The short answer: probably, but by less than some adverts claim. The more cautious UK studies point to an uplift of around 1 to 3% of the sale price.
What the research says
| Study | Finding |
|---|---|
| Solar Energy UK with Cambridge University researchers, 2021 | An uplift of 0.9% to 2%, from an analysis of about five million sales |
| Rightmove, 2023 | Around 2% to 3% for existing homes that add panels |
| Swansea University, 2024 | 6.1% to 7.1%, using a different statistical method |
You will also see claims of 14% or more. Those come from marketing surveys, not sale price data, and we do not rely on them.
What that means in pounds
On a £270,000 home, an uplift of 1 to 3% is roughly £2,700 to £8,100. A typical 4 kW system costs £6,000 to £8,000, so at the upper end the panels could pay for themselves at sale. At the lower end they would not, and nobody can promise either.
What affects the uplift
- Ownership. Panels you own outright add value. Panels owned by a third party under a lease or "rent a roof" deal can make a sale harder.
- Age and condition. A recent system with most of its warranty left is worth more than an old one.
- Paperwork. Buyers' solicitors ask for the MCS certificate, the network operator notification, the building regulations certificate and the warranties. Missing documents can slow or reduce a sale.
- Energy rating. Panels raise a home's EPC score, which matters to buyers and lenders.
- Export tariff and battery. A system that is already earning well is easier to value.
Should this decide whether you buy?
Treat any uplift as a bonus. The main return on solar is lower bills and export payments. See are solar panels worth it.
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.
Your answers go with you in this browser tab only, so the quote form does not ask again.
How we worked this out
| Assumption | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | 3 kW solar: £5,000–£6,000; 4 kW solar: £6,000–£8,000; 5 kW solar: £7,000–£9,000; 6 kW solar: £8,000–£11,000; 5 kWh battery: £2,500–£5,000; 10 kWh battery: £4,500–£8,000 | Published UK price guides, government installation cost data (2025/26) and MCS installation costs (2025) |
| Electricity price | 26.32p per kWh | Ofgem price cap, Direct Debit, October to December 2026 |
| Export rate | 15p per kWh | Which? fixed export tariff comparison, April 2026 |
| Output per kW | 850 kWh per year for a south-facing roof | National estimate used by this calculator: a 4 kW system generating 3,400 kWh per year |
| Roof direction factors | South: 100%; South-east: 95%; South-west: 95%; East: 82%; West: 82%; North-east: 67%; North-west: 67%; North: 55%; Flat roof: 90%; Not sure: 82% | Published UK output tables; indicative factors used by this calculator |
| Shade factors | No shade: 100%; Some shade: 90%; Heavy shade: 75% | Calculator estimates; an MCS installer measures shade on site |
| How home use is estimated | Home use of solar power is estimated using an approximation based on MCS 032 | |
Sources
Correct at the time of publication, 14 November 2026.
- Rightmove, do solar panels increase the value of a home: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/guides/?p=7569
- pv magazine, report on the Swansea University study, August 2024: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/08/06/solar-panels-could-raise-value-of-houses-by-up-to-7-1/
- Summary of UK studies including Solar Energy UK, Sunsave: https://www.sunsave.energy/solar-panels-advice/property-value/info
- The pound figures are our own calculations.