Data page · Pacific region

Solar Panel Cost in Washington (2026)

A typical Washington rooftop system costs around $3.05/W cash, installed, before incentives — with most quotes landing between $2.8/W and $3.3/W. The federal residential tax credit is $0 for 2026 installations (it ended 12/31/2025).

Market estimate · compiled 2026-08 · sources: marketplace reports, NREL, EIA, state programs — see methodology.

Rooftop solar panels on a Pacific Northwest home among evergreens in Washington. — Typical Pacific Northwest home with a rooftop solar array.

The federal residential solar tax credit (30% §25D) ended December 31, 2025.

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, systems placed in service on or after January 1, 2026 do not qualify for the residential credit. Systems installed and operational by December 31, 2025 can still be claimed at 30% on the 2025 return. Commercial and third-party-owned (lease/PPA) projects may qualify under §48E — see the federal incentives page.

Status verified 2026-08-21. Confirm your circumstances with a qualified tax professional.

Typical cash price / watt

$3.05

range $2.80–$3.30 $/W

10 kW system (gross)

$30,500

$28,000–$33,000 · before incentives

Avg electricity rate

14.95¢/kWh

EIA May 2026 · avg use 955 kWh/mo

Export / net-metering

retail nem

Retail net metering (with caps).

Cost by system size

Gross installed cash price, before incentives. Net cost in 2026 = gross − $0 federal − any verified state/local incentive (see below).

Solar cost by system size in Washington
System size	Gross price range	≈ $/W	Panels (400–450 W)	≈ Production/yr
5 kW	$14,000–$16,500	$3.05	12–13	6,235 kWh
8 kW	$22,400–$26,400	$3.05	18–20	9,976 kWh
10 kW	$28,000–$33,000	$3.05	23–25	12,470 kWh
15 kW	$42,000–$49,500	$3.05	34–38	18,705 kWh

Solar resource & economics

Production factor (est.): 1450 kWh/kW/yr
10 kW annual production (est.): 12,470 kWh
Year-1 savings for 10 kW at avg rate, 35% self-use: $1,864
Simple payback (net cost ÷ Yr-1 savings, rough): ≈ 33 yrs

These are rough planning numbers. Model your exact scenario in the price calculator — assumptions are visible and adjustable.

Export policy detail

Retail net metering (with caps).

Why it matters: if exports are credited at the retail rate (1:1 net metering), every kWh counts the same. Under net billing or avoided-cost export, storing daytime power (battery) or shifting use matters far more. Your utility’s tariff — not the state average — decides this. Utility records

Incentives in Washington (status-aware)

Sales tax exemption for solar

Recheck needed

Exempt from state sales tax (retail sales)

Confirm current exemption terms before budgeting.

Source: Washington Department of Revenue · Last checked 2026-08-21

Tax exemptions: Property tax exemption not confirmed for this state. Sales tax — recheck: Sales-tax exemption terms have changed in recent years — confirm current rules.

Federal residential credit (§25D): expired 12/31/2025 — $0 for 2026 installations. Commercial/third-party-owned projects: see federal incentives.

Local considerations

Cheap hydro keeps rates low → long payback.
Cloudy winters limit winter production.
Property-tax exemption historically available but has been sunset/changed — verify.

Battery note: batteries add roughly $1,000–$2,000/kWh installed and rarely pay for themselves on energy savings alone. In Washington, storage value depends on your export policy (retail nem), TOU rates and outage risk — model it in the battery calculator.

Nearby states

Alaska Hawaii Oregon

Next steps

Run the price calculator Analyze a quote Incentive finder

Every estimate on this page is a planning range — only a site inspection and real quote give an exact price.

Data sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly (rates, May 2026) · NREL (solar resource) · marketplace cost reports & state programs (cost estimates, 2026) · incentive records last checked 2026-08-21. Full detail in methodology.