Solar Panel Cost in Florida (2026): What Homeowners Actually Pay

Last Updated: May 16, 2026 | Reviewed by: Dylan DeSantis, SolarMetric

Quick Answer

Florida solar installations average $2.58 per watt, or $20,640–$30,960 for a typical 8–12 kW home system. The 30% federal residential tax credit no longer applies to cash or loan purchases — it was eliminated for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Florida does offer a sales tax exemption and 100% property tax exemption. With electricity rates around $0.15/kWh, most homeowners see a payback period of 9–12 years.

How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Florida?

Florida’s average installed price runs slightly below the national average of $3.00/watt, due to high install volume and competitive local market. Based on EnergySage marketplace data through Q1 2026, Florida homeowners are paying an average of $2.58 per watt installed, all-in (panels, inverter, racking, labor, permits).

Cost by System Size — Florida (2026)

Monthly savings estimated at $0.15/kWh × 5.3 peak sun hours/day × 30 days × 80% efficiency factor.

System Size	Typical Home	Installed Cost	Est. Monthly Savings
6 kW	Small home / low A/C use	$15,480	~$114/mo
8 kW	Average 3-bed home	$20,640	~$152/mo
10 kW	High-usage or A/C heavy	$25,800	~$191/mo
12 kW	Large home or EV charging	$30,960	~$229/mo
14–15 kW	Very large / high bill	$36,120–$38,700	~$267–$286/mo

Cost per watt range: $2.20–$3.20/watt depending on panel brand, roof type, and installer. Premium panels (REC, Panasonic, SunPower-branded) push closer to $3.00+/watt. Budget setups using Tier 2 panels can come in near $2.20/watt but typically carry shorter workmanship warranties.

The Federal Tax Credit: What Changed in 2026

This is the most important update for anyone getting quotes right now.

The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) no longer applies to systems installed after December 31, 2025. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, eliminated the credit entirely for homeowner cash and loan purchases. There is no phase-down, no grandfathering beyond 2025 installs, and no partial credit.

What this means in practice:

A $25,800 system (10 kW) previously would have generated a $7,740 tax credit. Today it generates zero.
Payback periods are now 2–3 years longer than what you’ll see on older solar guides.
Any guide still quoting “30% ITC” for a 2026 purchase is outdated. Verify dates before trusting a savings estimate.

One remaining federal pathway: The Section 48E commercial Investment Tax Credit still applies to solar leases and PPAs through the end of 2027, because the leasing company (not you) owns the system and claims the credit. They pass the savings through in the form of lower lease rates. This makes leasing relatively more attractive in 2026 than it was when homeowners could also claim 30% — but you still don’t own the system.

Florida-Specific Solar Incentives

Florida has no state income tax credit for solar. What it does have:

Sales Tax Exemption

Solar equipment is exempt from Florida’s 6% sales tax. On a $25,800 system, that’s approximately $1,548 in tax not collected. This exemption applies automatically at purchase — no application required.

Property Tax Exemption

Florida law exempts 100% of the added home value from solar from property taxes, through 2037. If your solar installation adds $25,000 to your appraised home value, you pay zero additional property tax on that increase. This is not a rebate — it simply prevents your tax bill from going up.

Local Utility Programs

Program	Incentive	Who Qualifies
JEA (Jacksonville)	$4,000 battery rebate	JEA customers with qualifying battery storage
Tallahassee Utilities	Loan up to $20,000 at 5% fixed	City of Tallahassee utility customers
FPL, Duke, TECO	Full retail net metering	Residential customers statewide

No statewide solar rebate program currently exists. Duke Energy Florida had a community solar program but enrollment is capped and waitlisted in most areas.

Net Metering in Florida

Florida’s major investor-owned utilities — FPL (Florida Power & Light), Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric (TECO), and Gulf Power — are required to credit excess solar production at the full retail electricity rate. At ~$0.15/kWh, that’s $0.15 credit for every kWh you export.

