Is my solar quote fair?
Enter a few numbers from a Florida solar quote to check the price per watt, any discounts, the production promise and the financing.
Quick answer
How do you know if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the cash price by the system's watts. In Florida, about $2.00–$3.00 per watt is typical. Then check that the quote doesn't subtract the expired federal tax credit or a rebate that doesn't exist, doesn't overstate production, and shows the cash price even if you finance.
Your quote check
Enter the system size and the total price from your quote to see how it compares.
How does this checker judge a quote?
It compares your quote with the same model as our savings calculator. The price bands are our own planning ranges, not a survey of Florida quotes.
- Price per watt: the cash price, minus any battery, divided by the system's watts. Below $2.00 is lower than typical, $2.00–$3.00 is typical, up to $3.50 is on the high side, and above that is high. Systems under 5 kW get $0.30 more at each step, because permits, design and labor cost about the same for a small system.
- Discounts: Florida has no state or utility rebate for home solar with FPL, Duke Energy or TECO, so any "incentive" taken off the price gets a question.
- Production: NREL PVWatts estimates of about 1,390 kWh per kW a year in the Panhandle to about 1,540 in Miami, for an unshaded south-facing roof. A promise more than 10% above that gets flagged, and savings use the lower of the two numbers.
- Payback: the price divided by first-year savings, with each kWh worth your utility's typical all-in rate (13.7¢ at FPL, 14.9¢ at Duke Energy Florida, 15.6¢ at Tampa Electric), since Florida's big utilities net meter at the full retail rate.
- Leases: the first-year cost per kWh against your utility's typical rate, and the escalator against the 2.5% a year we assume utility rates rise.
Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere. The check runs in your browser.
What should a solar quote include?
- 1
Cash price and system size
The total cash price and the size in kW, so you can work out the price per watt. Ask for the cash price in writing even if you plan to finance.
- 2
Equipment
Panel and inverter brands and models, the number of panels, and any battery, priced separately.
- 3
Wind rating and roof
How the racking is rated for your area's design wind speed under the Florida Building Code, and how roof penetrations on tile, shingle or metal are sealed and warrantied.
- 4
Production estimate
Expected kWh a year, and whether it's guaranteed. Compare it with your yearly use on your bill.
- 5
Warranties
Panel product and power warranties, the inverter warranty, and the installer's workmanship and roof-penetration warranty.
- 6
License and permits
The contractor's Florida license number, and confirmation that the price covers the permit, inspections and the utility's net metering application.
What are the red flags in a solar quote?
- It counts the 30% federal tax credit. That credit ended for homeowner-owned systems after 2025.
- There's no cash price. A financed price with no cash price can hide a dealer fee, which the CFPB found typically adds 10–30%.
- You're pushed to sign today. You can cancel most sales made at your home within three business days under the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule.
- Savings that wipe out your whole bill. Every utility keeps a minimum monthly bill, and credits left over at year-end are paid out at only a few cents per kWh.
- A per-kWh power purchase agreement. Florida doesn't allow third-party electricity sales to homes; legitimate no-money-down offers here are leases with a set monthly payment.
- A lease escalator above about 3%. Over 20–25 years it can push the solar price above the utility's.
Sources
- SolarReviews: Cost of solar panels in Florida (Oct. 2026)
- EnergySage: Solar panel cost in Miami, FL (Oct. 2026)
- EnergySage: Solar panel cost in Orlando, FL (Oct. 2026)
- Florida Solar Authority: Solar energy production estimates for Florida regions (NREL PVWatts)
- 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
- pv magazine USA: Florida allows Sunrun solar leases despite third-party sales ban (Apr. 2018)
- IRS: FAQs on changes to Sections 25C, 25D and other credits under the 2025 law (Public Law 119-21)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Report on markup fees in solar energy loans (2024)
- Federal Trade Commission: Cooling-Off Rule for sales made at home
Solar quote FAQ
What is a good price per watt for solar in Florida?
We treat about $2.00–$3.00 per watt as typical for a Florida home, a little more for systems under 5 kW. Recent Florida averages ran about $2.06–$2.31 on EnergySage and $2.71 on SolarReviews. Premium panels, a tile or complex roof, or electrical-panel upgrades can justify more.
How do I find the price per watt on my quote?
Divide the total cash price by the system size in watts. A 7.2 kW (7,200 W) system priced at $19,440 is $2.70 per watt. If the quote includes a battery, take the battery's price out first.
Are there solar rebates in Florida that a quote should subtract?
Not for most homes. Florida has no state solar rebate, and FPL, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric don't offer one for home solar. Solar equipment is exempt from Florida's 6% sales tax, and the added value isn't taxed as property, but neither is a discount on the quote.
Can a solar quote still include the federal tax credit?
Not for a system you own. The 30% federal residential credit ended for homeowner-owned systems installed after 2025. A lease company may still claim a business credit and pass some of it on in a lower payment.
How many solar quotes should I get?
At least two or three. Prices for the same system can differ by thousands of dollars between installers, and a second quote is the easiest way to see whether the first one is fair.