Solar panel cost in San Francisco (2026)
Most homeowners in San Francisco paid $18,000 to $34,000 for solar. A typical 5.3 kW system cost $25,000 before the federal tax credit, about $4.63 per watt.
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Cost by system size
| System size | Typical price | Most paid |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 kW | $16,000 | $13,000 to $20,000 |
| 4 to 6 kW | $23,000 | $18,000 to $28,000 |
| 6 to 8 kW | $30,000 | $25,000 to $37,000 |
| 8 to 10 kW | $39,000 | $33,000 to $47,000 |
| 10 to 13 kW | $47,000 | $38,000 to $56,000 |
Solar installers with the most jobs in San Francisco
| Rank | Contractor | Jobs | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luminalt Energy Corporation San Francisco, licensed 22 years | Visit website | |
| 2 | Oxypower Inc Dba Occidental Power San Francisco, licensed 36 years | Visit website | |
| 3 | Bright Planet Solar Inc. Worcester, licensed 10 years | Visit website |
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Open your job roomPrice per watt by year
| Year installed | Systems | Typical price per watt |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 681 | $4.49 |
| 2022 | 892 | $4.65 |
| 2023 | 1,140 | $4.69 |
What the permits say
Solar permits in San Francisco declared a median of $29,000 (351 permits since 2021), 16% more than homeowners paid. A permit value is an estimate, and one permit can also cover a battery or a panel upgrade.
Prices are what homeowners paid for systems they own, before the federal tax credit and any rebate. Leased systems and systems with a battery are left out. "Most paid" is the middle half: the 25th to the 75th percentile; low and high end are the 10th and 90th. Only ZIP codes with San Francisco permits are counted. Source: Berkeley Lab, Tracking the Sun (2024 edition), installs from January 2021 to December 2023. Data updated October 8, 2026.