Solar panel cost Boston: Prices & data 2024
Updated: May 24, 2024As of May 2024, the average cost of solar panels in Boston is $2.86 per watt making a typical 6000 watt (6 kW) solar system $11,999 after claiming the 30% federal solar tax credit now available.
This is lower than the average price of residential solar power systems across the United States which is currently $3.00 per watt.
Installed Boston solar system cost by:
Solar panel installation cost in Boston
The size of a solar panel system also plays a role in how much the installation will cost.
Larger solar installations will typically have a lower cost per watt, because the panels can be purchased at a ‘bulk price’. However, these larger solar systems will still have a higher total cost, because they are made up of more individual panels.
Table 2: Average cost of residential solar systems by system size
| System size* | Avg cost per watt |
Avg system cost
(After tax credit) show before tax |
|---|---|---|
| 4kW | $3.13 | $8,751 |
| 5kW | $2.99 | $10,469 |
| 6kW | $2.86 | $11,999 |
| 7kW | $2.83 | $13,867 |
| 8kW | $2.88 | $16,149 |
| 9kW | $2.77 | $17,435 |
| 10kW | $2.74 | $19,184 |
Boston solar cost and savings calculator
Best unit price
$320.00 ($0.96 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,721.85
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1K-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$562.50 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,120.18
($2.49 p/w)
LG375A1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$430.00 ($1.15 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,919.30
($2.65 p/w)
LG375Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$473.34 ($1.30 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$13,231.07
($2.59 p/w)
LG365Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
365 watts
Efficiency
21.1
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$432.00 ($1.20 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,276.66
($2.63 p/w)
LG360Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$530.85 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,386.87
($2.49 p/w)
LG355Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
355 watts
Efficiency
20.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$495.00 ($1.38 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,091.06
($2.60 p/w)
LG360Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$407.97 ($1.10 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.2kW system
$13,159.30
($2.54 p/w)
LG370Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
370 watts
Efficiency
21.4
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$323.39 ($0.97 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,691.01
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$338.19 ($0.99 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$0.00
($0.00 p/w)
LG340N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
340 watts
Efficiency
19.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$600.00 ($1.83 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,808.41
($2.61 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-COM overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$800.00 ($2.22 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,201.67
($2.62 p/w)
SPR-X22-360 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
22.2
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,703.10
($2.79 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-D-AC overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,610.59
($2.77 p/w)
SPR-E20-327 overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$181.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$11,003.04
($2.16 p/w)
CS6K-300MS overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.33
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$196.11 ($0.65 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$9,948.02
($1.95 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-300M overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.1
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$172.00 ($0.56 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,568.53
($1.96 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-305M overview
Rated power
305 watts
Efficiency
18.4
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$165.00 ($0.53 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$9,761.72
($1.97 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-310M overview
Rated power
310 watts
Efficiency
18.7
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$228.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,579.65
($1.94 p/w)
LR4-60HPH-380M overview
Rated power
380 watts
Efficiency
20.9
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$234.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$10,126.74
($2.00 p/w)
LR6-72HBD-390M overview
Rated power
390 watts
Efficiency
19.4
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
4.91 106 Reviews
Latest review
C Summers, 3 days ago
John P. was unfailingly patient with all of the questiosn that we had about the system, the federal funds that would help us pay for it, the performance we could expect, the installation details, and on and on. At one point after the system was installed there was a power outage in our area as I was driving up to the house with my mother. I was worried about us arriving there to no power and John went above and beyond to make sure power had been restored to the house and it would be warm when we arrived. Support after installation has also been stellar. That is probably made easier by the installers doing really good work, but any issues I have had I've reached out to John or the support team and it has been handled immediately. There are a lot of choices for solar installation out there. Sunenergy really worked well for our project.
Read more
Latest review
C Summers, 3 days ago
John P. was unfailingly patient with all of the questiosn that we had about the system, the federal funds that would help us pay for it, the performance we could expect, the installation details, and on and on. At one point after the system was installed there was a power outage in our area as I was driving up to the house with my mother. I was worried about us arriving there to no power and John went above and beyond to make sure power had been restored to the house and it would be warm when we arrived. Support after installation has also been stellar. That is probably made easier by the installers doing really good work, but any issues I have had I've reached out to John or the support team and it has been handled immediately. There are a lot of choices for solar installation out there. Sunenergy really worked well for our project.
