Installed prices come from one per-kW band applied across every system size, so the sizes stay comparable with each other and with the individual size pages. Per-kW band of $1,050 to $1,390 before rebates: the cheapest (Perth 7 kW) and dearest (Hobart 6 kW) capital-city prices at 6 to 10 kW in the index, Darwin excluded, with each city's STC discount added back. Sizes above 10 kW are scaled at the same per-kW rates; smaller systems usually cost more per kW. The federal STC rebate beside each one is computed from the Clean Energy Regulator's own formula (system size × zone rating × 5 deeming years × the $39.65 certificate price), not copied from a quote. Prices checked 10 October 2026; rebate maths verified 13 July 2026 and re-checked every 1 January when the deeming period steps down. Our own installation data and method are in the Australian solar report.
Solar panel cost by system size
Prices below are fully installed, fitted by an SAA-accredited installer. The rebate column is the federal STC discount applied at the point of sale in STC zone 3 (rating 1.382), the zone covering Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra. Melbourne and Hobart sit in zone 4 and get less for the same system; Darwin, in zone 2, gets more. The city grid below has the exact figure for each capital.
| System size | Panels | Installed, before rebate | Federal STC rebate | Cost after STCs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kW solar system price | 11 | $5,300-$7,000 | −$1,348 | $3,952-$5,652 |
| 6 kW solar system price | 14 | $6,300-$8,300 | −$1,626 | $4,674-$6,674 |
| 6.6 kW solar system price | 15 | $6,900-$9,200 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| 8 kW solar system price | 18 | $8,400-$11,100 | −$2,181 | $6,219-$8,919 |
| 10 kW solar system price | 23 | $10,500-$13,900 | −$2,736 | $7,764-$11,164 |
| 13.2 kW solar system price | 30 | $13,900-$18,300 | −$3,608 | $10,292-$14,692 |
| 15 kW solar system price | 34 | $15,800-$20,900 | −$4,084 | $11,716-$16,816 |
| 20 kW solar system price | 45 | $21,000-$27,800 | −$5,472 | $15,528-$22,328 |
Rebate column: 45 certificates on 6.6 kW in zone 3, valued at $39.65 each, verified 13 July 2026 against the federal STC rebate workings. State programs are extra and are listed on the state rebate pages. Batteries are priced separately on solar battery prices, and solar hot water on solar hot water prices.
Solar installation cost by city and system size
The installed price is much the same across the capitals; what moves is the rebate, because the STC zone rating follows how much sun the postcode gets. Each cell is the installed band less that capital's own STC rebate for a 2026 install.
| Capital | 5 kW | 6.6 kW | 8 kW | 10 kW | 13.2 kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Zone 3 | $3,952-$5,652 | $5,116-$7,416 | $6,219-$8,919 | $7,764-$11,164 | $10,292-$14,692 |
| Melbourne Zone 4 | $4,150-$5,850 | $5,354-$7,654 | $6,536-$9,236 | $8,161-$11,561 | $10,807-$15,207 |
| Brisbane Zone 3 | $3,952-$5,652 | $5,116-$7,416 | $6,219-$8,919 | $7,764-$11,164 | $10,292-$14,692 |
| Adelaide Zone 3 | $3,952-$5,652 | $5,116-$7,416 | $6,219-$8,919 | $7,764-$11,164 | $10,292-$14,692 |
| Perth Zone 3 | $3,952-$5,652 | $5,116-$7,416 | $6,219-$8,919 | $7,764-$11,164 | $10,292-$14,692 |
| Hobart Zone 4 | $4,150-$5,850 | $5,354-$7,654 | $6,536-$9,236 | $8,161-$11,561 | $10,807-$15,207 |
| Canberra Zone 3 | $3,952-$5,652 | $5,116-$7,416 | $6,219-$8,919 | $7,764-$11,164 | $10,292-$14,692 |
| Darwin Zone 2 | $3,793-$5,493 | $4,917-$7,217 | $5,981-$8,681 | $7,487-$10,887 | $9,895-$14,295 |
After the federal STC rebate, before any state rebate. Installed band: Per-kW band of $1,050 to $1,390 before rebates: the cheapest (Perth 7 kW) and dearest (Hobart 6 kW) capital-city prices at 6 to 10 kW in the index, Darwin excluded, with each city's STC discount added back. Sizes above 10 kW are scaled at the same per-kW rates; smaller systems usually cost more per kW. In the index itself, Perth is the cheapest capital at every size it lists and Darwin the dearest, so read the Perth row as nearer the low end and the Darwin row as a floor.
