How much does rooftop solar cost in India in 2026? For a home, a complete on-grid system is typically quoted at ₹55,000–85,000 per kW installed, and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy takes up to ₹78,000 off. Here are prices for 1 kW to 10 kW, what goes into the number, and how to read a quote.
Published 2026 price guides put a complete residential on-grid system at about ₹55–85 per watt installed, or ₹55,000–85,000 per kW. That figure includes panels, inverter, mounting structure, wiring and protection, and installation. The spread comes from panel type and origin, inverter quality, how high and how strong the structure is, your city, and how much paperwork the installer handles.
Our solar panel cost calculator uses a benchmark of ₹65,000 per kW for on-grid systems, adjusted for panel technology, plus ₹8,000 for the net meter. With Mono PERC panels that comes to about ₹67,200 per kW before the meter, near the middle of the market range. Its estimates are meant to be a fair reference point, not the lowest quote you will find.
The market range is ₹55,000–85,000 multiplied by system size. The calculator columns are its actual outputs for an on-grid system with Mono PERC panels, including the ₹8,000 net meter, with the PM Surya Ghar subsidy applied.
| System size | Typical 2026 quote | Calculator estimate | PM Surya Ghar subsidy | Net cost (calculator) | Net cost per kW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kW | ₹55,000–85,000 | ₹75,184 | ₹30,000 | ₹45,184 | ₹45,184 |
| 2 kW | ₹1.10–1.70 lakh | ₹1,42,368 | ₹60,000 | ₹82,368 | ₹41,184 |
| 3 kW | ₹1.65–2.55 lakh | ₹2,09,552 | ₹78,000 | ₹1,31,552 | ₹43,851 |
| 4 kW | ₹2.20–3.40 lakh | ₹2,76,736 | ₹78,000 | ₹1,98,736 | ₹49,684 |
| 5 kW | ₹2.75–4.25 lakh | ₹3,43,920 | ₹78,000 | ₹2,65,920 | ₹53,184 |
| 6 kW | ₹3.30–5.10 lakh | ₹4,11,104 | ₹78,000 | ₹3,33,104 | ₹55,517 |
| 8 kW | ₹4.40–6.80 lakh | ₹5,45,472 | ₹78,000 | ₹4,67,472 | ₹58,434 |
| 10 kW | ₹5.50–8.50 lakh | ₹6,79,840 | ₹78,000 | ₹6,01,840 | ₹60,184 |
Two things stand out. First, the subsidy is worth the most per kW on small systems. It covers ₹30,000 a kW up to 2 kW, ₹18,000 for the third kW, and stops growing at 3 kW, so the net price per kW rises from about ₹41,000 at 2 kW to about ₹60,000 at 10 kW. Second, larger systems often get a lower per-kW quote before subsidy, because installation and paperwork costs are spread over more panels. The calculator does not assume that discount for homes, which is one reason its estimates for 6–10 kW can sit above competitive quotes.
What you save matters as much as what you pay. For a Delhi home (₹7/kWh) with each system sized to its own consumption, the calculator's payback ranges from about 4.5 to 6.7 years across 1–10 kW, shortest at 2–3 kW where the subsidy covers the largest share. See how many solar panels you need to match a size to your monthly units, and the PM Surya Ghar subsidy guide for the slab maths and how to claim it.
Here is how the calculator itemises a 3 kW on-grid system with Mono PERC panels. Itemised quotes from installers usually follow a similar pattern, though they rarely split it this finely.
| Component | Share of base cost | 3 kW system |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panels (Mono PERC) | 42%, adjusted for panel type | ₹88,452 |
| Inverter | 18% | ₹35,100 |
| Mounting structure | 12% | ₹23,400 |
| Balance of system (cables, earthing, lightning arrester, protection) | 14% | ₹27,300 |
| Installation labour | 14% | ₹27,300 |
| Net meter | Fixed | ₹8,000 |
| Total before subsidy | ₹2,09,552 |
Panels are the largest single item but well under half the bill. That is why a quote that looks cheap because of a low panel price can still be expensive overall, and why the structure, cabling and inverter deserve as much scrutiny as the panel brand.
Panel prices are quoted per watt. Retail prices seen in late 2026 are roughly:
| Panel type | Typical retail price | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Non-DCR (imported cells) | ₹18–26 per watt | Homes not claiming the subsidy, commercial roofs |
| DCR (Indian-made cells) | ₹24–34 per watt | Required for the PM Surya Ghar subsidy |
DCR (domestic content requirement) panels use cells made in India. PM Surya Ghar requires them, so every subsidised home system uses DCR panels and carries their higher price. The subsidy more than covers the difference on a home system: on 3 kW, a DCR premium of around ₹6–10 per watt adds roughly ₹18,000–30,000, against ₹78,000 of subsidy. Homes that skip the subsidy, and businesses, can use non-DCR panels.
Panel technology also changes the price. In the calculator, TOPCon panels add 22% to the panel line, which raises a 3 kW system from ₹2,09,552 to ₹2,21,018 (about 5.5% more), while needing about 147 sq ft of panels instead of 166 sq ft. Our solar panel types guide compares polycrystalline, Mono PERC, TOPCon and bifacial in detail.
Batteries are the biggest extra cost in solar. 2026 prices for home storage run about ₹20,000–35,000 per kWh for lithium (LFP) and ₹8,000–15,000 per kWh for lead-acid. Lithium costs more upfront but lasts much longer and can be discharged more deeply. The calculator prices LFP at ₹28,000 and tubular lead-acid at ₹12,000 per kWh, both inside those ranges.
Adding battery backup to that 3 kW system for a home using about 495 units a month in Delhi sizes a 6.8 kWh LFP bank, adding ₹1,90,400 and taking the total before subsidy to about ₹4.0 lakh. The battery itself is not subsidised, and payback stretches from 4.8 to about 11.8 years. That is why most homes with a reliable grid choose plain on-grid solar, and add a small battery only if power cuts are frequent. The hybrid solar guide and off-grid solar guide explain how to size storage.
Enter your bill and state. The calculator sizes the system, itemises the cost, applies the subsidy and shows your payback.
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