Last reviewed: October 29, 2026. Prices, rates and rules change. Every figure below links to its source.
This guide explains solar panel cost Texas homeowners may see, using the state average installed price of $2.25 per watt (EnergySage Texas cost data (average, before incentives), October 2026) before incentives. At that price a 7 kW system costs about $15,750. Homeowners who buy a system in 2026 get no federal tax credit, so that price is close to what you actually pay.
Solar panel cost Texas: compare typical system sizes
Installers price systems by the watt, so the size you need drives the total. At the average price above:
| System size | Estimated installed cost |
|---|---|
| 5 kW | about $11,250 |
| 7 kW | about $15,750 |
| 9 kW | about $20,250 |
| 11 kW | about $24,750 |
EnergySage reports a range of $25,349 to $34,295 for a 13.23 kW system in Texas, which is about $1.92 to $2.59 per watt. Real quotes vary with your roof, equipment, permitting and the company. Compare quotes in dollars per watt (total price ÷ system watts) so different system sizes line up.
No federal tax credit for buyers in 2026
The 30% federal credit for homeowners (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 (Solar.com). If you buy with cash or a loan, do not subtract 30% from any quote. Companies that own a system on your roof (a lease) can still claim a business credit; see our lease vs. buy guide.
Texas’s electricity rate
The average Texas residential rate was 15.91¢ per kWh (U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (residential average price), updated automatically, August 2026). Each kWh your panels make saves you that much only when it replaces power you would have bought, so payback depends heavily on your own bill. Use the rate printed on your bill in the calculator if you can.
Selling extra power back in Texas
Texas law gives homeowners the right to install on-site generation, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas sets the technical rules for connecting it to the grid (Substantive Rules 25.211 and 25.212). This guide does not state a Texas export rate, because we have not confirmed one from a regulator. Ask your electricity provider in writing how it credits power you send to the grid, and get the answer before you sign a solar contract.
Texas property tax exemption
Under Texas Tax Code Section 11.27, a person is entitled to an exemption from property taxation of the appraised value that arises from installing a solar energy device used primarily to produce energy for on-site use. Ask your county appraisal district how it applies to your home.
We have not verified any statewide Texas rebate for solar or batteries as of the review date above. Some utilities and cities run their own programs; ask yours.
HOAs and solar in Texas
Under Texas Property Code Section 202.010, a property owners’ association generally may not include or enforce a rule that prohibits or restricts you from installing a solar energy device. The statute lists exceptions, so read your association’s rules and submit your plans as it requires.
Hail, wind, roofs and insurance
- Ask each installer what hail and wind ratings the panels and racking are installed to, and confirm the job will be permitted and inspected.
- If your roof is near the end of its life, price a re-roof first. Removing and reinstalling panels later adds cost.
- Call your homeowners insurer before you sign to ask how solar affects your coverage and premium.
Questions to ask every installer
- What is the price per watt, and what exactly is included (permits, monitoring, roof work, electrical upgrades)?
- Which panels and inverters, and what are the product and workmanship warranties?
- How did you estimate my production, and how did you account for shade?
- Which utility rules and incentives does your savings estimate assume, and how will my provider credit exported power?
- Which Texas and local licenses and permits apply, and who does the installation: your crew or a subcontractor?
Some links on this page may be affiliate links. If you buy or sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the numbers our calculator shows. How we make money.
Sources
- EnergySage: cost of solar panels in Texas
- U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: distributed generation
- Texas Tax Code, Chapter 11 (Section 11.27)
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 202 (Section 202.010)
- Solar.com: end of the residential solar tax credit
Texas solar cost questions
How much do solar panels cost in Texas?
The average installed price of home solar in Texas is $2.25 per watt (EnergySage Texas cost data (average, before incentives), October 2026), before any incentives. Real quotes vary with your roof, equipment, permitting and the installer. The system-size table above shows typical totals.
Is solar worth it in Texas?
It depends on your own bill and rate. Texas’s average residential rate was 15.91¢ per kWh (U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (residential average price), updated automatically, August 2026). Enter the rate printed on your own bill in our calculator to see a closer estimate for your home.
Is there still a federal tax credit for solar in Texas?
No. The 30% federal credit for homeowners under Section 25D ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a Texas homeowner buying in 2026 should not subtract 30% from any quote. Companies that own a system on your roof can still claim a business credit.
Does Texas have a property tax exemption for solar?
Yes. Texas Tax Code Section 11.27 provides an exemption for the appraised value that arises from a solar energy device used primarily for on-site energy. Ask your county appraisal district how it applies to your home.
Can my HOA ban solar panels in Texas?
Generally not. Texas Property Code Section 202.010 bars a property owners’ association from enforcing a rule that prohibits or restricts installing a solar energy device, with exceptions listed in the statute. Check your association’s rules and submit your plans as it requires.