Solar panel cost in California — and is it worth it in 2026?

Estimate your real solar savings in California — using the April 2026 average residential electricity rate (35.25¢/kWh, EIA), 5.8 peak sun hours per day (NREL), and 2026 installed-cost estimates. No email required.

2026 update: the 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025. Many calculators still include it — this one doesn't. All results below are honest post-credit math for a purchased system.

How much do solar panels cost in California? (2026)

Solar panels in California average about $2.80 per watt installed in 2026. A system sized to cover a typical $150/month electric bill — around 3.1 kW — costs roughly $8,659 before incentives. Because the 30% federal solar tax credit ended December 31, 2025, California buyers in 2026 pay the full amount minus any state incentives. Adjust the calculator below for your own bill, rate and roof.

Your average monthly electric bill ($)

Electricity rate (¢/kWh) — prefilled with the CA average

Roof sun exposure

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System size

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Est. installed cost

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Year-1 savings

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Payback period

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25-yr net savings

How California compares

California ranks #2 of 50 states we track for estimated 25-year net savings at a $150/month bill. The state average electricity rate is 35.25¢/kWh versus roughly 18.83¢ nationally — higher rates make every solar kWh worth more here. At 5.8 peak sun hours and ~$2.80/W installed, the default scenario pays back in about 4.6 years.

California incentives that still exist in 2026

NEM 3.0 pays much less for exported power than the old net metering — pairing with a battery improves the math. SGIP battery rebates available.

Frequently asked questions

Is solar worth it in California in 2026?

For a typical $150/month electric bill, our model estimates a 4.6-year payback and about $49,000 in net savings over 25 years in California, without any federal tax credit. Whether that is "worth it" depends on how long you plan to own the home and how you finance the system.

Is the 30% federal solar tax credit still available in 2026?

No. The residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Homeowners who purchase solar in 2026 receive no federal tax credit. Third-party-owned systems (lease or PPA) may still capture the commercial 48E credit through 2027, which can show up as lower lease rates.

What solar incentives does California still offer?

NEM 3.0 pays much less for exported power than the old net metering — pairing with a battery improves the math. SGIP battery rebates available.

How much does a solar system cost in California in 2026?

Installed costs in California average roughly $2.80 per watt. A system sized to offset a $150/month bill (about 3.1 kW) runs around $8,500 before any state incentives.

Methodology & sources

Electricity rate: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A — average residential price, April 2026 (published June 25, 2026). Prefilled for California; editable above.
Solar production: 5.8 average daily peak sun hours (NREL solar resource data (average daily peak sun hours, long-term)), a 22% system derate, and 0.5%/yr panel degradation.
Cost: $2.80/W installed (2026 installed-cost estimates aggregated from published installer marketplace data; actual quotes vary).
Savings: assumes production offsets consumption at the retail rate with 2.5%/yr rate escalation. States with reduced export credits (e.g. CA NEM 3.0) will see lower real savings unless paired with storage.
Federal policy: The federal residential clean energy credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21). Purchased systems in 2026 receive no federal tax credit. Third-party-owned systems (lease/PPA) may still benefit from the commercial 48E credit through 2027.
Excludes maintenance and inverter replacement (typically $1–2k over 25 years) and financing costs.

Solar savings by state

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