Installed home solar in Florida commonly runs about $2.50 to $3.00 per watt before incentives, so a 7 kW system costs roughly $17,500 to $21,000 (confirm with local quotes). At Florida’s 15.38 cents per kWh power rate, with full 1:1 net metering, simple payback usually lands near 10 to 13 years. The federal 25D homeowner credit ended December 31, 2025.
Florida homeowners pay about 15.38 cents per kWh for electricity (EIA retail sales, residential Florida, as of April 2026), close to the national average, but the Sunshine State turns that rate into strong production and keeps full-retail net metering, so the money question is simple: what does a system cost here, and how fast does the bill it erases pay it back. This page walks the cost per watt, the payback math, and what changed in 2026. For the full incentive and utility picture, see our Florida solar incentives guide.
A 7 kW rooftop system in Tampa produces about 10,979 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), and at Florida’s 15.38 cents per kWh residential rate that is roughly $1,690 of grid power you stop buying each year (EIA, April 2026). Miami pencils out near 10,862 kWh and Orlando near 10,811 kWh. Because Florida credits exports 1:1 at full retail, every one of those kilowatt-hours counts against your bill, which is the engine behind the payback below.
How much does solar cost in Florida?
Price is quoted in dollars per watt of system size. A typical residential install commonly runs about $2.50 to $3.00 per watt before any incentives. That is a national benchmark, not a Florida filing, so treat the table as a starting point and get itemized local quotes to confirm your own $/W. Your price moves with system size, roof complexity, panel and inverter choice, whether you add a battery for storm backup, and the installer.
| System size | Fits a home that uses | Estimated installed cost ($2.50 to $3.00/W) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | Smaller bill, roughly $110 to $160/mo | About $12,500 to $15,000 |
| 7 kW | Average bill, roughly $160 to $260/mo | About $17,500 to $21,000 |
| 10 kW | Larger home, heavy AC, or an EV, $260+/mo | About $25,000 to $30,000 |
Cost ranges are a national $/W benchmark for planning, not a guaranteed price. Florida exempts solar equipment from the 6% state sales tax, so the hardware is bought tax-free (Florida Statutes 212.08(7)(hh)). Confirm your quote before you budget.
What is the solar payback in Florida?
Payback is cost divided by what you stop paying the utility. Florida’s rate is moderate, but strong year-round sun and full 1:1 net metering mean the annual bill offset is large and every exported kilowatt-hour is credited at full retail, which keeps the payback competitive. The table pairs the cost above with a production-based offset. Production is scaled from verified PVWatts figures for Tampa, Miami, and Orlando, then multiplied by the 15.38 cents per kWh rate.
| System size | Estimated annual production | Estimated yearly bill offset | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | About 7,780 kWh | About $1,200 | About 10 to 13 years |
| 7 kW | About 10,880 kWh | About $1,670 | About 10 to 13 years |
| 10 kW | About 15,550 kWh | About $2,390 | About 10 to 13 years |
Estimates, not a guarantee. Production is scaled from NREL PVWatts v8 runs for Tampa, Miami, and Orlando and priced at the current EIA rate. Because Florida uses full-retail 1:1 net metering, exported power is credited at the same rate you pay, so exports do not lengthen the payback. Rates, production, and prices vary, so verify your own numbers.
What moves your payback in 2026
Four things decide where you land in that 10 to 13 year window:
- Your electric rate. At about 15.38 cents per kWh, Florida is near the national average, but large year-round cooling loads make the total bill high in dollars, so a system erases a big yearly cost (EIA).
- Your production. Florida’s sun is strong, but roof pitch, orientation, and shading swing output. Estimate yours with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator before you size a system.
