How much do solar panels cost in Florida?
Solar panel cost in Florida runs roughly $2.50–$3.50 per watt installed, according to industry cost data from sources like EnergySage and HomeGuide, which puts a typical 6–10 kW home system around $15,000–$30,000. The big change for 2026: the 30% federal residential solar tax credit expired at the end of 2025, so a homeowner who buys a system now pays the full price with no federal discount. That doesn't kill the case for solar in the Sunshine State — but it does mean you should run the math on the real, post-credit number, not the old one installers may still quote from habit.
Key takeaways
- Residential solar runs about $2.50–$3.50 per watt; a typical home system is $15,000–$30,000.
- The 30% federal residential tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025.
- Purchased home systems in 2026 get $0 federal credit; a commercial credit still applies to leases/PPAs.
- The lost credit lengthens payback — model the full price before deciding.
- Replace an aging roof before installing panels, and confirm your utility's net metering.
Table of contents
- What solar costs in Florida
- The tax credit changed in 2026
- Net metering and bill savings
- Check your roof first
- How to compare solar quotes
- Where to start
- FAQ
What solar costs in Florida
Solar is priced per watt of system capacity, then sized to your electricity usage. Here's the 2026 picture:
| System size | Typical installed cost | Roughly suits |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kW | ~$12,500–$17,500 | Smaller home / lower usage |
| 7.5 kW | ~$19,000–$26,000 | Average Florida home |
| 10 kW | ~$25,000–$35,000 | Larger home / high usage |
| Battery backup (add) | ~$10,000–$20,000+ | Storm-season resilience |
These are gross prices — and as of 2026, for a purchased system, gross is also net, because the federal credit is gone. A worked example: a 7.5 kW system on an average Orlando home lands in the low-to-mid $20,000s installed. Battery storage, which pairs naturally with solar for Florida's storm outages (a role otherwise filled by a whole-house generator), adds significantly on top.
The tax credit changed in 2026
This is the single biggest shift in solar economics, so be clear on it. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 under the 2025 federal tax law. A homeowner who buys a system placed in service in 2026 receives $0 in federal tax credit — there was no phase-down, it simply ended. The IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit page and analysts like EnergySage document the change.
One nuance remains: a separate commercial credit (Section 48E) still applies through 2027 to leases and power-purchase agreements (PPAs), where a third party owns the system and can pass some benefit through to you. So if an installer mentions "30% off," ask exactly how — for a cash or financed purchase, that federal discount no longer exists in 2026. This matters because much existing solar advice (including older guidance) still assumes the credit; verify any quote against the current rules.
Net metering and bill savings
The economics still lean on two Florida advantages: abundant sun and net metering. Florida gets enough sunshine to make solar productive, and net metering lets you send excess daytime generation back to the grid for credit, offsetting what you draw at night. Together, those are what turn a system into electric-bill savings over time.
The caveat is that net-metering terms are set by your utility and can change, so confirm the current policy with your specific provider before you model savings — don't assume yesterday's rate. With the federal credit gone, those bill savings now have to carry more of the payback math than they did a year ago, which makes the net-metering terms more important than ever to pin down.
Check your roof first
Here's a step homeowners skip and regret: assess your roof before you install panels. Solar panels last 25 years or more, so if your roof is near the end of its Florida lifespan, you want to replace it first — removing and reinstalling a panel array to re-roof later is an expensive, avoidable cost.
A good solar installer will ask about roof age and condition, and a good roofer can tell you remaining life. If your shingle roof is 12–15 years old, doing the re-roof before the solar install saves you from paying to detach and reset panels down the road. It's the same logic that makes roof age central to so many Florida home decisions, from insurance inspections to solar.
How to compare solar quotes
With the credit gone, comparing quotes carefully matters more. Look past the monthly financing payment to the total system cost and what's included:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Price per watt | Lets you compare systems of different sizes |
| System size vs. your usage | Right-sizing avoids overpaying or underproducing |
| Equipment (panels, inverter) make/warranty | Quality and coverage vary widely |
| Purchase vs. lease/PPA | Determines who claims any remaining credit |
| Net-metering assumptions | Should reflect your utility's current terms |
| Roof condition addressed | Avoids costly panel removal later |
Get at least three quotes, and be skeptical of a pitch built around a tax credit that no longer applies to purchases. For the bigger "is it worth it" picture, our guide on whether solar panels are worth it in Florida walks through the decision — just weigh it against 2026 pricing without the federal credit.
Where to start
Start by pulling a year of electric bills (to size a system) and checking your roof's age. Our solar directory and Orlando city page list local installers, with more across the full directory. Get three quotes priced per watt, confirm your utility's net-metering terms, replace an old roof first, and run the payback on the full 2026 price — the federal credit is no longer part of the math for a purchased system.
FAQ
How much do solar panels cost in Florida in 2026? Industry cost data puts residential solar around $2.50–$3.50 per watt installed, so a typical 6–10 kW home system runs roughly $15,000–$30,000. System size, equipment, and roof complexity drive the range.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026? Not for homeowners who buy a system. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. Purchased home systems placed in service in 2026 receive $0 federal credit. A commercial credit still applies to leases and PPAs.
Does the expired tax credit change whether solar is worth it? Yes — it lengthens the payback period, since the 30% discount is gone for purchased systems. Solar can still pay off through Florida's sun and electric-bill savings, but run the numbers on the full post-2025 price, not the old credited price.
Does Florida have net metering? Yes. Florida utilities credit you for excess solar energy sent back to the grid, which improves the economics. Confirm the current net-metering terms with your specific utility, as policies can change.
Should I check my roof before installing solar? Yes. Panels last decades, so replace an aging roof first — removing and reinstalling panels later is costly. Have your roof's remaining life assessed before committing to a solar installation.