Solar Panels Cost

Solar Panel Cost in New York (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 New York homeowners may see, using the state average installed price of $2.77 per watt (EnergySage New York cost data (average, before incentives), October 2026) before incentives. At that price a 7 kW system costs about $19,390. Homeowners who buy a system in 2026 get no federal tax credit, but New York’s own credit can take up to $5,000 off your state income tax.

Is solar worth it for your home?

Works for any U.S. ZIP code. Get a cost, payback and 25-year savings estimate in under a minute. No email or phone number needed.

Filled in with your state’s average. Use the rate on your bill if you know it.
About your home

These do not change the numbers, but they change what we should tell you next.

More options (roof, financing, a quote you already have)
An example assumption, not a measured figure; change it if you know yours. It only changes the estimate in states where we have a sourced value for exported solar.

Solar panel cost New York: 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 $13,850
7 kW about $19,390
9 kW about $24,930
11 kW about $30,470

EnergySage reports a range of $28,395 to $38,417 for a 12.06 kW system in New York, which is about $2.35 to $3.19 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.

New York solar tax credit

New York’s solar energy system equipment credit (Tax Law Section 606(g-1)) is 25% of qualified costs, up to $5,000, for a system at your principal residence in New York. It also applies to a written lease or power purchase agreement of at least 10 years. The credit is not refundable, but any unused amount carries forward for up to five years. You claim it on Form IT-255. On a 7 kW system at the average price, 25% is about $4,850.

New York’s electricity rate

The average New York residential rate was 28.65¢ 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 and the Customer Benefit Contribution

New York utilities regulated by the Public Service Commission still offer net metering for home solar. Power you send to the grid earns a kWh credit that offsets power you buy later, and credits carry forward from month to month. Homeowners can also choose the Value Stack instead, which pays dollar credits.

Home systems that got permission to operate on or after January 1, 2022 also pay a monthly Customer Benefit Contribution (CBC), charged per kW of panel capacity (DC). Each utility resets it every year, and you do not lock in a rate. NYSERDA’s 2025 table lists $1.00 to $1.84 per kW per month for net-metered home solar, depending on the utility. NYSEG’s rate from January 1, 2026 is $1.1917 per kW per month, or about $8.34 a month for a 7 kW system. Ask your installer which CBC rate their savings estimate uses.

New York sales tax exemption

Under Tax Law Section 1115(ee), sales and installation of residential solar energy systems equipment are exempt from New York’s 4% state sales tax and the 3/8% Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District tax. Local sales tax may also be exempt depending on where you live, so check the quote for any tax line. Homeowners give the installer Form ST-121.

New York property tax exemption

Real Property Tax Law Section 487 exempts the added assessed value from a solar system for 15 years, for systems built before January 1, 2030. Counties, cities, towns, villages and most school districts can opt out, so ask your assessor whether it applies where you live. File Form RP-487 with your assessor by your taxable status date (March 1 in most towns).

HOAs and solar in New York

Under Real Property Law Section 342, part of New York’s Solar Rights Act, a homeowners’ association may not adopt or enforce rules that effectively prohibit, or put unreasonable limits on, a rooftop solar system of 25 kW or less. An association can still bar systems on property it owns or that members own in common, and any denial must be in writing with a detailed reason.

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 subtract my utility’s Customer Benefit Contribution, and does it assume the New York tax credit?
  • Which New York 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

New York solar cost questions

How much do solar panels cost in New York?

The average installed price of home solar in New York is $2.77 per watt (EnergySage New York 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 New York?

It depends on your own bill and rate. New York’s average residential rate was 28.65¢ per kWh (U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (residential average price), updated automatically, August 2026), and net metering credits exports in kWh. Subtract your utility’s monthly Customer Benefit Contribution when you compare quotes. 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 New York?

No. The 30% federal credit for homeowners under Section 25D ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. New York’s state credit of 25% up to $5,000 still applies to systems at your principal residence.

Does New York have a property tax exemption for solar?

Yes, unless your locality opted out. Real Property Tax Law Section 487 exempts the added value for 15 years for systems built before January 1, 2030. Ask your assessor and file Form RP-487.

Can my HOA ban solar panels in New York?

Generally not on your own roof. Real Property Law Section 342 bars a homeowners’ association from rules that effectively prohibit or unreasonably limit rooftop solar of 25 kW or less. It can still bar systems on common property.