Quick answer
Home solar in Florida typically costs about $2 to $3 per watt installed in 2026, so a 9.6 kW system sized for a $200 FPL bill runs about $25,900 at our $2.70 planning price. There's no state or utility rebate to subtract, but solar equipment is exempt from sales tax. A battery adds about $13,000.
How much does a solar system cost in Florida in 2026?
Recent Florida averages run about $2.06 to $2.31 per watt on EnergySage, where the typical quoted system is around 14 kW, and about $2.71 per watt on SolarReviews for a 7.2 kW system. Smaller systems cost more per watt, because permits, design and labor cost about the same either way. We use $2.70 per watt for planning.
| System size | Panels | Price | Yearly output (South Florida) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | 15 | $16,200 | 9,180 kWh |
| 8 kW | 20 | $21,600 | 12,240 kWh |
| 10 kW | 25 | $27,000 | 15,300 kWh |
| 12 kW | 30 | $32,400 | 18,360 kWh |
| 15 kW | 38 | $40,500 | 22,950 kWh |
Unlike in some states, the price is the price: Florida has no state solar rebate, FPL, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric don't offer one for homes, and the 30% federal homeowner credit ended after 2025. The 6% sales tax exemption is already built into what you pay for the equipment.
What size solar system does my Florida home need?
Most Florida homes need a system that covers about a year of electricity use, because net metering credits extra solar at the full retail rate but pays only a few cents per kWh for credits left at year-end. Your bill is a good starting point:
| Monthly bill | System | Panels | Roof space | Price | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $150 | 6.8 kW | 17 | ~360 sq ft | $18,400 | 12.9 yrs |
| $200 | 9.6 kW | 24 | ~500 sq ft | $25,900 | 12.9 yrs |
| $300 | 15.2 kW | 38 | ~800 sq ft | $41,000 | 12.9 yrs |
| $400 | 20.8 kW | 52 | ~1,090 sq ft | $56,200 | 12.9 yrs |
Systems over 10 kW fall into net metering Tier 2, which adds a utility application fee and a liability insurance requirement. Try your own numbers in the savings calculator.
What makes solar cost more in Florida?
- Tile roofs. Concrete and clay tile take more labor to mount on than shingle or metal. Ask for any roof adder to be itemized so you can compare quotes. See solar on a tile roof.
- Wind design. Rooftop systems must be designed for wind loads under the Florida Building Code. In Miami-Dade's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, permits need engineered wind-uplift calculations, and panels can't go in the roof's corner zones.
- An older roof. EnergySage suggests replacing an asphalt roof that's more than about 10 years old before going solar, because taking panels off and putting them back later can cost $1,500 to $6,000.
- Electrical upgrades. Some homes need a main panel upgrade to connect a large system. Your installer will check your panel's rating during the site visit.
- A battery. One 13.5 kWh battery runs about $13,000 at recent South Florida prices (about $963 per kWh), with no rebate.
Panel brand also moves the price; see the best solar panels for Florida for heat ratings and warranties.
A ground mount costs more than a roof system but avoids roof work; see ground-mounted solar in Florida.
How can I pay for solar in Florida?
| Option | Upfront cost | Who owns it | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | Full price | You | Get at least two quotes |
| Solar loan | Often $0 | You | Dealer fees folded into the price |
| Home equity loan or HELOC | Often $0 | You | Your home secures the loan |
| Lease | Usually $0 | The leasing company | Escalators and transfer terms when you sell |
The CFPB found that solar loan dealer fees typically add 10% to 30% to the cash price, often without showing up in the APR, so always ask for the cash price in writing. Florida doesn't allow per-kWh power purchase agreements (PPAs) for homes; no-money-down offers here are leases or loans.
Florida law also requires a separate Distributed Energy Generation System Purchase Disclosure Form, which lays out the total cost, financing, liens and the savings assumptions behind the quote. Read it before you sign.
How do I avoid overpaying for solar in Florida?
- Get two or three quotes and compare the price per watt (the cash price divided by the system's watts).
- Run each quote through our solar quote checker, which flags high prices, inflated production and discounts for incentives that don't exist.
- Check the installer's license and warranty terms; see how to choose a solar company in Florida.
- Be wary of any quote that subtracts the 30% federal tax credit, which ended for homeowner-owned systems after 2025.
- Under Florida's home solicitation sale law, you can generally cancel a sale made at your home until midnight of the third business day after you sign.
Sources
- EnergySage: Solar panel cost in Miami, FL (Oct. 2026)
- EnergySage: Solar panel cost in Orlando, FL (Oct. 2026)
- SolarReviews: Cost of solar panels in Florida (Oct. 2026)
- Florida Solar Authority: Solar energy production estimates for Florida regions (NREL PVWatts)
- EnergySage: Home battery cost in Miami Beach, FL (Oct. 2026)
- EnergySage: Should you replace your roof before going solar? (May 2026)
- Miami-Dade County: Solar roof permit requirements (HVHZ)
- Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association: Solar panel changes in the 8th Edition Florida Building Code
- Florida Administrative Code Rule 25-6.065: Interconnection and net metering of customer-owned renewable generation
- Florida Department of Revenue: Tax Information Publication 19A01-09, sales tax exemption for solar energy systems
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Report on markup fees in solar energy loans (2024)
- Florida Building Commission: Distributed Energy Generation System Purchase Disclosure Form (Ch. 520, Part II)
- Florida Statutes s. 501.025: Home solicitation sale, right to cancel
- IRS: FAQs on changes to Sections 25C, 25D and other credits under the 2025 law (Public Law 119-21)
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Incentive programs change, so confirm current terms with your installer, your utility and a tax professional.