If you have a larger-than-average home with high energy usage and want to reduce costs, or you have an average-sized home and want to cover all your energy needs, a 7 kW solar system can be the answer. 7 kW systems are large enough to meet the needs of larger-than-average homes and homes with higher-than-average energy needs. This size system with battery backup can also provide near-constant energy for smaller homes.
The national average cost to install a 7 kW solar panel system is $17,500 to $24,500, with most homeowners paying $21,000 for a 7 kW system using roof-mounted monocrystalline panels. This project’s low cost is $14,000 for a 7 kW system using roof-mounted polycrystalline panels. The high cost is $35,000 for a 7 kW system using roof-mounted monocrystalline panels with battery backup.
Several systems can create a 7 kW solar panel system. This includes three basic categories: thin film, polycrystalline, and monocrystalline. It also includes different inverter types, installation areas and materials, and batteries. A system this size could be used with batteries to provide energy for average-sized homes on most days, while it could also be used for a larger home or a home with higher-than-average energy needs to reduce energy costs. You can have several costs and quality levels for this system. Below are the average costs for a 7 kW system of varying qualities.
7 kW Solar Panel System Costs
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Basic | Standard | Best Quality | |
7 kW Solar Panel System (Material Only) | $10,000 - $12,000 | $12,425 - $17,395 | $19,880 - $24,850 |
7 kW Solar Panel System Installation Cost (Labor Only) | $4,000 - $4,800 | $5,075 - $7,105 | $8,120 - $10,150 |
Total Costs | $14,000 - $16,800 | $17,500 - $24,500 | $28,000 - $35,000 |
7 kW Solar Panel System Cost per KW | $2,000 - $2,400 | $2,500 - $3,500 | $4,000 - $5,000 |
Polycrystalline and thin-film panels are typically less expensive than monocrystalline, string inverters are less costly than microinverters, and rooftop installations are less costly than ground installations. Batteries and battery inverters also increase costs. Therefore, a basic setup may include roof-mounted polycrystalline or thin film panels with string inverters, while a standard installation may include monocrystalline panels and potentially power optimizers or microinverters. The highest-quality systems include high-quality monocrystalline panels with microinverters, battery backup, and potential tilting or ground-mounting systems.
7 kW systems are large enough to meet the energy needs of larger-than-average homes. They can also meet the energy needs of average-sized homes with higher-than-average energy usage, or when combined with battery backup, may be able to support small to average-sized homes nearly full time. If your home is smaller and you have a second source of backup power, such as a generator with battery backup, a 7 kW system is the smallest size that allows you to go off-grid.
Depending on the panel type, you need between 18 and 28 panels.
A 7 kW solar system uses 18 to 28 panels and is large enough to power most larger-than-average homes, depending on the size.
The number of kilowatt-hours - or power - your system produces depends on several factors, such as the number of sunny hours each day in your area. The output typically equals 100 kW per hour of peak sunlight.
Cost to install a 7kW solar panel system varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.