The short answer: for most homes with a reasonably unshaded roof facing east, south or west, yes. On a good export tariff, a typical system pays for itself in around 10 to 12 years and should keep generating for 25 years or more. For some homes it is not worth it, and we say which below.
How long until you get your money back
This example uses a 4 kW system costing £6,700 that generates 3,400 kWh a year, with electricity at 26.32p per kWh.
| Household | Solar used at home | Export rate | Yearly benefit | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out during the day, good export tariff | 17% | 15p | £577 | About 11.5 years |
| Home during the day, good export tariff | 32% | 15p | £635 | About 10.5 years |
| Out during the day, poor export tariff | 17% | 5p | £296 | About 22.5 years |
The share of solar power used at home follows the MCS standard method for a home using 3,500 kWh a year, with no battery.
For an independent estimate for your own home, use the Energy Saving Trust's solar calculator, which the government also recommends.
What you get over 25 years
At today's prices, the first household above would receive about £14,400 of benefit over 25 years from a £6,700 system. Real results will differ: electricity prices change, panels lose a little output each year, and you should budget for one replacement inverter.
The three things that change the answer most
- Your export tariff. Moving from a 5p tariff to a 15p one roughly halves the payback time, and switching is free. See Smart Export Guarantee rates.
- How much solar power you use yourself. Power you use is worth about 26p a unit. Power you export is worth about 15p. Running appliances in the day, heating water with spare power, or charging a car all help.
- Your roof. East and west roofs produce about 80 to 85% of a south-facing one. North-facing roofs produce about half. See is my home suitable.
Other benefits worth counting
- House value. Published UK studies suggest solar panels can add around 1 to 3% to a home's value, although results vary. See do solar panels add value.
- Protection from price rises. When electricity prices go up, your savings go up too.
- Energy rating. Panels improve your home's EPC score.
When solar panels are probably not worth it
- Your only usable roof faces north or is heavily shaded.
- You expect to move within a few years and do not think buyers will pay more.
- Your roof needs replacing soon. Do that first.
- You use very little electricity and are on a low export tariff.
- You rent, or do not have the right to alter the roof. Plug-in solar may suit you better.
Is now a good time?
Two things favour acting before spring 2027. The 0% VAT rate on solar ends on 31 March 2027, and the new Warm Homes Loan Scheme is now open. See VAT on solar panels and the Warm Homes loan.
Solar cost calculator UK edition
What would solar cost, and what would it be worth to you?
Six questions. No email address, no phone number. You get a size, a price range, a yearly figure and a payback range, with every assumption shown underneath.
Question 1 of 6
Your estimate
This is an estimate for general information, not a quote. It was correct at the time of publication and uses the assumptions shown. The performance of solar PV systems is impossible to predict with certainty, because sunlight varies from place to place and year to year. Only a survey by a certified installer can give you an accurate design and price. This is not financial advice.
Get quotes from qualified installers
Your answers go with you in this browser tab only, so the quote form does not ask again.
How we worked this out
This version uses a typical UK generation figure for every postcode. Homes in the south of England are likely to generate more than shown, and homes in Scotland less.
Every figure this calculator uses, with its source. Last updated .
