How to Price Solar Panel Installation in the UK
Solar demand is surging across the UK and margins are strong — but only if you price correctly. This guide walks you through every cost element for domestic and commercial solar jobs, from panel and inverter selection through to scaffolding, DNO notifications and hitting your target gross margin.
Solar installation market in 2026
The UK solar market is booming in the wake of the energy crisis. Homeowners and businesses alike are investing in panels to cut bills and future-proof against volatile energy prices. MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certification is required for any domestic installation you want to qualify for export tariffs — make sure you or your business is registered before quoting. The typical domestic job is a 4kWp system, which suits a south-facing roof on a semi-detached or detached property. Commercial jobs range from 10kWp for a small business unit up to 100kWp for warehouses and agricultural buildings. Demand for solar installers currently outstrips supply in most regions, which means you can command premium pricing if you're MCS-certified and credible.
System sizing and component costs
As a rule of thumb, 1kWp requires 2–3 panels depending on panel wattage. A 4kWp system therefore needs 8–12 panels. Quality solar panels cost £150–250 each, with Tier 1 brands (Jinko, LONGi, REC) sitting at the upper end. Your inverter — which converts DC power from panels to AC for the home — costs £500–1,500 for a string inverter; microinverters cost more but improve output on shaded roofs. Mounting hardware (rails, clamps, roof anchors) adds £200–400 for a standard pitched-roof install. DC cabling, isolators and junction boxes add £100–200. Budget your component costs accurately before pricing — supplier prices fluctuate and thin margins on materials can erode profitability fast.
Labour and time
A 1-man team can complete a 4kWp install in around 1.5 days; a 2-man team brings this down to a single day. Charge £400–600 per day per installer, depending on your region and experience level — rates are higher in London and the South East. MCS paperwork, commissioning documentation and DNO G98/G99 notifications take 2–3 additional hours per job. Build this time into your price — it's a mandatory part of compliant installation and should not be absorbed as overhead. G98 notifications (systems under 3.68kW) can be submitted online quickly; G99 applications (larger systems) require more documentation and can take several weeks, so factor this into your project timeline.
Scaffolding and access costs
Scaffolding is a significant cost that many new solar installers underestimate. Scaffold hire for a domestic pitched-roof job typically costs £400–900 for a week, including erect and strike. You can either price this as a line item or include it in your system price — both approaches work, but transparency helps customers understand what they're paying for. If you don't have a scaffold subcontractor relationship, build one quickly — delays waiting for scaffold can kill your scheduling. For flat-roof commercial installations, a cherry picker or scissor lift is often more practical than scaffolding; budget £300–500 per day for hired access equipment.
Battery storage add-ons
Battery storage is the highest-margin upsell in solar. A 5kWh battery system installed costs £1,200–2,000 depending on brand (Givenergy, SolarEdge, Tesla Powerwall); a 10kWh system costs £2,000–3,500. You should be attempting to upsell battery storage on every solar job — payback calculations are compelling for customers who are home during the day or have high evening usage. Smart meter integration allows customers to track export earnings and import savings in real time, which strengthens the financial case. EV charger bundles are another strong upsell: combining a 7kW charger with a solar and battery install appeals strongly to the EV-owning demographic who make up a large share of solar buyers.
Pricing solar jobs profitably
Target a gross margin of 35–45% on solar installations. For a typical 4kWp domestic job, your cost breakdown looks like this: materials (panels, inverter, mounting, cabling) approximately £2,800; labour £600; scaffolding £600; total cost approximately £4,000. At a sell price of £6,500–7,500 you achieve a gross margin of 38–45%, which is a healthy position. Always price by system size rather than day rate — customers comparing quotes will focus on cost-per-kWp, and day-rate pricing exposes you to scope creep. Trade2Base's AI quote drafting tool helps solar installers build accurate, professional proposals quickly — including itemised component lists and payment schedules that help close larger commercial jobs.
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