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How much do solar panels cost in Los Angeles?
Updated August 7, 2026 · based on 2026 California installed-price data (EnergySage, SolarReviews) · by Cali Energy
How much does solar cost in Los Angeles in 2026? For a home using about 900 kWh a month, a full-offset system is roughly 6.4 kW (16 panels) at about $16,600–$22,400 installed, before incentives — around $2.60–$3.50 per watt. The federal tax credit ended December 31, 2025, so these are gross 2026 prices.
✓ Built on 2026 California installed-price data — enter your usage or a system size. See every figure it uses ↓
Assumptions: 1,700 kWh of annual production per installed kW, 400 W panels, minimal shading and a reasonably productive roof. South-, east- and west-facing roofs produce different results. Before any incentives, for an owner-bought system — a ballpark, not a quote.
Get an exact price for your roofThe rates and figures this calculator usestap to verify
Cost is system size × an installed price-per-watt range. Here is every number it uses — the price range is 2026 California market data, production is from NREL, and the panel and footprint figures are labeled planning assumptions.
| Price used here, before incentives | $2.60–$3.50 / watt |
| California marketplace average (2026) | ~$2.50–$3.15 / watt |
| Federal tax credit (25D) | ended Dec 31, 2025 — 2026 prices are gross |
| Los Angeles production per kW-year | ~1,700 kWh (NREL PVWatts) |
| Panel wattage | 400 W — planning assumption |
| System size (usage mode) | annual kWh ÷ 1,700, rounded up to whole panels |
| System size (kW mode) | the size you enter |
| Installed cost | kW × 1000 × $2.60–$3.50 |
The $2.60–$3.50/W range reflects 2026 California marketplace data (EnergySage, SolarReviews); real quotes swing with equipment, roof complexity, financing and installer. Production of ~1,700 kWh per kW-year is NREL PVWatts for Los Angeles, and the 400 W panel is a Cali Energy planning assumption. The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit ended December 31, 2025, so these are gross, unsubsidized prices — a lease or PPA provider may still price in a separate business credit.
Example results you can reproduce
In Monthly usage mode, each row sizes a full-offset system at $2.60–$3.50 per watt — enter the same usage above to reproduce it.
| Monthly usage | System | Installed cost (before incentives) |
|---|---|---|
| 600 kWh | 4.4 kW · 11 panels | $11,440 – $15,400 |
| 900 kWh | 6.4 kW · 16 panels | $16,640 – $22,400 |
| 1,200 kWh | 8.8 kW · 22 panels | $22,880 – $30,800 |
Switch to System size (kW) mode and an 8 kW system (20 panels) comes to about $20,800–$28,000.
How this calculator works
It works two ways. In Monthly usage mode it turns your kWh into a full-offset system size — annual use ÷ ~1,700 kWh per kW (Los Angeles production, NREL PVWatts), rounded up to whole 400 W panels — then multiplies the kilowatts by the installed price range. In System size mode it skips straight to the price for a size you already have in mind. Both use $2.60–$3.50 per watt, a 2026 California marketplace range, and both are before incentives. These are Cali Energy estimates, not quotes.
How to read your result
You get the system size (kW and panels) and an installed-cost range. Treat the range as a real range, not a rounding artifact: the low end is a competitive marketplace price for a simple roof, the high end covers premium equipment, complex roofs and full-service installers. Because the federal 25D credit ended after 2025, there is no 30% to subtract — the number you see is the gross price.
What moves the result the most
Two things: your system size (driven by usage or entered directly) and the price per watt. Equipment choice, roof complexity, a main-panel upgrade or added battery, and whether you pay cash or finance can each move the per-watt figure by a wide margin — a financed “$0-down” price is usually well above the cash price. Location matters too: sunnier Los Angeles needs slightly fewer panels for the same offset than a foggier coast.
Common questions
What do I need to use this calculator?
Either your average monthly usage in kWh (to size and price a full-offset system) or a system size in kW if you already know it. Toggle between the two at the top.
Why a price range instead of one number?
Installed solar isn’t one price. The 2026 California market runs roughly $2.50–$3.50 per watt depending on equipment, roof, installer and financing, so a range is more honest than a single figure.
Does the 2026 price include the federal tax credit?
No — there isn’t one to include. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for owner-bought systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so 2026 prices here are gross.
What’s the difference between the two modes?
Monthly-usage mode sizes a system to cover your yearly use, then prices it. System-size mode prices a specific kW you enter. Same price-per-watt; different starting point.
What isn’t included in this price?
Roof repairs or reframing, a main-panel or service upgrade, a battery, and financing costs are all separate. It’s the solar system only, before incentives.
How many panels will I need?
In usage mode it’s shown with the size. For a deeper sizing view — shading, offset targets, panel wattage — use our how-many-panels calculator.
Is this a quote?
No — it’s a market-based estimate to sanity-check real bids. For an exact price on your roof, equipment and usage, get an itemized quote in writing.
Sources
- EnergySage — California solar panel cost data (2026)
- SolarReviews — California solar panel cost
- IRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit
- NREL PVWatts (production estimate used in calculator)
Estimates only, not a quote. Assumptions, rates, incentives and program rules can change — confirm current details with your utility, the program administrator or a licensed professional.
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