- import Rate
- 26.32Ofgem price cap, Direct Debit, 1 October to 31 December 2026
- export Rate Default
- 15Widely available fixed export tariffs, Which?, April 2026
- Low
- 3Low, typical and high export tariffs, as supplied
- Typical
- 15Low, typical and high export tariffs, as supplied
- High
- 25Low, typical and high export tariffs, as supplied
- yield Per Kw South
- 850Typical UK figure: a 4 kW system generating 3,400 kWh. Interim national assumption
- panel Watts
- 400Typical panel size
- min Kwp
- 2Editorial choice in supplied brief
- max Kwp
- 8Editorial choice in supplied brief
- ev Miles Per Kwh
- 3.5Typical electric car efficiency
- ev Miles Default
- 7400Average UK annual mileage
- heat Pump Kwh
- 3200Our estimate: 9,500 kWh of gas heating at an efficiency of 3, rounded to 3,200
- battery Cycles Per Year
- 250Our assumption. Interim until MCS battery lookup data is supplied
- South
- 1Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- South-east
- 0.95Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- South-west
- 0.95Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- East
- 0.82Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- West
- 0.82Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- North-east
- 0.67Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- North-west
- 0.67Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- North
- 0.55Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- Flat roof
- 0.9Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- Not sure
- 0.82Published UK output tables. Interim direction factor, as supplied
- No shade
- 1Our simplification. MCS installers measure shade on site
- Some shade
- 0.9Our simplification. MCS installers measure shade on site
- Heavy shade
- 0.75Our simplification. MCS installers measure shade on site
- self Consumption · generation Band Kwh
- 300Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- self Consumption · usage Reference
- 3500MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · usage Min
- 1500Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- self Consumption · usage Max
- 6000Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- self Consumption · cap Fraction
- 0.95Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- self Consumption · rows · 0 · generation Min
- 0MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 0 · home All Day
- 143MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 0 · home Half Day
- 127MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 0 · out All Day
- 98MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 1 · generation Min
- 300MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 1 · home All Day
- 347MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 1 · home Half Day
- 288MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 1 · out All Day
- 219MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 2 · generation Min
- 600MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 2 · home All Day
- 499MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 2 · home Half Day
- 427MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 2 · out All Day
- 327MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 3 · generation Min
- 900MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 3 · home All Day
- 616MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 3 · home Half Day
- 506MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 3 · out All Day
- 379MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 4 · generation Min
- 1200MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 4 · home All Day
- 715MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 4 · home Half Day
- 580MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 4 · out All Day
- 424MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 5 · generation Min
- 1500MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 5 · home All Day
- 794MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 5 · home Half Day
- 644MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 5 · out All Day
- 459MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 6 · generation Min
- 1800MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 6 · home All Day
- 859MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 6 · home Half Day
- 697MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 6 · out All Day
- 488MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 7 · generation Min
- 2100MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 7 · home All Day
- 916MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 7 · home Half Day
- 742MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 7 · out All Day
- 512MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 8 · generation Min
- 2400MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 8 · home All Day
- 968MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 8 · home Half Day
- 782MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 8 · out All Day
- 534MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 9 · generation Min
- 2700MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 9 · home All Day
- 1016MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 9 · home Half Day
- 814MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 9 · out All Day
- 554MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 10 · generation Min
- 3000MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 10 · home All Day
- 1063MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 10 · home Half Day
- 844MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 10 · out All Day
- 573MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 11 · generation Min
- 3300MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 11 · home All Day
- 1103MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 11 · home Half Day
- 874MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 11 · out All Day
- 592MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 12 · generation Min
- 3600MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 12 · home All Day
- 1140MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 12 · home Half Day
- 905MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 12 · out All Day
- 611MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 13 · generation Min
- 3900MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 13 · home All Day
- 1174MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 13 · home Half Day
- 934MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 13 · out All Day
- 624MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 14 · generation Min
- 4200MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 14 · home All Day
