Discover what solar panels will cost in 2026. Compare prices per panel and complete installations. View payback times and request free quotes.
Average cost for a solar panel installer (average)
The price of solar panels has fallen sharply in recent years. In 2026 you will pay an average of 250 to 400 euros per panel including installation. An average household needs 8 to 12 panels to largely cover its power consumption. A complete installation of 10 panels costs 3,500 to 5,500 euros, including inverter and installation.
The total costs depend on the number of panels, the type of panel (mono- or polycrystalline), the inverter, the type of roof and any additional work such as strengthening the roof structure or adjusting the meter cupboard.
The required number of panels depends on your annual power consumption. An average household uses 3,000 to 4,000 kWh per year. A modern solar panel delivers 350 to 450 Wp (watt peak) and produces approximately 350 to 400 kWh annually. So for 3,500 kWh you need 9 to 10 panels.
Take into account shade from trees, chimneys or neighboring buildings. Panels on a sloping roof facing south yield the most. East-west setups produce slightly less but spread the yield over the day, which is beneficial if you are at home during the day.
The payback period for solar panels in 2026 is on average between 5 and 8 years, depending on your electricity consumption, the rate you pay and how much electricity you use directly. After the payback period, you will benefit from free electricity for 15 to 20 years. The netting scheme will be gradually phased out from 2027, making direct self-consumption increasingly important.
Combine solar panels with a home battery to use more of your own power and return less. A heat pump, electric car or solar boiler also increases your direct self-consumption and therefore your efficiency.
Solar panels can be placed on almost any roof: sloping roofs (tiles, slates, bitumen), flat roofs (with ballast construction or frames) and even on garages or sheds. With a sloping roof, the panels are attached to the battens with roof brackets. With a flat roof, they are placed on a structure with the optimal slope angle.
The installation takes an average of one day for a standard system. The installer also arranges the connection to the inverter and the meter cupboard. In many cases, no permit is required, unless you live in a protected cityscape or the panels are on a monument.
Always compare at least three quotes. Pay attention not only to the price per panel, but to the total system price including inverter, installation and warranty. Choose panels with at least a 25-year product warranty and an inverter with a 10 to 15-year warranty. Microinverters or optimizers are more expensive but yield more in partial shade.
| Service | From | To | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panel (per piece, incl. installation) | €250 | €400 | per panel |
| 6 panel package | €2200 | €3200 | total |
| 10 panel package | €3500 | €5500 | total |
| 16 panel package | €5500 | €8500 | total |
| Inverter (string) | €500 | €1200 | per piece |
| Microinverters / optimizers | €60 | €120 | per panel |
| Flat roof installation (additional costs) | €300 | €800 | per installation |
More panels means higher total costs but a lower price per panel due to economies of scale.
Installation on a flat roof is more expensive due to the additional construction. Slate or bitumen roofs also require more work than standard roof tiles.
A string inverter is cheaper, but micro inverters or optimizers yield more in partial shade.
Premium panels with higher power (400+ Wp) are more expensive per piece but provide more power per square meter of roof.
A package of 10 solar panels including inverter and installation will cost an average of 3,500 to 5,500 euros in 2026. This produces approximately 3,500 to 4,000 kWh per year, enough for an average household.
The payback period in 2026 is on average between 5 and 8 years. After the payback period, you will benefit from free electricity for 15 to 20 years. The exact period depends on your electricity consumption and the rate.
Since 2023, 0% VAT has applied to the purchase and installation of solar panels for homes. So you don't pay VAT, which makes the investment approximately 21% cheaper compared to the old scheme.
Yes, solar panels are placed on a special construction at the optimal angle on a flat roof. This costs 300 to 800 euros extra. The construction is weighted with ballast or bolted to the roof.
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