Key rules:
– Credits roll monthly throughout the year
– Annual cash-out in January: any remaining credits at year-end are paid out in cash on your next bill — you don’t lose unused credits
– System size cap: FPL and most utilities allow systems up to 115% of your prior-year consumption
– Interconnection fee: typically $0–$400 depending on your utility; some utilities waive it

Net metering in Florida is full retail rate — this is better than California’s NEM 3.0 (export rate, not retail rate) and most northeastern states. It’s a meaningful advantage and one of the primary reasons Florida’s solar economics work despite below-average electricity rates.

Florida-Specific Installation Considerations

Tile Roofs

Florida has one of the highest concentrations of concrete and clay tile roofs in the country. Tile installations require specialized mounting hardware and experienced crews. Budget an extra $1,000–$3,000 for tile roof work vs. a standard shingle installation. Always ask installers for their tile roof experience before signing.

Hurricane and Wind Requirements

Florida Building Code requires solar racking systems to meet ASCE 7 wind load standards. In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, hardware must additionally pass TAS 100 wind-resistance testing. This adds cost but also means systems are built to withstand Category 4 hurricane conditions. Verify that any installer you use is familiar with county-specific permitting — especially if you’re in South Florida.

Peak Sun Hours

Florida averages 5.0–5.67 peak sun hours per day, among the highest in the continental U.S. Miami: ~5.5 hours/day. Orlando: ~5.3 hours/day. Tampa: ~5.2 hours/day. Jacksonville: ~5.0 hours/day. This consistently high solar resource is why Florida’s payback periods are competitive despite moderate electricity rates.

Top Solar Companies Operating in Florida

These are the installers with strong track records in Florida’s market, based on EnergySage marketplace data, BBB ratings, and verified customer reviews.

Company	Best For	Service Area	Financing Options
Sunrun	Leases and PPAs	Statewide	Lease, PPA, loan, cash
Palmetto Energy	Monitoring and service	Major metro areas	Loan, cash
Freedom Solar Power	Premium installations	Central and South FL	Loan, cash
Public Service Solar	Local service quality	Tampa Bay, Central FL	Loan, cash
Transform Solar	Competitive pricing	Miami, Ft. Lauderdale	Loan, cash
Aspire Solar	Customer experience	Orlando metro	Loan, cash

Note on SunPower: SunPower filed for bankruptcy in August 2024. While some dealers continue to operate under the SunPower name, the parent company is no longer offering new installs nationally. Verify any SunPower dealer is operating independently and offers a warranty backed by their own company, not SunPower corporate.

National vs. local pricing: NREL data shows national installers charge approximately 10% more than regional and local installers on average. Getting at least one quote from a local Florida company alongside any national installer quote is worth the 15 minutes.

Is Solar Worth It in Florida in 2026?

Short answer: Yes, for most homeowners paying $150+/month on electricity — but the math has changed since 2025.

The elimination of the federal ITC for cash purchases extended Florida’s average payback period from roughly 7–8 years (with 30% credit) to 9–12 years (without it). That’s still well within the 25-year warranty life of most panels, and the 25-year savings number remains strong.

Worked Examples

Static estimates based on $2.58/watt, $0.15/kWh rate, city-specific peak sun hours, and 80% system efficiency. Actual quotes will vary.

Homeowner	City	Monthly Bill	System Size	System Cost	Annual Savings	Payback	25-Year Net Savings
3-bed home, no EV	Orlando	$150	8 kW	$20,640	$1,857	11.1 yrs	$25,785
4-bed home, A/C heavy	Miami	$220	11 kW	$28,380	$2,650	10.7 yrs	$37,870
3-bed home, modest usage	Tampa	$130	7 kW	$18,060	$1,596	11.3 yrs	$21,840
Large home + EV	Jacksonville	$280	14 kW	$36,120	$3,066	11.8 yrs	$40,530

Annual savings = kW × city peak sun hours (Orlando 5.3, Miami 5.5, Tampa 5.2, Jacksonville 5.0) × 365 × 0.80 × $0.15/kWh. Payback = system cost ÷ annual savings. 25-year net savings = (annual savings × 25) − system cost.