- 1205MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 14 · home Half Day
- 957MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 14 · out All Day
- 634MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 15 · generation Min
- 4500MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 15 · home All Day
- 1234MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 15 · home Half Day
- 979MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 15 · out All Day
- 640MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 16 · generation Min
- 4800MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 16 · home All Day
- 1261MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 16 · home Half Day
- 1002MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 16 · out All Day
- 647MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 17 · generation Min
- 5100MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 17 · home All Day
- 1291MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 17 · home Half Day
- 1024MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 17 · out All Day
- 654MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 18 · generation Min
- 5400MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 18 · home All Day
- 1318MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 18 · home Half Day
- 1046MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 18 · out All Day
- 659MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 19 · generation Min
- 5700MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 19 · home All Day
- 1344MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 19 · home Half Day
- 1067MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- self Consumption · rows · 19 · out All Day
- 661MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025, Table 3, as supplied
- 3 kW solar installed cost
- 5000 to 6000Published UK price guides, checked against government median £1,595 per kW for systems up to 4 kW in 2025/26 and MCS average just over £7,000 in 2025
- 4 kW solar installed cost
- 6000 to 8000Published UK price guides, checked against government median £1,595 per kW for systems up to 4 kW in 2025/26 and MCS average just over £7,000 in 2025
- 5 kW solar installed cost
- 7000 to 9000Published UK price guides, checked against government median £1,595 per kW for systems up to 4 kW in 2025/26 and MCS average just over £7,000 in 2025
- 6 kW solar installed cost
- 8000 to 11000Published UK price guides, checked against government median £1,595 per kW for systems up to 4 kW in 2025/26 and MCS average just over £7,000 in 2025
- extra Kw Cost · low
- 1000Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- extra Kw Cost · high
- 1500Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- None
- 0No battery chosen
- None battery installed cost
- 0 to 0No battery chosen
- 5 kWh
- 5Published UK price guides, fitted with panels
- 5 kWh battery installed cost
- 2500 to 5000Published UK price guides, fitted with panels
- 10 kWh
- 10Published UK price guides, fitted with panels
- 10 kWh battery installed cost
- 4500 to 8000Published UK price guides, fitted with panels
- usage · min
- 1000Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- usage · max
- 12000Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- usage · default
- 2500Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- Low
- 1800Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- Medium
- 2500Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- High
- 4000Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- controls · system Step
- 0.5Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- controls · custom Export Min
- 0Non-negative export rate; no maximum specified
- controls · ev Miles Min
- 0Non-negative annual mileage; no maximum specified
- display · kwp Increment
- 0.1System-size display precision; numerical formatting, not a yield assumption
- display · headline Money Increment
- 10Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- display · breakdown Money Increment
- 1Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- display · max Payback Years
- 25Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- display · percentage Increment
- 1Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- display · rounding Mode
- half-upRevised calculator brief, section 8: standard round-half-up for display only; yearly benefit is rounded from the unrounded total
- warnings · long Payback Years
- 20Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- warnings · low Export Rate
- 3Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- units · watts Per Kw
- 1000Unit conversion
- units · pence Per Pound
- 100Unit conversion
- units · percent
- 100Percentage conversion
- data Files · pitched Roof Degrees
- 35Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- data Files · flat Roof Degrees
- 10Supplied UK calculator brief, 12 November 2026
- storage · max Events
- 200Local event buffer capacity; technical limit, not a calculation assumption
- storage · quote Ttl Minutes
- 30Temporary handoff lifetime; technical limit, not a calculation assumption
The full method, step by step, is on our methodology page.
Frequently asked questions
Do solar panels work in winter and on cloudy days?
Yes, but they produce much less. Most of the year's output comes between April and September.
Is it worth adding a battery?
Sometimes. See solar and battery costs for the honest numbers.
How much will I save if I install solar panels?
A typical 4 kW system is worth roughly £300 to £650 a year, depending on your export tariff and how much of the power you use.
Sources
Correct at the time of publication, 12 November 2026.
- Ofgem, energy price cap unit rates: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/your-energy-supply/your-energy-bill/energy-price-cap-unit-rates-and-standing-charges
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, solar PV cost data: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solar-pv-cost-data
- GOV.UK, Smart Export Guarantee: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-export-guarantee-seg-earn-money-for-exporting-the-renewable-electricity-you-have-generated
- Which?, Smart Export Guarantee explained: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/solar-panels/article/smart-export-guarantee-explained-at2wh8b519s2
- HMRC, VAT Notice 708/6: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-on-energy-saving-materials-and-heating-equipment-notice-7086
- MCS 032, Solar PV Self-Consumption, 2025: https://mcscertified.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MCS-032-2025-V1.0.pdf
- Payback and 25-year figures are our own calculations from these inputs.