Quick Answer
How much does solar cost in Australia? The average cost is $4,000-$12,000 for most residential systems before battery add-ons.
Australia 2026
Solar Panel Installation Prices
Solar panel installation in Australia usually costs $4,800 to $9,300 for a standard 6.6kW system after the STC rebate, with premium systems reaching $12,000 or more. Most households pay about $6,120, while prices are generally lowest in Perth and highest in Darwin.
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Solar System Prices by Size
Standard tier — after STC rebate, fully installed with GST
| System Size | Best For | From | Average | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3kW~8 panels | Small home, low usage | $3,260 | $3,973 | $4,530 |
| 4kW~10 panels | Small-medium home | $3,650 | $4,713 | $6,640 |
| 5kW~12 panels | Average home | $4,080 | $5,305 | $7,480 |
| 6kW~16 panels | Average-large home | $4,800 | $6,120 | $9,320 |
| 7kW~18 panels | Large home | $5,360 | $6,876 | $10,200 |
| 10kW~24 panels | Large home or small business | $7,800 | $9,545 | $14,960 |
| 13kW~32 panels | Large home with pool/EV | $10,374 | $13,599 | $21,014 |
Based on 56 data points from the Solar Choice Price Index. Prices after STC rebate, fully installed. Last updated March 2026.
Most Popular: 6.6kW System
6.6kW is Australia's most popular solar system size — it maximises the 5kW single-phase inverter limit while qualifying for the most STC rebate certificates.
Typical Cost
$5,000–$7,000
After STC rebate
Daily Output
22–28 kWh
Varies by location
Payback Period
3–5 years
Depending on usage
Solar Prices by Country
Compare solar installation prices worldwide. Click a country for detailed pricing.
What Affects Solar Installation Price?
System Size
The biggest factor. A 3kW system starts from $3,260 while a 13kW system can cost $10,000–$21,000. Bigger isn't always better — match to your usage.
Panel & Inverter Quality
Premium panels (LG, SunPower, REC) cost 20-30% more than standard (Jinko, Trina, Canadian Solar) but offer better efficiency, warranties, and degradation rates.
Location
Perth and Adelaide are cheapest due to high installer competition. Darwin is most expensive (limited market, extreme conditions). Sydney and Melbourne are mid-range.
STC Rebate
The federal Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) rebate reduces upfront cost by ~$2,500 for a 6.6kW system. All prices shown include this rebate. The rebate decreases annually.
Government Rebates & STCs Explained
The federal government subsidises solar through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Here's how it works.
How the Federal STC Rebate Works
When you install solar, your system generates STCs based on its size and your location's solar zone. Your installer claims these certificates and gives you an upfront discount. For a 6.6kW system in 2026, this is worth approximately $2,500. The number of STCs decreases by one-fifteenth each year until the scheme ends in 2030, so installing sooner means a bigger rebate.
State Feed-in Tariffs (2026)
Feed-in tariffs pay you for excess solar electricity exported to the grid. Rates vary by state and retailer: NSW 4–8c/kWh, VIC 4.9c/kWh (minimum), QLD 5–10c/kWh, SA 5–12c/kWh, WA 2.25c/kWh (Synergy DEBS). These are well below retail electricity rates (28–38c/kWh), which is why self-consumption is far more valuable than exporting.
State-Specific Programs
VIC: Solar Homes Program offers interest-free loans for eligible households. NSW: Peak Demand Reduction Scheme incentivises battery storage. SA: Home Battery Scheme provides subsidies of up to $2,000 for battery installations. QLD: Battery Booster program for regional areas. Check your state government website for current eligibility.
Solar Panels vs Solar Hot Water
| Solar PV Panels | Solar Hot Water | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $4,500–$12,000 (6.6kW system) | $3,000–$7,000 installed |
| What It Powers | Everything — lights, appliances, AC, EV | Hot water only (25–30% of energy bill) |
| Payback | 3–5 years | 4–7 years |
| Lifespan | 25–30 years (panels), 10–15 years (inverter) | 15–20 years |
| Best For | Most households — greatest flexibility and savings | Homes with high hot water usage and limited roof space |
For most homes, solar PV panels are the better investment. They power everything (including a heat pump hot water system), offer faster payback, and qualify for larger rebates.
Solar Payback Period Guide
How long until your solar system pays for itself? It depends on system size, electricity usage, and self-consumption rate.
3kW System
4–6 years
Saves ~$800–$1,200/year. Best for low-usage homes or units with smaller roofs.
5kW System
3–5 years
Saves ~$1,200–$1,800/year. Good for average households with moderate daytime usage.
6.6kW System
3–4 years
Saves ~$1,500–$2,200/year. The sweet spot — maximises single-phase inverter and STC rebate.
10kW System
3–5 years
Saves ~$2,000–$3,200/year. Ideal for large homes, pools, or EV charging. Requires three-phase power.
13kW System
4–6 years
Saves ~$2,500–$4,000/year. For high-usage homes with pool, ducted AC, and EV. Longer payback due to higher upfront cost.
How to Calculate
Payback = System Cost ÷ Annual Savings. Annual savings = (self-consumed kWh × electricity rate) + (exported kWh × feed-in tariff). A higher self-consumption rate dramatically shortens payback.
Solar Installation Price Trends (2024–2026)
Year-over-year average installed cost comparison by system size
| System Size | 2024 Avg | 2025 Avg | 2026 Avg | 2-Year Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6kW System (Standard) | $6,800 | $6,450 | $6,120 | -10.0% |
| 10kW System | $10,200 | $9,600 | $9,100 | -10.8% |
| 13kW System | $13,500 | $12,700 | $12,000 | -11.1% |
Year-over-year 2025 to 2026
Average installed prices fell 5.1% year-over-year on 6.6kW systems, 5.2% on 10kW systems, and 5.5% on 13kW systems.
