As of August 2026, solar panels in Pennsylvania cost about $2.57 to $3.16 per watt installed, so a typical home system runs roughly $15,400 to $24,600 before any financing (EnergySage, August 2026; SolarReviews, 2026). With no state rebate, no state tax credit, and the 30% federal credit gone, a Pennsylvania system pays for itself in roughly 10 to 11 years on bill savings plus SREC income (MySolarFY model, August 2026).
Pennsylvania solar cost, dated August 2026
- $2.57 to $3.16 per watt installed cost for residential solar in Pennsylvania (EnergySage, August 2026; SolarReviews, 2026).
- $15,400 to $24,600 the price range for a typical 6 kW to 7.8 kW Pennsylvania system before financing (MySolarFY, from the $/W range above).
- about 10 to 11 years the simple payback for a Pennsylvania home system on bill savings plus SREC income (MySolarFY model, August 2026).
- 20.92 cents per kWh the Pennsylvania residential electricity rate your solar offsets (EIA, March 2026).
- $0 federal credit the 30% residential credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so a 2026 PA buyer gets no federal help (IRS, 2026).
How much do solar panels cost in Pennsylvania right now?
Pennsylvania sits near the national average on price, not at the cheap or the expensive extreme. National residential solar averaged about $3.36 per watt in 2025 (SEIA Solar Market Insight, 2025), so Pennsylvania’s low-$3 and high-$2 per-watt range is a touch below the national figure. The catch is that a lower sticker price does not automatically mean a fast payback, because Pennsylvania’s electricity rate and incentives are also middling. For the national picture and how sizing works everywhere, see our guide to how much solar panels cost; this page keeps the numbers Pennsylvania-specific.
Pennsylvania solar cost by system size
| System size | Installed price at $2.57 to $3.16 per watt | Est. annual production | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | about $15,400 to $19,000 | about 7,700 kWh | A smaller home or a lower electric bill |
| 7.2 kW | about $18,500 to $22,800 | about 9,300 kWh | A typical Pennsylvania single-family home |
| 7.8 kW | about $20,000 to $24,600 | about 10,000 kWh | A larger home or added EV or heat-pump load |
Prices computed by MySolarFY (August 2026) from the $2.57 to $3.16 per watt Pennsylvania range (EnergySage, August 2026; SolarReviews, 2026). Production from NREL PVWatts v8 runs averaging about 1,290 kWh per kW per year across Harrisburg (17101), Philadelphia (19103), and Pittsburgh (15213). These are pre-financing estimates; a real quote varies with equipment, roof, and installer. Estimate your own roof with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator.
See what solar actually costs at your Pennsylvania address
Prices, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we’ll match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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.
Pennsylvania solar payback: our model, with the inputs shown
| System size | Installed price range | Bill savings at 20.92 cents per kWh | SREC income at $23.50 | Combined annual value | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,400 to $19,000 | about $1,620 | about $180 | about $1,800 | about 8.6 to 10.5 years |
| 7.2 kW | $18,500 to $22,800 | about $1,940 | about $220 | about $2,160 | about 8.6 to 10.5 years |
| 7.8 kW | $20,000 to $24,600 | about $2,100 | about $240 | about $2,340 | about 8.6 to 10.5 years |
MySolarFY payback model, August 2026. Inputs, all shown so you can check the math: installed cost $2.57 to $3.16 per watt (EnergySage, August 2026; SolarReviews, 2026); production about 1,290 kWh per kW per year (NREL PVWatts v8, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh); Pennsylvania residential rate 20.92 cents per kWh (EIA, March 2026); Pennsylvania SREC $23.50 per credit at 1 credit per 1,000 kWh (Flett Exchange, accessed July 2026). Simple payback = installed price divided by combined annual value; it does not discount future dollars. Real-world payback usually lands near the top of each range, around 10 to 11 years, because a fixed monthly customer charge stays on your bill and any year-end net-metering surplus is trued up at the lower price-to-compare rate, not full retail.
Two honest adjustments push the real number toward the longer end. First, net metering credits your monthly exports near retail, but any surplus left at the annual true-up is paid at the lower price-to-compare rate, so a system sized well above your usage saves less per kWh on that surplus (DSIRE, as of 2026). Second, your utility keeps a fixed monthly customer charge whether you make your own power or not, so solar does not zero out the bill. That is why we quote roughly 10 to 11 years rather than the low end of the simple range. For how Pennsylvania stacks up against other states on payback, see our state solar payback index, and to weigh the whole decision read is solar worth it in 2026.
Which utility you are on nudges the payback within that band. Pennsylvania’s big investor-owned utilities, PECO in the Philadelphia area, PPL across central and eastern Pennsylvania, and Duquesne Light around Pittsburgh, each set their own default-service “price to compare,” and that is the rate any year-end net-metering surplus is trued up at, not full retail (DSIRE, as of 2026). Southeastern roofs also see more sun than western ones, so a Philadelphia PECO customer tends to land at the shorter end of the 10-to-11-year range and a Pittsburgh Duquesne Light customer at the longer end. For one utility’s specifics, see PPL Pennsylvania solar and net metering.
What drives the price up or down in Pennsylvania
Getting more than one quote is the cheapest way to lower your Pennsylvania price. The same house can get bids that differ by thousands of dollars for similar equipment, so comparing itemized quotes side by side is where real money is saved. Screen any installer on NABCEP certification, proper Pennsylvania licensing, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, and a clear production estimate you can hold them to. For a full checklist, see how to compare solar installers.