- Net metering. Florida credits exported power at the full retail rate, kilowatt-hour for kilowatt-hour, under Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065, and a 2022 bill (HB 741) that would have phased it down was vetoed, so the full-retail framework held into 2026 for FPL, Duke Energy Florida, and Tampa Electric (Florida PSC, verify current terms). For the mechanics, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
- No federal credit in 2026. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a Florida homeowner buying with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS). See what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
Florida’s incentive side leans on exemptions, not a state credit, and that is the honest part. Florida has no state personal income tax, so there is no state solar income-tax credit to lower your cost. What remains is real money: full-retail net metering, a 100% exemption from the 6% state sales tax on equipment (Florida Statutes 212.08(7)(hh)), and a property-tax exemption that excludes the value solar adds to your home from your assessment (DSIRE Florida, verify current terms). All three apply statewide, whether you are in Miami, Tampa, Orlando, or Jacksonville.
See your solar cost and payback for your Florida ZIP code
Prices, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area so you can compare real quotes.
Free to check. About a minute. No credit pull to check.
Submitted securely and used to match you with licensed installers in your area. Some homeowners may qualify for $0-up-front lease/PPA options where available.
How you pay changes the cost you carry
The sticker price is one thing; how you finance it decides your out-of-pocket and your payback.
| How you pay | Up-front cost | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full system price | You want the shortest payback and the most lifetime savings |
| Solar loan | Little or none, financed over time | You want to own the system with low money down and keep the tax exemptions |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where you qualify | You want no out-of-pocket cost and a lower or fixed power price without owning |
A lease or PPA has no up-front cost, but the company owns the panels, terms typically run 20 to 25 years and may include an annual escalator, and total payments can exceed a cash purchase. No 2026 Florida homeowner gets the federal residential credit, since that credit ended after December 31, 2025. If a $0-up-front path fits you, start by comparing your options with a free Florida solar quote match. Wondering if the numbers pencil for your home? See the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it, and if you are on the state’s largest utility, read our FPL Florida solar cost and net-metering guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does solar cost in Florida?
Installed home solar commonly runs about $2.50 to $3.00 per watt before incentives, so a 5 kW system is roughly $12,500 to $15,000, a 7 kW system is about $17,500 to $21,000, and a 10 kW system is about $25,000 to $30,000. Those are national planning benchmarks, not a Florida price filing, so get itemized local quotes to confirm your own dollars per watt. Florida exempts solar equipment from the 6% state sales tax, so the hardware is bought tax-free.
What is the payback on solar in Florida?
At Florida’s 15.38 cents per kWh rate, strong year-round sun and full 1:1 net metering give a typical system a large annual bill offset, so simple payback usually lands near 10 to 13 years, then years of largely free production follow. A 7 kW system in Tampa produces about 10,979 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts v8), roughly $1,690 of grid power at today’s rate (EIA, April 2026). Your real payback depends on your quote, your roof, and your utility.
Is there a Florida solar rebate or state tax credit in 2026?
No state income-tax credit, because Florida has no state personal income tax. What Florida does offer is a 100% exemption from the 6% state sales tax on solar equipment (Florida Statutes 212.08(7)(hh)) and a property-tax exemption that excludes the value solar adds to your home from your assessment. Both apply statewide and do not depend on the federal credit that ended after 2025.
Does a Florida homeowner qualify for the federal solar tax credit in 2026?
Not as a homeowner buying in 2026. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a cash or loan buyer cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner.
Does net metering improve the payback in Florida?
Yes. Florida credits exported power at the full retail rate, kilowatt-hour for kilowatt-hour, under Florida Public Service Commission Rule 25-6.065, and a 2022 bill (HB 741) that would have phased it down was vetoed, so the full-retail framework held into 2026 for FPL, Duke Energy Florida, and Tampa Electric. Municipal utilities like JEA and OUC and rural co-ops set their own terms, so confirm your utility’s current net-metering tariff before you size a system.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Cost and payback figures are estimates built from NREL PVWatts v8 production and the EIA Florida residential rate, with incentive facts verified against the Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Statutes, DSIRE, and IRS sources as of August 2026; prices, production, tariffs, and programs change, so confirm current numbers with local installer quotes and each source before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Cost, savings, payback, eligibility, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
