UK Solar Panel Cost Index
June 2026 Edition
Solar system pricing across 2,641 towns and all 12 UK regions. No purchase grants exist in the UK, so these are the real installed prices, with 0% VAT already included.
£1,375-£1,875 per kW installed. Some quotes run to £8,500; larger systems scale roughly with the per-kW rate.
Solar Cost by Region
Hardware and install pricing is broadly national in the UK. What moves an individual quote is roof complexity, access and scaffolding, not the region itself.
| Region | Towns | 4kW Installed | Per kW Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 246 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| South East England | 404 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| South West England | 229 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| East of England | 294 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| East Midlands | 232 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| West Midlands | 155 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 194 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| North West England | 252 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| North East England | 92 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| Scotland | 303 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| Wales | 171 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
| Northern Ireland | 69 | £5,500-£7,500 | £1,375-£1,875 |
Key Findings
The sticker price is the final price
The UK has no solar purchase grant, so there is nothing to subtract and no paperwork to chase. At £1,375-£1,875 per kW installed, quotes outside that band deserve a second look in either direction.
0% VAT runs until 31 March 2027
Residential solar installations are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027, then 5%. It is applied automatically by the installer and is typically worth £1,000-3,000 versus the standard 20% rate - a real reason not to wait past April 2027.
SEG export rates run 1p-30p+/kWh and are not regulated
Suppliers set their own SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) rates. As at June 2026, Octopus Outgoing pays 12p/kWh flat, Octopus Intelligent Flux up to 32.17p/kWh at peak (battery plus import tariff required), and Good Energy up to 25p/kWh on an exclusive tariff. Rates change regularly, so comparing tariffs is part of the solar decision.
Self-consumption is worth roughly double exporting
With grid power around 25p/kWh (Ofgem cap average, changes quarterly) and a typical SEG flat rate near 12p/kWh, every kWh used at home is worth about twice one exported. Shifting appliances and EV charging into daylight hours does more for payback than any discount.
Methodology
The PumpSwap Solar Cost Index is compiled from published UK installer pricing guides and manufacturer pricing, covering 2,641 towns across all 12 regions. Prices reflect fully installed systems including panels, inverter, mounting and labour, with the 0% VAT treatment included, and are indicative as at June 2026. They are estimates, not quotes.
Cite This Data
Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite this data with attribution:
Source: PumpSwap UK Solar Panel Cost Index, June 2026. pumpswap.co.uk/solar/cost-index