery?
A battery adds about $3,663 of federal rebate on 15 kWh if installed now, and usually a hybrid inverter. See solar battery cost.
Questions people ask
How much does solar cost in Australia in 2026?
Typically about 90c a watt installed after the federal rebate: about $4,500 to $8,500 for 6.6 kW and about $8,000 to $12,000 for 10 kW (October 2026, current installer prices on Homerise and published market data).
How much is a 6.6 kW solar system?
About $4,500 to $8,500 installed after the rebate. The federal rebate on 6.6 kW is about $1,665 in Sydney and $1,443 in Melbourne if installed now.
How much is a 10 kW solar system?
About $8,000 to $12,000 installed after the rebate. The rebate on 10 kW is about $2,553 in Sydney and $2,183 in Melbourne if installed now.
Does the solar rebate end?
It falls each 1 January and ends after 2030, so the same system earns fewer certificates each year.
Is the price per watt lower for bigger systems?
A little. Installation and the inverter don't double when the panels do, so a 13 kW system usually costs less per watt than 6.6 kW.
Sources
- Clean Energy Regulator: Rooftop solar
- Clean Energy Regulator: Calculate STC entitlements
- Clean Energy Regulator: Postcode zone ratings
General information, not financial advice. Rebate rules change: figures on this page come from our rules table, last verified 26 September 2026. How we're paid: installers pay Homerise for introducing you. No brand or installer pays to be mentioned in a guide.