What Pennsylvania does not have to lower the price
– No state solar rebate. The old Pennsylvania Sunshine rebate closed in 2013, and there is no statewide solar rebate in 2026 (Penn State Extension, January 2025). Nothing lowers your up-front price at the state level.
– No state solar income-tax credit. Pennsylvania does not offer a state income-tax credit for going solar, so unlike a handful of other states there is no state credit to stack (Penn State Extension, January 2025).
– No solar sales-tax exemption and no statewide property-tax exemption. Pennsylvania does not exempt solar equipment from its 6% sales tax, and there is no statewide property-tax exemption, so a system can add to your assessed value depending on your county (Penn State Extension, January 2025). Ask your county assessor how they treat solar before you install.
– No 30% federal homeowner credit. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a Pennsylvania homeowner who buys with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ, 2026). Do not let any quote assume the old 30% credit is still available.
Two honest cautions: first, the 30% federal residential credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so treat any quote that still subtracts it as wrong (IRS, 2026). Second, there is no such thing as free solar in Pennsylvania; a lease or PPA can mean no up-front cost where you qualify, but you still pay for the power monthly, and the panels are not free. What Pennsylvania does give a system owner is real: full-retail net metering and SREC income, covered in how Pennsylvania net metering works and what a Pennsylvania SREC pays.
Cash, loan, lease, or PPA: how you pay changes the cost
| How you pay | Up-front cost | Who owns the system | Who keeps the SRECs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full system price ($15,400 to $24,600) | You | You earn and sell them | Lowest lifetime cost, fastest payback |
| Solar loan | Little or none, financed | You | You earn and sell them | Ownership with no big up-front check |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where you qualify | A third-party company | The company keeps them | No up-front cost, no ownership |
On a lease or power purchase agreement, the company that owns the panels keeps the SRECs and any owner tax benefit; your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost where eligible. Lease and PPA terms are long-term agreements, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing; solar panels are not free. Owning with cash or a loan is the only path that keeps the SREC income in your pocket.
Is solar worth the cost in Pennsylvania?
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your Pennsylvania area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. See how MySolarFY works and how we research and source every page, and for the broader Pennsylvania picture start with our Pennsylvania solar guide.
See what solar costs at your Pennsylvania address →
Frequently asked questions
How much do solar panels cost in Pennsylvania in 2026?
As of August 2026, residential solar in Pennsylvania costs about $2.57 to $3.16 per watt installed, so a typical 6 kW to 7.8 kW system runs roughly $15,400 to $24,600 before financing (EnergySage, August 2026; SolarReviews, 2026). Pennsylvania has no state rebate or tax credit to lower that price, and the 30% federal credit ended after December 31, 2025, so the pre-incentive price is close to your final cost. Get more than one itemized quote, because bids for the same house often differ by thousands of dollars.
What is the payback period for solar in Pennsylvania?
Roughly 10 to 11 years for a typical owned system, based on our August 2026 model. Payback comes from the power you no longer buy at the 20.92 cents per kWh retail rate through full-retail net metering (EIA, March 2026; DSIRE, as of 2026), plus about $180 to $240 a year in SREC income (Flett Exchange, accessed July 2026). The simple math lands at about 8.6 to 10.5 years, but a fixed monthly customer charge and a lower true-up rate on annual surplus push the real figure toward 10 to 11 years.
What is the cost per watt for solar in Pennsylvania?
About $2.57 to $3.16 per watt installed in 2026. EnergySage’s Pennsylvania marketplace data shows roughly $2.57 per watt (EnergySage, August 2026), and SolarReviews’ Pennsylvania guide shows about $3.16 per watt (SolarReviews, 2026). That is a little below the national average of about $3.36 per watt in 2025 (SEIA, 2025). Where you fall in the range depends on the panel and inverter tier, whether you add a battery, and your roof.
Are there any Pennsylvania solar rebates or tax credits to lower the cost?
No. Pennsylvania has no statewide solar rebate, no state solar income-tax credit, no solar sales-tax exemption, and no statewide property-tax exemption in 2026 (Penn State Extension, January 2025). The old Pennsylvania Sunshine rebate closed in 2013. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a 2026 Pennsylvania buyer cannot claim it either (IRS, 2026). The real value in Pennsylvania is bill savings, net metering, and SREC income, not up-front cash.
Does the federal solar tax credit still lower the cost in Pennsylvania?
No. 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 Pennsylvania homeowner who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it (IRS, 2026). A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, can apply to a leased or PPA system, but the business that owns the panels claims it, not the homeowner. See what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
Is a 7 kW solar system enough for a Pennsylvania home?
For many Pennsylvania homes, yes. A 7.2 kW system produces about 9,300 kWh a year based on real NREL PVWatts runs, which covers a large share of a typical household’s usage. If you have high usage, an electric vehicle, or a heat pump, look at 7.8 kW or larger; if your bill is modest, 6 kW may be plenty. Size to your own usage rather than a round number, and check your roof’s likely output with the free PVWatts calculator before you sign.
Reviewed by the SolarFY Editor, August 2026. Cost-per-watt figures were read from the EnergySage and SolarReviews Pennsylvania pages (accessed August 2026); production is from NREL PVWatts v8 runs; the electricity rate is from EIA (March 2026); the SREC price is from the Flett Exchange Pennsylvania market (accessed July 2026); incentive and net-metering facts were verified against Penn State Extension, DSIRE, and IRS sources. Solar prices, SREC prices, net-metering rules, and program status change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation.
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 are long-term agreements, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the SRECs and any owner tax benefit go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit (Section 25D) that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, SREC prices, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
