Key takeaways
- 6.6kW, the most common size, is typically $14,000 to $15,000 installed. MySolarQuotes gives a wider $12,500 to $16,500.
- Price per watt falls as systems get bigger: about $2.20 a watt at 6.6kW and $1.50 to $1.80 at 10kW.
- Most roof arrays under 40 m² no longer need a building consent (since 23 October 2025), which takes consent fees out of the price.
- There is no national solar rebate for homes. Several banks offer low-rate green home loan top-ups.
- A quote should list components, scaffolding, the lines-company application, meter, inspections and warranties. EECA's checklist is below.
Solar panel prices by system size
Installed prices in 2026 run from about $8,000 for a small 3kW system to $18,000 for 10kW. Bigger systems cost more in total but less per watt, because scaffolding, the inverter install and paperwork are shared across more panels.
| System size | Panels (440W) | Typical installed price | Price per watt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3kW | 7 | $8,000 – $10,000 | $2.67 – $3.33 |
| 5kW | 11 – 12 | $11,000 – $13,000 | $2.20 – $2.60 |
| 6.6kW | 15 | $14,000 – $15,000 | $2.12 – $2.27 |
| 10kW | 22 – 23 | $15,000 – $18,000 | $1.50 – $1.80 |
Price per watt is the installed price divided by the system size in watts. It's the fastest way to compare two quotes for different sizes. Figures are from Solar Scout's 2026 cost guide; price per watt is our arithmetic on them.
Other published figures sit around the same range. MySolarQuotes puts 6.6kW at $12,500 to $16,500. Simply Solar publishes package prices of $8,495 for 2.64kW, $9,595 for 4.4kW and $11,595 for 6.6kW, on the condition of a single-level home with a tin roof. EECA says install prices start as low as $8,500 for a small system.
What should a solar quote include?
EECA says a quote should cover scaffolding or edge protection, all components including cabling, inverter, surge protection and racking, any roof work, consent applications, inspections, possible network upgrades, the import/export meter, and a battery if you're getting one.
- Scaffolding or edge protection, if required
- Components: panels, cabling, inverter, controllers, surge protection and racking
- Any roof work needed
- Any consent applications
- All inspections required
- Any distribution (network) upgrade the lines company asks for
- The import/export meter
- Battery installation, if you're getting one
EECA's minimum warranties to look for: 10 years on panels, 5 years on string inverters, 10 years on microinverters, 10 years on lithium-ion batteries and 5 years on workmanship (EECA). Our guide to reading a solar quote goes line by line.
What makes solar cost more or less?
The main drivers are system size, roof type and height (which decide scaffolding and fixings), the inverter, whether you add a battery, and your lines company's application rules. Published package prices are often for the simplest case: a single-storey home with a metal roof.
- Size. More panels cost more, but less per watt.
- Roof. Simply Solar's published prices apply to single-level homes with tin roofs, so check what any advertised price assumes.
- Battery. Solar Scout puts the 2026 average at about $1,219 per kWh of storage installed, and a Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh) at $19,000 to $24,000. See the battery add-on.
- Lines company. Vector, Powerco and Aurora Energy charge nothing to apply for systems of 10kW or less; Network Waitaki charges $350, the highest in MySolarQuotes' table.
- Consent. Roof arrays over 40 m², or in a wind zone above High, need a Chartered Professional Engineer's design or review to stay exempt.
Did the 2025 consent change lower the cost?
Yes, for most homes. Since 23 October 2025, roof-mounted arrays under 40 m² in wind zones up to High need no building consent, so there's no consent fee or wait. Larger or more exposed arrays are still exempt if a Chartered Professional Engineer designs or reviews them.
The work still has to meet the Building Code, the district plan and the exemption conditions (EWRB, building.govt.nz). Our consent guide covers the details.
Are there grants or cheap loans for solar?
There's no national solar rebate for homes in New Zealand. The main help is bank green loans: Westpac, ANZ, ASB and BNZ have offered top-ups of up to $50,000 to $80,000 at 0% to 1% for 3 to 5 years, as listed by Solar Scout in August 2026.
Terms change, so check with the bank. Details are in our grants and incentives guide.
How our pricing works
We sell three standard packages at a fixed installed price, with the market range printed beside it. Until our installer in your region is contracted we show the market range only, and the price page puts you on the waitlist rather than taking a deposit.
When a region goes live, the price you see is the price in the contract, subject to the site survey confirming the roof is what you told us. If the survey finds something that changes the price (a roof that needs repair, a switchboard upgrade), you see it in writing before you sign, and your $250 survey deposit is refunded if you walk away. See how it works.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a 6.6kW solar system in NZ?
$14,000 to $15,000 installed is typical in 2026 (Solar Scout), and MySolarQuotes gives $12,500 to $16,500. See the 6.6kW package.
How much is a 10kW solar system in NZ?
Typically $15,000 to $18,000 installed (Solar Scout, 2026). At about 46 m² it needs an engineer-reviewed design to use the consent exemption. See the 10kW package.
What is a good price per watt for solar in NZ?
On Solar Scout's 2026 ranges, about $2.12 to $2.27 a watt for 6.6kW and $1.50 to $1.80 for 10kW. A quote well above that should explain why, such as a two-storey roof or premium panels.
Is there a government subsidy for solar panels in NZ?
No national rebate for homes. Some banks offer low-rate green home loan top-ups. See grants and incentives.
How much does a solar battery add?
About $1,219 per kWh installed on average in 2026, and $19,000 to $24,000 for a 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall 3 (Solar Scout).
Do I need a building consent for solar panels?
Not for most roof arrays under 40 m² in wind zones up to High, since 23 October 2025 (EWRB).
Sources
- Solar Scout, Solar panel costs NZ (checked Sept 2026)
- MySolarQuotes, How much does a solar power system cost (checked Sept 2026)
- Simply Solar, Solar panel costs (package prices) (checked Sept 2026)
- EECA, Rooftop solar (checked Sept 2026)
- EECA, Solar quotes and installation (checked Sept 2026)
- Solar Scout, Solar battery storage NZ (updated 30 Aug 2026) (checked 30 Aug 2026)
- MySolarQuotes, Lines companies' solar application fees (updated Aug 2026) (checked Aug 2026)
- EWRB, Solar panel consent exemption changes (checked Sept 2026)
- building.govt.nz, Solar panel and boundary setback building consent exemption changes (checked Sept 2026)
- Solar Scout, Solar grants and incentives NZ (updated 21 Aug 2026) (checked 21 Aug 2026)
General information, not financial advice. Prices and rates change; each figure shows where it came from and when it was checked.