How much do solar panels cost in the UK?
For a typical UK home, a fully installed solar PV system costs somewhere between £5,000 and £12,000, depending on system size, panel quality, and whether you add battery storage.
| Home size | Typical system size | Approximate installed cost |
| 2–3 bed house | 3–4 kW | £5,000 – £7,000 |
| 3–4 bed house | 4–6 kW | £7,000 – £9,500 |
| 4+ bed house | 6–8 kW | £9,500 – £13,000 |
| Add battery storage | 5–10 kWh | +£3,000 – £6,500 |
These figures include panels, inverter, mounting, scaffolding, electrical work, and grid connection – the full job, not just parts. Battery storage is optional and can be added at installation or later.
What affects the price?
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Panel quality and wattageHigher-efficiency black mono panels cost more than standard panels but generate more per square metre, which matters if roof space is limited.
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Protection Against Volatility:A simple south-facing pitched roof is quicker and cheaper to fit than a split roof, flat roof, or a roof needing extra scaffolding access.
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System sizeLarger systems cost more in total but typically work out cheaper per kW installed.
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Battery storageAdds cost upfront but increases self-consumption and long-term savings (see payback section below).
How many solar panels do I need?
Most homes need somewhere between 10 and 20 panels, depending on roof space, household energy use, and how much of your bill you want to offset.
The right number for your property depends on three things: your roof’s available area, its orientation and pitch, and how much electricity your household actually uses. This is exactly what a site survey is for — we measure your roof, check for shading, and model expected generation against your usage before recommending a system size, rather than selling a one-size-fits-all package.
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3-bed home (3,500 kWh/year)10–12 panels (around 4 kW)
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Larger family home (4k–6k kWh/year)14–18 panels (around 6 kW)
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High energy use / EV charging / Heat pump18+ panels, often paired with battery storage
Is my roof suitable for solar panels?
Most UK roofs can take solar panels, but a few things determine how well a system will perform:
Orientation
South-facing roofs generate the most, but east- and west-facing roofs are still very much worth it, typically losing only 10–15% of output. North-facing roofs generate less but can still be viable, especially with an optimised panel layout.
Pitch
Anywhere between roughly 15° and 45° works well; flat roofs can also be fitted using a tilted mounting frame.
Shading
Trees, chimneys, or neighbouring buildings that shade the roof for large parts of the day will reduce output and are factored into your system design.
Roof material and condition
Tile, slate, and metal roofs are all suitable. If your roof is due for replacement in the next few years, it’s worth doing that first.
Flat roofs
Completely viable for residential installs using ballasted or fixed tilt frames; we cover this in more detail on our flat roof case study.
If you’re not sure, the honest answer is that it’s very hard to say from a desktop assessment, a physical site survey (which we provide free, with no obligation) is the only reliable way to know.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
For most homes, no. The majority of residential solar panel installations fall under “permitted development” rights, meaning you can install without a planning application, provided:
- Panels don’t protrude more than 200mm from the roof slope or wall
- Panels are removed when no longer needed for electricity generation
- The installation doesn’t sit above the highest part of the roof (excluding chimneys)
You will need planning permission if:
- Your property is a listed building
- You live in a conservation area and the panels would face a highway
- You’re installing panels on a flat roof and they’d be visible from the road in certain conservation contexts
- You’re fitting a ground-mounted system rather than roof-mounted, in some cases
If any of this applies to you, we handle the permitted development check (and planning application if needed) as part of your site survey, so you’re not left to figure out local authority rules yourself.
The installation process, step by step
From initial enquiry to switch-on, most projects complete within 4–8 weeks, depending on scaffolding and DNO approval timelines.
Going solar is a more straightforward process than most homeowners expect. Here’s what it actually looks like:
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Free site survey
We visit your property, assess your roof, check your energy usage, and discuss your goals. No obligation, no hard sell.
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System design and quote
You receive a tailored proposal: recommended system size, expected annual generation, projected savings, payback period, and a transparent price.
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Scheduling and scaffolding
Once you accept, we book in scaffolding and installation dates.
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Installation day(s)
A typical residential installation takes one to two days, covering panel fitting, inverter installation, wiring, and safety isolators.
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Grid connection and certification
We register the system with your District Network Operator (DNO) and apply for MCS certification, which you'll need for the Smart Export Guarantee.
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Switch-on
Your system goes live and starts generating.
Orange Solar Systems LTD
We install solar PV panels and solar battery storage systems across the whole of Hampshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire and Dorset. Join the sustainable future revolution with Orange Solar Systems today.
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