4.86 163 Reviews
Latest review
Steven Dube, over 1 month
The team at Mass Renewables was a pleasure to work with. From the early estimating and vetting process, through panel layouts, permitting, scheduling of the work, and everything else, the team did an exceptional job communicating and answering all of my questions. The quality, price, and timeliness of the work was great and I am happy with my system. Almost 2 years after the original install, my system has been underperforming a bit and the team is still working with me to troubleshoot an issue with two panels and potentially add an additional panel to help. All in all, I am impressed with Mass Renewables and would recommend them for your solar needs.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$20,000 ($4.00 per watt)
Latest review
Steven Dube, over 1 month
The team at Mass Renewables was a pleasure to work with. From the early estimating and vetting process, through panel layouts, permitting, scheduling of the work, and everything else, the team did an exceptional job communicating and answering all of my questions. The quality, price, and timeliness of the work was great and I am happy with my system. Almost 2 years after the original install, my system has been underperforming a bit and the team is still working with me to troubleshoot an issue with two panels and potentially add an additional panel to help. All in all, I am impressed with Mass Renewables and would recommend them for your solar needs.
4.85 482 Reviews
Latest review
Greg Knopff, 5 days ago
I was very impressed with the work and the people working for All Energy Solar. They all seem to really enjoy their jobs and it shows in the work
Read more
Latest review
Greg Knopff, 5 days ago
I was very impressed with the work and the people working for All Energy Solar. They all seem to really enjoy their jobs and it shows in the work
4.84 216 Reviews
Latest review
Stephen, over 1 month
Great information from the designers showing us how it all will work for us. Great people to work with very knowledgeable in there field. The installation went great with the crew very good information again very professional.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$20,050 ($4.01 per watt)
Latest review
Stephen, over 1 month
Great information from the designers showing us how it all will work for us. Great people to work with very knowledgeable in there field. The installation went great with the crew very good information again very professional.
4.83 71 Reviews
Latest review
John Doe, over 1 month
Couldn't be happier with the results. We chose to install panels and the solar battery and its been great. The NEC Solar staff were friendly and polite when installing and seem to have done a great job. We have had some rough storms and everything has been fine. The support after installation has also been great. I had to reach out to them earlier this year (over a year after installation) as I had a leak through the roof and was instructed to contact the solar company as they may have damaged the roof. The team came out within a day and went onto the roof and confirmed everything looked fine (and that it was actually the area around the chimney which looked like the culprit). A roof company came and repaired the chimney which had nothing to do with the installation from NEC Solar. We didn't have the panels installed until fall of 2022 so we didn't see much of a result (which was expected). In 2023, my electric bill was 0 from April-November. My entire house runs on electricity and I work from home and am using lots of electricity. The solar battery also works very well. There was a storm earlier this year knocked out the power lines and we had no power for almost a whole day and we didn't experience any effects in our house as the battery system immediately kicked in. Lastly, I love that I can view the solar production and manage the battery through the website/app. Very convenient. Whatever your reasons--be it environmental or to save a ton of money (my reasons) or some other reason, go with a local company like NEC Solar--I highly recommend!
Read more
Latest review
John Doe, over 1 month
Couldn't be happier with the results. We chose to install panels and the solar battery and its been great. The NEC Solar staff were friendly and polite when installing and seem to have done a great job. We have had some rough storms and everything has been fine. The support after installation has also been great. I had to reach out to them earlier this year (over a year after installation) as I had a leak through the roof and was instructed to contact the solar company as they may have damaged the roof. The team came out within a day and went onto the roof and confirmed everything looked fine (and that it was actually the area around the chimney which looked like the culprit). A roof company came and repaired the chimney which had nothing to do with the installation from NEC Solar. We didn't have the panels installed until fall of 2022 so we didn't see much of a result (which was expected). In 2023, my electric bill was 0 from April-November. My entire house runs on electricity and I work from home and am using lots of electricity. The solar battery also works very well. There was a storm earlier this year knocked out the power lines and we had no power for almost a whole day and we didn't experience any effects in our house as the battery system immediately kicked in. Lastly, I love that I can view the solar production and manage the battery through the website/app. Very convenient. Whatever your reasons--be it environmental or to save a ton of money (my reasons) or some other reason, go with a local company like NEC Solar--I highly recommend!
