The short answer: if you own your home and have a roof in good condition that faces anywhere from east through south to west, without heavy shade, it is very likely suitable.
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.
1. Which way does your roof face?
Direction is the biggest single factor, because panels produce the most when the sun hits them square on.
| Roof faces | Output compared with south | 4 kW system, kWh a year |
|---|---|---|
| South | 100% | 3,400 |
| South-east or south-west | About 95% | 3,230 |
| East or west | About 80 to 85% | 2,720 to 2,890 |
| North-east or north-west | About 65 to 70% | 2,210 to 2,380 |
| North | About 50 to 60% | 1,700 to 2,040 |
East and west roofs are better than many people think. They lose 15 to 20% of the output, but spread it across the morning and evening, when you are more likely to be home to use it.
A north-facing roof produces about half as much, which roughly doubles the time it takes to get your money back. See best roof direction and angle.
2. Is the roof shaded?
A chimney, tree or neighbouring building that shades even part of the panels can cut output by much more than the shaded area suggests. Light shade can be managed with optimisers or microinverters. Heavy shade for much of the day is a reason to think again.
3. Is there enough space?
A 4 kW system needs roughly 20 to 24 square metres of roof. Dormers, roof windows and vents reduce the usable area.
4. Is the roof in good condition?
Panels last 25 years or more. If your roof will need replacing in that time, do it first, because removing and refitting panels is expensive.
Roof type matters too:
- Flat roofs
- Slate and tile roofs
- Garages, sheds and outbuildings
5. Do you have the right to install them?
- Homeowners: yes, in most cases.
- Leaseholders and flat owners: you usually need the freeholder's permission.
- Renters: you need your landlord's agreement. Plug-in solar may be a simpler option.
6. Do you need planning permission?
Usually not. Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas are the main exceptions. See planning permission for solar panels.
7. Where do you live?
Solar works across the UK, but the south gets more sun. Panels in the south of England produce roughly 15 to 20% more than the same panels in the north.
Sources
Correct at the time of publication, 12 November 2026.
- MCS, solar panels: costs and considerations: https://mcscertified.com/consumers/technologies/solar-photovoltaic-pv/
- Output percentages by roof direction are drawn from published output tables, including Switch Together (https://switchtogether.co.uk/resource-hub/blog/best-direction-for-solar-panels-uk). Roof space and roof life figures are rules of thumb.