How much do solar panels cost in Massachusetts?

Installing residential solar panels can cost between $10,000 to $30,000 or more, though individual costs vary significantly based on your system’s power output, how much sun your home gets and other factors. In Massachusetts, the typical system size is 6.5 kilowatts (kW).

On the higher end, Sarin in Leominster installed a large system (36 panels, two solar batteries and two inverters) in 2021. Sarin was quoted $39,100, but the price came down to $11,300 after tax credits and incentives. Nathan in Pittsfield told us he paid $50,000 for a 17-kW system.

Average cost by system size in Massachusetts

Are solar panels worth it in Massachusetts?

We’ve talked to dozens of solar customers in Massachusetts over the last couple of years. The majority seem happy or satisfied with their decision to install a solar energy system.

Massachusetts receives an average of 2.5 to 3.5 hours of peak sunlight a day.

Many happy customers we’ve talked to highlight the financial benefits. For example, Earl in Quincy said his monthly bills went from $300 to $50 or $60. “I'm donating more to the grid than I use. I outlaid $17,000 in cash and I'll become whole again in six and a half years,” he said. “After that, I will have free electricity for the next 19 years. It’s awesome.”

Going solar can be especially helpful if you also have an electric car, like Ronald in Groton: “I’ve driven a Chevy Bolt EV since 2019, charging from my roof solar, essentially costing me nothing and saving 2 tons of CO2 by not using fossil fuel.”

It doesn’t work out for everyone the same way. “The return on investment wasn't anywhere near what we thought it would be,” Marc in Holliston told us. “But I know that our roofline has some weirdness. It's not a straight roofline. So it may not be ideal.”

If you live in an area that receives severe winter storms, it may also be worth purchasing batteries to receive power during outages.

Kevin in Lenox said he “got some incentives back for shared connections and net metering. We've had power outages and the battery backups have been great, especially in the winter time. We had one very long power outage and the batteries kept us going.”

» MORE: Are solar panels worth it?

Cost factors of going solar in Massachusetts

The actual price you pay for solar panels can vary significantly. The cost hinges on multiple factors, including the size of your solar energy system, the quality of the panels you choose and your roof’s condition.

Equipment costs

There are four major equipment costs when installing a solar energy system. A large portion of the cost of your solar energy system is the price of solar panels. A panel’s price varies depending on the solar panel's efficiency and the size and weight of your panels.

Getting a monitoring system can also add $80 to $400 if your solar installer does not provide one with the system. Solar inverters, which make the energy coming from your panels usable for your home’s electrical, can cost $1,000 to $3,000. The final cost is optional: Installing solar batteries can add another $7,000 to $18,000 to your bill.

» COMPARE: Most efficient solar panels

Condition of your roof

Solar panels should last 25 to 30 years. If your roof isn’t in tiptop shape when you install your panels, it may not last as long. Be sure to get your roof inspected and, if necessary, repaired or replaced before going solar. That way, you won’t have the extra cost of removing and reinstalling your panels when your roof needs fixing down the line.

For example, Patricia in Dartmouth installed panels in 2015. “We knew we would need a new roof within a few years and were told it was a single charge of $1,000 to have them removed and reinstalled,” she said. Now, the cost is $170 per panel, totaling nearly $5,000 for the entire system.

How you pay

If you can’t pay up, Massachusetts offers residents a wide range of solar loans to finance solar panels and appliances like water heaters. You also have the option of leasing solar equipment or getting a PPA (power purchase agreement).

“I'm not a big fan of buying a product that you can never really know until you use it,” said David in Brockton, who leased his solar power equipment. “It's not like you're gonna go out and buy a bunch of solar panels for your house then six months or a year later, go, ‘I wish I hadn't bought them. I wish I had bought something else.’ If you're leasing them, they're not yours and you don't have to worry about it. If they don't work, you don't have to fix them.”

If you're contemplating a solar loan, a lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA), it's essential to find out about the following:

• Is there an initial down payment required?
• What is the monthly payment amount?
• When and by how much will the monthly payments increase, if at all?

» SOLAR PANELS: Lease vs. buy

Local permits and fees

Most states require permits and fees for installing solar, but some offer permit reductions as an incentive to install solar. In Massachusetts, unfortunately, there aren’t any permit or fee discounts or waivers.

Solar incentives, tax credits and rebates in Massachusetts

The federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) is the biggest national incentive available for people going solar in Massachusetts. With the ITC, if you install a residential solar panel system before the end of 2032, you can deduct 30% of the system's total cost from your federal taxes. The sooner you take advantage, the better: The credit drops to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034.

The average ITC value in Massachusetts is $5,733 in 2023.

Massachusetts also offers tax exemptions, tax credits, rebates and loan programs to residents to incentivize going solar. Though some are statewide, many of these are offered locally through area electric companies and town governments. One of the most lucrative incentives is the 100% tax property tax exemption.

» EXPLORE: Massachusetts solar incentives

Compare solar installation companies in Massachusetts

Compare popular solar companies available in Massachusetts below. Read our guide about finding the best solar companies for more.

» TIPS: Tips for getting the best solar quotes

Bottom line

Before tax credits, residential solar energy systems in Massachusetts tend to average around $19,110, with a typical system size of 6.5 kilowatts (kW). The state offers various incentives to get residents to go solar, including a range of tax credits, rebates and loan programs.

If you need help paying for your system, a solar loan, lease or power purchase agreement can make a solar energy system more within your reach.

» STILL NOT SURE? Solar energy pros and cons

Solar costs: Massachusetts vs. nearby states