4.79 80 Reviews
Latest review
Jerry B., 1 week ago
I have yet to have multi-day power outage since installing 2-13.5 kwh SunVault batteries. During winter months I leave fully charged since sun & possible snow cover will impede solar production, so a fail-safe for the long power outage possibility. Now that better weather is here and not worried about freezing pipes, I am running the batteries overnight to power the home. So far, has the SunVault system has been working great with balancing the battery, grid and solar production usage in the home. I use about 50% of the batteries (one battery) each evening and it is typically charged up by 11 am local time, a little later on the cloudy days (yes, arrays still produce). My system is sized enough to power home on all but the darkest days where the battery supplements. If we get multiple days of rain, then I'm back on the grid using some of the credits I have stored at Eversource after the batteries are 100% recharged each day. I have no idea when the SunVault system switches to battery from the grid and vice versa, no issues with any electronics in the home when it does and it works in the "normal" daily living space fantastically. I will update this review if my micro-grid fails during a multi-day grid power outage as it is my expectation the solar array will not be shut down so the house and batteries can use the produced electricity until the grid is repaired. This is the real reason I go the batteries as had a 2018 summer Tropical Storm knock out power for 6-days and it was sunny for 5 of those days but my solar array was useless without a battery system attached. Fingers crossed this works as promoted and promised. The staff was great at every process of the sales, install and post-install support process as there are always questions and weird things with electricity that sometimes needs a call. Thank you, Jordan, my install team and Kim for helping and teaching me about the system. SavKat is a local, family-owned operation that is simply the best, highly recommend talking to them before going too far into your solar planning.
Read more
Latest review
Jerry B., 1 week ago
I have yet to have multi-day power outage since installing 2-13.5 kwh SunVault batteries. During winter months I leave fully charged since sun & possible snow cover will impede solar production, so a fail-safe for the long power outage possibility. Now that better weather is here and not worried about freezing pipes, I am running the batteries overnight to power the home. So far, has the SunVault system has been working great with balancing the battery, grid and solar production usage in the home. I use about 50% of the batteries (one battery) each evening and it is typically charged up by 11 am local time, a little later on the cloudy days (yes, arrays still produce). My system is sized enough to power home on all but the darkest days where the battery supplements. If we get multiple days of rain, then I'm back on the grid using some of the credits I have stored at Eversource after the batteries are 100% recharged each day. I have no idea when the SunVault system switches to battery from the grid and vice versa, no issues with any electronics in the home when it does and it works in the "normal" daily living space fantastically. I will update this review if my micro-grid fails during a multi-day grid power outage as it is my expectation the solar array will not be shut down so the house and batteries can use the produced electricity until the grid is repaired. This is the real reason I go the batteries as had a 2018 summer Tropical Storm knock out power for 6-days and it was sunny for 5 of those days but my solar array was useless without a battery system attached. Fingers crossed this works as promoted and promised. The staff was great at every process of the sales, install and post-install support process as there are always questions and weird things with electricity that sometimes needs a call. Thank you, Jordan, my install team and Kim for helping and teaching me about the system. SavKat is a local, family-owned operation that is simply the best, highly recommend talking to them before going too far into your solar planning.
4.77 81 Reviews
Latest review
Janet H., over 1 month
From start to finish this was an exceptional process. It was a throwback to a time when customer service was all about the customer. We were kept informed every step of the way, called if there was a delay for any reason, work was done timely, staff were more than competent and I was completely comfortable having them in and on my home. The work area was always cleaned before they left for the day. It was so refreshing to work with a company that does quality work, with quality products and cares about the client experience from start to finish.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$18,600 ($3.72 per watt)
Latest review
Janet H., over 1 month
From start to finish this was an exceptional process. It was a throwback to a time when customer service was all about the customer. We were kept informed every step of the way, called if there was a delay for any reason, work was done timely, staff were more than competent and I was completely comfortable having them in and on my home. The work area was always cleaned before they left for the day. It was so refreshing to work with a company that does quality work, with quality products and cares about the client experience from start to finish.
