GoSolarCompare

Solar panels

Make your roof work for you.

Solar panels turn daylight into electricity you can use at home, store, or export. Compare approved installers and get quotes designed around your roof, not an average one.

How home solar works

Panels on your roof generate direct current whenever there's daylight. An inverter converts it to the alternating current your home uses. Anything you don't use is exported to the grid, and many suppliers will pay you for it through an export tariff.

What you'll typically be quoted for

A domestic system is usually between 3 and 6 kWp, made up of 8 to 16 panels, an inverter, mounting hardware, electrical work, scaffolding and registration paperwork. Your quotes should itemise these, and we encourage you to compare like with like.

Winter, clouds and British weather

Panels generate from daylight, not heat, so they work on overcast days at reduced output. Annual generation estimates already account for the seasons. A south-facing, unshaded roof is ideal, but east and west roofs perform well too.

Costs

What affects the price

We don't publish a single price because there isn't one. These are the things that move your quotes up or down.

  • 01

    System size

    More panels, more generation, higher cost. Installers size systems to your roof and usage.

  • 02

    Panel and inverter choice

    Premium panels and hybrid inverters cost more but may offer higher efficiency or longer warranties.

  • 03

    Roof access

    Scaffolding, roof height, pitch and material all affect labour time and cost.

  • 04

    Electrical work

    Consumer unit upgrades or long cable runs add to the installation cost.

  • 05

    Battery storage

    Adding a battery typically increases the project cost significantly but raises self-consumption.

  • 06

    Location

    Labour rates vary across the UK, which is one reason to compare local approved installers.

At the survey

What a good installer will check

Every approved installer surveys before quoting. Expect them to look at these.

  • Roof orientation, pitch and shading through the day
  • Roof structure, condition and remaining lifespan
  • Your annual electricity usage and daytime pattern
  • Space for the inverter and route for cabling
  • Your consumer unit and earthing arrangement
  • Grid connection limits and any DNO notification needed
  • Scaffolding and safe access
  • Export tariff eligibility and paperwork

Questions

Common questions

Most panels carry a 25-year product warranty and a performance warranty guaranteeing a percentage of original output after 25 to 30 years. Inverters are usually warranted for 10 to 12 years and may need replacing once during the system's life.

Ready to see what your roof could do?

Enter your postcode to start comparing approved installers. Free, independent and no obligation.