Solar Panels Cost

Solar Panel Cost in Massachusetts (2026): Prices, Savings and Rules

Last reviewed: October 29, 2026. Prices, rates and rules change. Every figure below links to its source.

This guide explains solar panel cost Massachusetts homeowners may see, using the state average installed price of $2.90 per watt (EnergySage Massachusetts cost data (average, before incentives), October 2026) before incentives. At that price a 7 kW system costs about $20,300. Homeowners who buy a system in 2026 get no federal tax credit, but Massachusetts offers a state credit of up to $1,000, a sales tax exemption and a 20-year property tax exemption.

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Solar panel cost Massachusetts: 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 $14,500
7 kW about $20,300
9 kW about $26,100
11 kW about $31,900

EnergySage reports a range of $27,310 to $36,948 for a 11.07 kW system in Massachusetts, which is about $2.47 to $3.34 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.

Massachusetts solar tax credit

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 62, Section 6(d), you can take a credit of 15% of net solar costs, up to $1,000, for a system at your principal residence. The $1,000 limit covers the whole time you live in that home. The credit is not refundable, but an unused amount carries forward for three years. You claim it on Schedule EC. On a 7 kW system at the average price, 15% would be about $3,045, so the $1,000 cap applies.

Massachusetts’s electricity rate

The average Massachusetts residential rate was 30.48¢ 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.

Net metering in Massachusetts

The Department of Public Utilities’ net metering guide says systems of 25 kW or less that qualify as cap-exempt can net meter even when a utility’s net metering cap is full (the limit was raised from 10 kW in D.P.U. 23-140-A). For small Class I systems, the credit for power you send to the grid includes basic service, distribution, transmission and transition charges, but never fixed customer charges, system benefit charges or the net metering recovery surcharge. Credits roll over to later bills. The guide describes an annual March cash-out at a lower avoided-cost rate for some cap-exempt systems, so ask your utility how it will treat yours.

SMART 3.0 incentive

The state’s SMART 3.0 program pays small systems (25 kW AC or less) a flat amount for each kWh they produce. For Program Year 2026 the rate is $0.03 per kWh, or $0.06 per kWh for qualifying low-income customers. Ask how long the payments last and whether they are included in the savings estimate.

Massachusetts sales tax exemption

Under Chapter 64H, Section 6(dd), sales of equipment directly relating to a solar system are exempt from Massachusetts sales tax when the system is a main or backup energy source for your principal residence. Check that your quote does not add sales tax on the equipment.

Massachusetts property tax exemption

Under Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 45, an owned or leased solar system is exempt from local property tax for 20 years if it produces no more than 125% of the property’s annual electricity needs or is 25 kW or less. Ask your assessor how to apply.

HOAs and solar in Massachusetts

Under Chapter 184, Section 23C, a provision in a deed, covenant or similar document is void if it forbids or unreasonably restricts installing or using a solar energy system. Your association can still set reasonable rules, so submit your plans as it requires.

Snow, roofs and insurance

  • Ask each installer what snow and wind load the panels and racking are rated for, 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 and snow?
  • Does your savings estimate include SMART 3.0 payments and the state tax credit, and what net metering credit value did you assume?
  • Which Massachusetts and local licenses and permits apply, and who does the installation: your crew or a subcontractor?

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Massachusetts solar cost questions

How much do solar panels cost in Massachusetts?

The average installed price of home solar in Massachusetts is $2.90 per watt (EnergySage Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?

It depends on your own bill and rate. Massachusetts’s average residential rate was 30.48¢ per kWh (U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (residential average price), updated automatically, August 2026), and small systems get net metering credits plus SMART 3.0 payments. 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 Massachusetts?

No. The 30% federal credit for homeowners under Section 25D ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. The Massachusetts state credit of 15% up to $1,000 still applies to systems at your principal residence.

Does Massachusetts have a property tax exemption for solar?

Yes. Chapter 59, Section 5, Clause 45 exempts qualifying home solar systems from property tax for 20 years. Ask your assessor how to apply.

Can my HOA ban solar panels in Massachusetts?

Generally not. Chapter 184, Section 23C voids property restrictions that forbid or unreasonably restrict solar energy systems. Your association can still set reasonable rules.