4.76 308 Reviews
Latest review
Jonathan Helmuth, 2 weeks ago
Mark Durrenberger and the New England Clean Energy Team are fantastic. They did a great install. Super professional. Easy to work with. Could not ask for more. Will be recommending NECE to all of our friends and family.
Read more
Average cost (5kW system)
$21,450 ($4.29 per watt)
Latest review
Jonathan Helmuth, 2 weeks ago
Mark Durrenberger and the New England Clean Energy Team are fantastic. They did a great install. Super professional. Easy to work with. Could not ask for more. Will be recommending NECE to all of our friends and family.
4.76 69 Reviews
Latest review
Eric L, 1 week ago
My wife and I were shopping around for solar and the best panels, best company, lowest price, and so on. Earthlight checked all the boxes! If you are thinking about going solar, don’t go with anyone else. This company is by far the best. The customer service is incredible, and the product they stand behind. Everyone I’ve been in touch with has been extremely friendly and informative.
Read more
Latest review
Eric L, 1 week ago
My wife and I were shopping around for solar and the best panels, best company, lowest price, and so on. Earthlight checked all the boxes! If you are thinking about going solar, don’t go with anyone else. This company is by far the best. The customer service is incredible, and the product they stand behind. Everyone I’ve been in touch with has been extremely friendly and informative.
4.73 588 Reviews
Latest review
Lillian, 5 days ago
The only part of the process that was painless was the great salesman, but I guess that is their gimmick, "Rope you in with first impressions and then screw you along the way." The first day they were supposed to work 1 man showed up claiming the other worker was in an accident, but he would do all he could alone, he worked half a day and barely nothing was done. But assured us all would be competed the next day when the team was together. The next day, no one showed. My husband called, they said they had to finish another job first and would be over before 12. They showed after 3 pm, but did stay to finish the installation. Next step was the electrical which they said would be no problem with my existing box, when electrician showed he claimed that was not the case they needed to run new lines and add a bigger box.... hence more waiting time! They never set up an appointment for the work and just showed up when they wanted, thank goodness my husband was working from home. When the box was completed there was a humming in my house which the electrician claimed had nothing to do with him even though it was not there previously, my husband had to fix the problem himself. Now time for inspection, they said they would call to make an appointment, never did, but showed up at the house without an appointment, once again husband was home working so he gave them access to the garage. Electricity failed inspection ! It is now more than 4 months later, no adjustments made and no inspection. This weekend we went to open our pool and guess what? They eliminated the circuit for the pool filter, hence the pool is not working. When we try to get in touch with them neither Sunova or Venture take responsibility they need 7-10 days to review the complaint/ request. What a mess!!!!! They are unreliable and inexperienced!! Never mind impossible to get in touch with after initial sale, DO NOT SIGN WITH THEM!
Read more
Latest review
Lillian, 5 days ago
The only part of the process that was painless was the great salesman, but I guess that is their gimmick, "Rope you in with first impressions and then screw you along the way." The first day they were supposed to work 1 man showed up claiming the other worker was in an accident, but he would do all he could alone, he worked half a day and barely nothing was done. But assured us all would be competed the next day when the team was together. The next day, no one showed. My husband called, they said they had to finish another job first and would be over before 12. They showed after 3 pm, but did stay to finish the installation. Next step was the electrical which they said would be no problem with my existing box, when electrician showed he claimed that was not the case they needed to run new lines and add a bigger box.... hence more waiting time! They never set up an appointment for the work and just showed up when they wanted, thank goodness my husband was working from home. When the box was completed there was a humming in my house which the electrician claimed had nothing to do with him even though it was not there previously, my husband had to fix the problem himself. Now time for inspection, they said they would call to make an appointment, never did, but showed up at the house without an appointment, once again husband was home working so he gave them access to the garage. Electricity failed inspection ! It is now more than 4 months later, no adjustments made and no inspection. This weekend we went to open our pool and guess what? They eliminated the circuit for the pool filter, hence the pool is not working. When we try to get in touch with them neither Sunova or Venture take responsibility they need 7-10 days to review the complaint/ request. What a mess!!!!! They are unreliable and inexperienced!! Never mind impossible to get in touch with after initial sale, DO NOT SIGN WITH THEM!