Solar installation cost in major cities
| City | Typical size | Installed | STC zone | Federal rebate | Cost after STCs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin · NT | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 2 | −$1,983 | $4,917-$7,217 |
| Sydney · NSW | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Brisbane · QLD | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Perth · WA | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Adelaide · SA | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Canberra · ACT | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Newcastle · NSW | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Wollongong · NSW | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Gold Coast · QLD | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Cairns · QLD | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Sunshine Coast · QLD | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Townsville · QLD | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Central Coast · NSW | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Toowoomba · QLD | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 3 | −$1,784 | $5,116-$7,416 |
| Melbourne · VIC | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 4 | −$1,546 | $5,354-$7,654 |
| Hobart · TAS | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 4 | −$1,546 | $5,354-$7,654 |
| Geelong · VIC | 6.6 kW | $6,900-$9,200 | Zone 4 | −$1,546 | $5,354-$7,654 |
Typical system size per city and the state STC zone rating are both held in site data; the rebate uses the capital's zone for each state. Sorted cheapest net cost first. City pages carry the local suburb list, the state rebate stack and the feed-in tariff.
What the price actually buys
A fully installed price should cover the panels, the mounting rails and feet, the inverter, DC isolators, AC cabling back to the switchboard, the electrician, the network connection application, and the STC paperwork that produces the rebate. If a quote is unusually cheap, one of those is usually missing rather than discounted.
Things that legitimately add to the figures above:
- Roof type and height. Tile and slate cost more to work than metal; two storeys need more edge protection.
- Switchboard upgrades. An old board without a main switch or RCD protection has to be brought up to standard first.
- Premium hardware. Premium panels, microinverters or optimisers cost more; the Solar Choice index's premium offers sit above its standard ones at every size.
- Three-phase supply. Standard on larger systems, and a three-phase inverter costs more than its single-phase equivalent.
- Long cable runs. A detached garage or a meter box on the far side of the house adds cable and labour.
Why the net price climbs every January
The hardware is not what makes solar more expensive each year. The federal STC rebate is calculated on deeming years, the number of years left before the scheme closes on 31 December 2030, and that number drops by one every 1 January. A 6.6 kW system in zone 3 attracts $1,784 today at 5 deeming years, and $1,427 from January at 4 years. That is $357 more out of pocket for an identical install, before any market movement at all. The STC rebate page has the full schedule, and the working behind this year's figure is in how the 2026 deeming step-down was calculated.
Picking the size before you price it
Quarterly bill is the cleanest signal, because it is a proxy for how much power the house uses during daylight hours. Exported power earns only a few cents in most states, so a system sized well past your daytime load takes longer to pay back rather than less. The full comparison is on what size solar system do I need.
| If your quarterly bill is | Look at | Cost after STCs | Payback, bill savings only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $300 / quarter | 5 kW · 1-2 people | $3,952-$5,652 | 6.0 to 10.5 years |
| $300-$600 / quarter | 6.6 kW · 3-4 people | $5,116-$7,416 | 4.3 to 7.6 years |
| $500-$800 / quarter | 8 kW · 4-5 people | $6,219-$8,919 | 3.6 to 6.4 years |
| $700-$1,000 / quarter | 10 kW · 4-6 people | $7,764-$11,164 | 3.5 to 6.1 years |
| $900+ / quarter | 13.2 kW · Large families, all-electric homes, or EV households | $10,292-$14,692 | 4.3 to 7.6 years |
Payback is the price after STCs over the estimated bill saving, run at the middle of each size's bill range in Sydney: Sydney (STC zone 3), grid power at 32c/kWh, 1,450 kWh a year per kW, price after the federal rebate only, bill savings only (no VPP income), savings ±10%. It is the calculation the solar cost calculator runs for your own bill. General information, not financial advice. Wondering whether 10 kW covers a house? See is 10 kW solar enough to run a house.
