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Is solar worth it in the UK? (2026–27 guide)
The honest answer for most UK homes with a decent roof is yes, with payback typically in the 8–14 year range. The details below show why, and when solar is not worth it.
Defaults from our data file, last updated 2026-10-20.
Estimates only, not financial advice. Results use average UK figures and the assumptions shown. Your real costs depend on your home, tariff, region and installer quotes. Always get several quotes from certified installers and check current tariff rates before deciding.
The short answer
At October 2026 prices, with electricity capped at an average of 26.32p per kWh, decent export rates widely available and no VAT on domestic solar until 31 March 2027, a typical 4 kWp system on a south-facing roof pays for itself in roughly 9–12 years. It then keeps saving for another decade or more. That is roughly a 7–10% simple yearly return on the money you put in, which is better than most savings accounts, though your money is tied up in your roof and the return isn't guaranteed.
Regional payback: what difference does location make?
Sunshine varies more across the UK than many people expect. Using our rounded PVGIS-based yields for a 4 kWp south-facing system costing £7,000, with 50% used at home and a 12p export rate:
- South West England (about 1,000 kWh/kWp): around 4,000 kWh a year, £766 benefit, about 9 years payback
- South East & London (about 960): about £735, around 9.5 years
- Midlands (about 900): about £689, around 10 years
- North West England (about 860): about £659, around 10.5–11 years
- Scotland (south) (about 820): about £628, around 11 years
- Scotland (north) (about 760): about £582, around 12 years
Use the calculator above to swap in your own numbers. East or west-facing roofs produce roughly 15–20% less but are still often worthwhile, and splitting panels across both sides spreads generation across the day.
The four things that decide whether it's worth it
1. Installed cost
Quotes for the same system can differ by thousands of pounds. Our default of about £1,500 per kWp plus £1,000 in fixed costs is an editorial estimate, so get at least three quotes from MCS-certified installers. Scaffolding, a bird-proofing mesh and an optimiser for partly shaded panels all add cost.
2. How much you use yourself
A unit you use is worth about 26p. A unit you export is worth 3–18p depending on your tariff. Homes where someone is in during the day, or that have an EV, heat pump or hot water diverter, get more value from the same panels.
3. Your export tariff
This is the most overlooked factor. The difference between a 4.1p and a 12p export rate is about £160 a year on our example system, or nearly three years of payback. See our SEG earnings calculator.
4. Future electricity prices
Our payback figures assume today's prices stay flat. If prices rise, solar pays back faster. If they fall, for example when the temporary removal of VAT on electricity ends or wholesale prices drop, it takes longer. Nobody can reliably predict this.
When solar is not worth it
- Your roof is heavily shaded or faces north.
- Your roof needs replacing soon. Do that first.
- You plan to move within a few years. Solar may add some value to a home, but the evidence on sale prices is mixed.
- Your electricity use is very low, so most output would be exported at a low rate.
- You'd need to borrow at a high interest rate to pay for it.
What about batteries?
A battery raises self-use, but it often has a longer payback than the panels themselves unless you also use a time-of-use tariff to charge it cheaply overnight. Run your numbers on our solar and battery calculator.
FAQs
Do solar panels add value to a house?
Some studies suggest a modest uplift, but evidence is mixed. Don't rely on it as part of the payback.
How long do solar panels last?
Panels often carry 25-year performance warranties and many last longer. Inverters typically need replacing once during that time.
Do I need planning permission?
Usually not for roof-mounted panels on houses in England, but listed buildings, conservation areas and flat roofs have extra rules. Check the Planning Portal.
Will solar work on a cloudy day?
Yes, at reduced output. UK systems are sized and assessed using real local weather data.
Related calculators
Sources
- Ofgem – Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (1 Oct–31 Dec 2026)
- European Commission JRC – PVGIS solar irradiance tool
- Smart Export Guarantee rates compared, October 2026 (solarbatterygrants.co.uk)
- Octopus Energy – Outgoing Octopus export tariffs
- HMRC – VAT on energy-saving materials and heating equipment (Notice 708/6)
- MCS – Find a certified installer
- GOV.UK Planning Portal – Solar panels
Estimates only, not financial advice. Results use average UK figures and the assumptions shown. Your real costs depend on your home, tariff, region and installer quotes. Always get several quotes from certified installers and check current tariff rates before deciding.