Why prices moved
Panel and inverter pricing softened, but labour, switchboard upgrades, battery-ready wiring, and rooftop safety requirements kept a floor under total installed cost.
Regulation effect
STC step-downs, export limits, and DNSP approval settings mean the hardware may be cheaper while the compliance and network side remains complex.
The important nuance is that solar hardware and total installed cost are no longer moving in lockstep. Panels may be cheaper than they were in 2024, but switchboard upgrades, export limiting, battery-ready wiring, scaffold and rooftop safety, and installer labour are now a bigger share of the real household bill. Detached homes with clean roofs keep getting better value; complex retrofit jobs often do not.
Seasonal Patterns
Solar installation prices are lowest during winter (June–August) when demand drops significantly. Installers often offer discounts of 5–10% to keep crews busy during the off-season. Summer (December–February) is peak season — long wait times of 4–8 weeks and higher prices as homeowners rush to beat rising electricity bills. The sweet spot is booking in late autumn (April–May) for a winter install: you get the best price and your system is ready for the high-production months of spring and summer.
Regional Differences
Solar prices have been falling nationally, but the rate varies by region. Queensland and WA saw the largest drops (12–15% over two years) thanks to intense installer competition. NSW dropped 8–10% while Victoria fell 7–9%. Tasmania and the NT remain 10–20% more expensive due to fewer installers and higher logistics costs. Perth consistently offers the lowest installed cost per kW nationally, while Darwin remains the most expensive capital city for solar.
Price Outlook 2026–2027
The price outlook into 2027 is mixed: commodity solar hardware may keep easing, but total installed prices will not fall as fast because labour, switchboard work, batteries, and grid-export constraints are becoming a larger share of the project cost. Good detached-home installs should still trend gently down; complex retrofit jobs may not.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do solar panels cost in Australia in 2026?
A standard 6.6kW system costs $4,800–$9,300 depending on location and quality, after the STC rebate. The national average is around $6,120. Perth is cheapest (~$4,800) and Darwin most expensive (~$9,320).
What size solar system do I need?
For a typical Australian home using 20-25kWh per day, a 6.6kW system is ideal. If you have a pool, electric vehicle, or high usage, consider 10-13kW. A 3-5kW system suits apartments or low-usage households.
How long does solar take to pay for itself?
Most Australian solar systems pay for themselves in 3-5 years through reduced electricity bills and feed-in tariffs. After payback, you enjoy 20+ years of essentially free electricity.
Do solar prices include installation?
Yes, all prices on WhatCosts are fully installed — including panels, inverter, mounting, wiring, metering, and CEC-accredited installer labour. Prices also include the STC rebate discount.
What is the STC rebate?
The Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) is a federal government incentive that reduces solar installation cost at point of sale. For a 6.6kW system, it's worth approximately $2,500 in 2026. The rebate decreases each year until 2030.
Does my roof type affect installation cost?
Yes. Tin/metal roofs are cheapest and easiest to install on. Tile roofs cost slightly more due to bracket requirements. Flat roofs need tilt frames ($300-$600 extra). Slate and terracotta are the most expensive due to fragility. Two-storey installations also add $500-$1,000 for scaffolding.
Should I add a battery?
Batteries cost $8,000-$16,000 for a 10-13kWh unit in 2026. They make financial sense if you have time-of-use tariffs with expensive peak rates, experience regular blackouts, or want energy independence. For most households on flat-rate tariffs, the payback on batteries alone is still 8-12 years.
What happens to solar on cloudy days?
Solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days — typically 10-30% of their rated capacity. You'll draw more from the grid on overcast days. Over a full year, your system output averages out, which is why annual production figures are more useful than daily ones.
How do I choose between string inverters and microinverters?
String inverters ($1,000-$2,500) are standard and cost-effective for unshaded roofs with consistent orientation. Microinverters ($2,500-$5,000 for a 6.6kW system) optimise each panel individually — ideal for partially shaded roofs, multiple roof faces, or if you plan to expand later.
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How We Get These Prices
Prices aggregated from 195+ verified quotes and published rate cards from solar installers and accredited providers across Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, and New Zealand. Our active sample covers 380 collected data points from 88 providers in 46 cities, plus the indexed national price feed shown above for Australian system-size benchmarks.
Methodology: We collected the current solar sample between 6 January 2026 and 21 March 2026. We compare installer quotes by system size, check them against Solar Choice and SolarQuotes index data, validate component pricing against manufacturer and distributor benchmarks, and note whether the published amount is before or after rebates. That lets us separate panel pricing, inverter quality, battery add-ons, and rebate assumptions instead of treating every quote as directly comparable.
sample size: 380 pricing observations from 88 providers, grouped by system size, component tier, battery inclusion, and rebate treatment.
source types: accredited installer rate cards, Solar Choice price-index data, SolarQuotes market comparisons, rebate calculators, distributor benchmarks, and verified customer invoices.
update frequency: we review this page quarterly and make faster updates when subsidy settings, panel supply costs, battery pricing, or export-rule changes materially shift installed costs.
Disclaimer: these prices are guidance only, not a final proposal. Your actual solar cost depends on roof layout, switchboard condition, panel and inverter brand, network export limits, and which rebates or finance products apply at the time of quoting. Always ask installers to show the gross system cost, rebate deduction, warranty terms, and expected payback assumptions separately.