How to read a solar quote against these numbers
- Find your system size in the first table and your capital in the grid. The "after STCs" figure is what should be on the bottom line of a quote, not the pre-rebate figure.
- Check the rebate is itemised. It should appear as a point-of-sale discount with a certificate count, not as a vague "government rebate applied".
- Check the inverter brand and its warranty separately from the panel warranty. They are different numbers.
- Add your state's programs from the state rebate pages, and a battery from solar battery prices if one is in the quote.
- If the total sits well outside the range above, ask what explains it. There is usually a real answer, and it should be in writing.
Get the price for your roof
These are national planning ranges. Your number depends on the roof, the switchboard, the network and which installer covers your postcode. Tell us the address and the bill and we match you with one installer we have checked against the ABN record: one quote, no call-centre bidding.
Common questions about solar panel cost
How much do solar panels cost in Australia?
A fully installed 6.6 kW system costs $6,900-$9,200 before rebates and $5,116-$7,416 after the federal STC rebate of $1,784 in STC zone 3. A 10 kW system runs $10,500-$13,900 installed, or $7,764-$11,164 after a $2,736 rebate. Installed prices are based on the Solar Choice Price Index, October 2026, checked 10 October 2026.
How much should I pay for a 6.6 kW solar system?
Between $5,116 and $7,416 out of pocket in STC zone 3, with the $1,784 federal rebate already taken off at the point of sale. The bottom of the range is the cheapest capital-city average in the Solar Choice index, the top the dearest (Darwin aside). Well under the range usually means the saving has come out of the inverter or the warranty, and well over it should come with a written reason, such as a tile roof, a two-storey lift or a switchboard upgrade.
What is the average cost of installing a solar panel?
Panels are not priced individually in Australia, they are priced by the kilowatt of the whole system. At $6,900-$9,200 for 6.6 kW, that is about $1,045-$1,394 per kW installed before rebates, covering the panels, racking, the inverter, the electrician, the network paperwork and the STC claim. Divided across the 15 panels in a 6.6 kW array, a single installed panel works out near $460-$613.
What is the 20% rule for solar?
The "20% rule" is a rule of thumb, not a regulation: size the panels to make about 20% more electricity than you use in a year, to allow for winter, dust and panel ageing. At the 4,333 kWh a year a typical household uses (AER and ESC default offers, 2026-27), that is 5,200 kWh, or about 3.6 kW of panels. A bigger system often makes sense. Solar alone only offsets what you use while the sun is up, so extra panels cover daytime loads, a battery or an EV, and the price per kW falls as systems get bigger: the Solar Choice Price Index, October 2026 all-cities average after STCs is $1,377 per kW at 3 kW and $981 per kW at 10 kW. The limits that actually bind are the 133% allowance, which lets 6.6 kW of panels run on a 5 kW inverter, and your network's export limit.
Is 6 kW enough to run a house?
For daytime use, usually. A 6 kW system makes about 24 kWh on an average day against the 11.9 kWh a day the 2026-27 default electricity offers price a typical household at. Most of it arrives in the middle of the day, so you still buy power after dark unless you add a battery. It costs $4,674-$6,674 after STCs in zone 3; if the roof fits two more panels, 6.6 kW costs little more.
Is 10 kW solar enough to run a house?
For daytime use, yes for almost every home: about 40 kWh a day. Panels stop at sunset, so the evening needs a battery. Our guide to whether 10 kW solar is enough has the payback on two different bills.
Is it still worth getting solar panels in Australia?
For most households with daytime usage, yes. energy.gov.au puts the average annual saving from rooftop solar at more than $1,500/yr; on our own calculator a 6.6 kW system pays for itself in about 4.3 to 7.6 years on a $450 quarterly bill, on bill savings alone. Feed-in tariffs have fallen to a few cents in most states, so the value now sits in the power you use yourself rather than the power you export, and the federal STC rebate shrinks every January.
Why does the net price rise every January?
Because of the federal STC rebate, not the hardware. The rebate is calculated on "deeming years", the number of years left in the scheme, and that number drops by one every 1 January until the scheme ends on 31 December 2030. A 6.6 kW system in zone 3 attracts $1,784 today at 5 deeming years. In January it attracts $1,427 at 4 years, which is $357 more out of pocket for the identical install.