Who solar works best for in Florida:
– Homeowners with electric bills over $150/month
– Homes on tile or shingle roofs with good southern or western exposure
– FPL, TECO, Duke, or JEA customers (all offer full retail net metering)
– Homeowners who plan to stay in the home at least 8–10 years

Who should wait or reconsider:
– Homeowners whose electric bills are below $100/month (longer payback, lower total savings)
– Those planning to sell within 5 years (may not recoup in sale price, though FL property tax exemption helps)
– Renters (cannot claim any credits, cannot own the system)
– Homeowners in heavily shaded lots (payback can extend to 15+ years)

How to Compare Solar Quotes in Florida

Follow these steps to evaluate quotes and avoid overpaying.

Get at least three quotes. Include at least one local Florida installer and one national company to see the pricing gap firsthand.
Compare cost per watt, not total price. A larger system will always cost more — divide total cost by system size (in watts) to get a comparable number.
Ask about tile roof experience. If you have tile, ask specifically how many tile roof installs they’ve completed in the past year and request references.
Verify wind rating compliance. Any installer quoting a South Florida job should reference TAS 100 compliance without being asked.
Understand the monitoring agreement. Some companies bundle 24/7 monitoring into the price; others charge $10–$15/month ongoing. Factor this into long-term cost.
Get the workmanship warranty in writing. Industry standard is 10 years. Some Florida installers offer 25-year labor warranties — this matters given Florida’s weather.

Methodology and Sources

SolarMetric researched Florida solar costs using the following sources:

EnergySage Solar Marketplace Data (Q1 2026): Actual quote data from Florida homeowners on the EnergySage platform, used for cost per watt and system size averages.
EIA Electric Power Monthly (December 2025): Florida residential electricity rate of $0.1502/kWh.
IRS.gov and One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, signed July 4, 2025): Confirmation that Section 25D residential solar credit was eliminated for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
NREL National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB): Peak sun hours by Florida city.
Florida Public Service Commission: Net metering rules for FPL, Duke Energy Florida, TECO, and Gulf Power.
DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency): Florida sales tax exemption and property tax exemption details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do solar panels cost in Florida in 2026?
The average installed cost is $2.58 per watt. A typical 10 kW system runs $25,800 before any incentives. Florida’s sales tax exemption and property tax exemption apply, but the federal 30% residential tax credit no longer applies to cash or loan purchases made in 2026.

Is there a federal solar tax credit in Florida in 2026?
Not for homeowners who purchase with cash or a loan. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, eliminated the Section 25D residential solar credit for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Solar leases and PPAs still benefit from the Section 48E commercial credit through 2027, because the leasing company owns the system and claims the credit.

Does Florida have net metering?
Yes. FPL, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric, Gulf Power, and JEA all offer full retail rate net metering. You receive a bill credit equal to the retail price of electricity for every kWh you export — currently around $0.15/kWh. Unused annual credits are paid out in cash each January.

How long is the payback period for solar in Florida?
Without the federal tax credit, most Florida homeowners see a payback period of 9–12 years on a cash purchase. With a solar lease, there’s no upfront cost and immediate monthly savings, but you don’t own the system or build equity. Payback varies based on your utility rate, system size, and how much of your roof gets direct sun.

What are the best solar companies in Florida?
Based on verified customer reviews and EnergySage marketplace data, consistently top-rated Florida installers include Sunrun (for leases/PPAs), Palmetto Energy, Freedom Solar Power, Public Service Solar, and Transform Solar. Always get multiple quotes — pricing varies significantly across installers.

Get Free Quotes from Florida Solar Installers

Prices vary significantly across installers. The only way to know what your system will actually cost is to get quotes from at least three companies operating in your area.

Get Free Quotes →

Sources