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Is your solar quote fair?
We don't sell solar. Get an honest read on a fair cash price for your system — and see how much a financed / "$0-down" quote may be hiding in dealer fees.
Your quote
System size (kW)
State
Quoted price ($)
Cash or financed?
Tip: your system size (kW) and price are on the proposal. Don't know your size? Estimate it →
Enter your system size (kW) to see a fair cash price range.
UNDERSTAND YOUR SOLAR QUOTE
See what your solar system should cost
This free solar-quote check is independent — we don't sell solar, we're not a lead broker, and there's no signup. It compares your quote against a fair cash price-per-watt range for your area, and for financed or "$0-down" deals it estimates the 15–35% dealer fee the industry hides in the loan (per the CFPB). It also reflects the 2026 reality that the 30% federal residential tax credit expired on December 31, 2025. Everything runs in your browser and we don't sell your information. The output is an honest range to compare against 2–3 written cash bids — not a quote.
What is a solar "dealer fee"? +
A dealer fee is a hidden markup baked into financed and "$0-down" solar deals. To offer a low advertised interest rate, the lender charges the installer a large up-front fee, and the installer rolls it into your price — so the same system costs far more on a loan than in cash. The CFPB has found these fees commonly run 15–35% and sometimes higher. That's why a financed quote well above the fair cash range usually isn't a deal; it's the dealer fee. Always ask for the cash price.
Cash vs financed — why does it matter? +
The cash price is the real price. Because financed and $0-down quotes hide a 15–35% dealer fee, comparing a financed quote to a fair cash range is the single fastest way to tell if you're overpaying. This tool checks a cash quote directly against the fair $/W range for your area; for a financed quote it estimates the cash price hiding underneath so you can see the markup. If the implied cash price is much higher than the fair range, the difference is fees, not value.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit? +
No. The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (IRC §25D) expired on December 31, 2025. For a 2026 cash or loan purchase of an owned system, assume $0 federal credit. Be skeptical of any salesperson still promising a "30% credit" — that math no longer applies. You should still verify whether any state or local incentives are currently available where you live.
What's a fair price per watt? +
Nationally, a fair installed cash price runs roughly $2.40–$3.60 per watt (DC) before incentives, and we adjust that band up or down by a state cost tier for local labor, permitting, and competition. So for a 7 kW system, a fair cash range is about $17,000–$25,000 in a typical-cost state. Equipment quality, roof complexity, and your installer all move the number, which is why we show a range rather than one figure — compare it against 2–3 written cash bids.
How accurate is this? +
It's a sanity-check range, not a quote. We use national market $/W ranges (EnergySage, SolarReviews, and the NREL benchmark) scaled by a rough state tier. Real pricing depends on equipment, roof difficulty, and the installer, so the honest output is a band to verify — not a guaranteed price. Use it to know whether a quote is in the ballpark and to spot a financed deal padded with dealer fees.
Do you sell my info? +
No. We're independent, we don't sell solar, and we're not a lead broker. The check runs in your browser, there's no account or email required, and we don't sell, rent, or trade your information to installers. The whole purpose of this tool is to help you avoid the pitch, not feed it.
Why show a range instead of one price? +
Because a single number would be false precision. Fair solar pricing genuinely varies with your state, your equipment tier, and your roof — and financed quotes hide fees on top. A range tells you the band a fair cash price should fall inside and makes an overpriced or fee-loaded quote obvious, without pretending we can name your exact price sight-unseen.
More free, independent homeowner tools:
Is solar worth it? · Is my roof claim fair? · For contractors →