How much do solar systems using the most common brands of solar panels cost in Boston in 2024?
Where there is no specific pricing information available for a brand then we have used state pricing data for that brand.
Table 2: Local solar panel manufacturers
| Solar panel manufacturer | Avg. cost per watt |
|---|---|
| Canadian Solar | $2.66 |
| LG Solar | $3.18 |
| SunPower | $3.34 |
| Panasonic | $3.22 |
| LONGi Solar | $2.57 |
Why solar panel cost should not be your only consideration when buying solar panels for your home
The most important difference between buying solar panels and any other purchase is that solar panels last 25-30 years. This is a long, long time and you will need customer service over all that time. The reviews below of the two largest corporate solar installation companies indicate larger corporate solar companies are not delivering this support to their customers.
We recommend you find a small or mid-size, local, family-owned solar company. These companies tend to care more about you and your specific job. You don't want to be on hold to a corporation's call center for the next 25 years!
What other factors affect the cost of solar panels for your home?
The cost of solar doesn't just include the equipment and installation costs - it’s also made up of permitting costs, inspection costs, and installer profit margins.
These different components are what make the price of solar fluctuate between installations. Some of the factors that affect solar power system installation costs for specific homes include:
The amount of electricity your home uses
Homes that use more electricity will need more solar panels to cover their energy needs.
Although solar panels do get cheaper on a per-watt basis, the overall cost of the system will increase as more panels are added.
But, the higher a home’s energy usage, the more solar panels can save the homeowners on their energy bills.
The type of solar panels you buy
The price of solar panels can vary depending on the type of solar panels you choose.
There are two main types of solar panels for residential solar installations: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient and more expensive than other solar panels. Polycrystalline panels have a lower efficiency rating and come at a lower price point.
The type of inverter you buy will also influence the cost of your solar system.
The quality of your solar installation
You may see some solar quotes with prices that seem too good to be true.
If you get quoted for a ridiculously cheap price, the installer might be using low-quality equipment or an unsustainable pricing model. You want to use a solar installer that is charging enough so that they can stay in business - as you’ll be relying on them for the next 25 years!
It’s important to make sure that your installer is giving you the best quality at the best price possible. This is why getting multiple solar quotes is so important.
Federal, state, and local solar incentives
The overall cost of solar can be influenced by the solar incentives available.
Across the U.S., homeowners can apply for the federal solar tax credit. The solar tax credit makes installing solar more cost-effective by providing homeowners with a tax credit equal to 30% of the cost of their installed solar panel system.
Local solar tax incentives and rebates can end up saving homeowners thousands on a solar installation, especially when they’re used with the federal solar tax credit.
See what solar incentives are available in your area by using our solar panel calculator.
How is the cost of solar panels offset by solar tax credits in Boston?
The cost of installing residential solar panels in Boston varies with the brand of solar panels and inverters you choose, the installation company you choose to install them, the relative ease or difficulty of installing solar panels on your home, and of course the amount of solar panels you need. The amount of solar panels you need is, in turn, related to your energy usage.
Are solar panels worth it in Boston in 2024
The table below shows the data extracted from a real life quote delivered through the SolarReviews marketplace recently for a fairly typical home in Boston.
As you can see the payback period is relatively short and equates to a much better return on investment than he historical returns that have been available from investing in things like shares or property.
Table 2: Cost, savings and payback period for an average residential solar system in Boston
| System information | Value |
|---|---|
| System Size (for 100% usage offset) | 5.97 kW |
| Annual power generation | 7,454 kWh |
| Pay-back time (assuming Cash purchase) | 5.3 Years |
| Internal rate of return (IRR) on investment | 16.7% |
| Gross cost | $16,764 |
| Total Upfront Incentives and Rebates | -$8,551 |
| Net Cost of System after rebated and incentives | $8,215 |
| Total Cost of Utility Power Avoided over 25 years | $53,541 |
Please note that the investment return figures do not include the possible increase in property value