Solar Cost by Roof Type 2026
Your roofing material adds a small surcharge to your solar installation — mounting hardware and labor vary by roof type.
$16,800
installed cost for a 6 kW system
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Pricing Breakdown
Based on our calculator's $2.80/watt installed rate — installed cost for a 6 kW system.
| Option | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt Shingle (Most Common) | $16,800 | No mounting surcharge |
| Metal | $17,300 | +$500 — standing-seam clamps often mount without roof penetrations |
| Flat | $17,600 | +$800 — needs ballasted or tilted racking to angle panels |
| Tile | $18,300 | +$1,500 — specialized flashing needed to avoid cracking tiles |
What to Know
- ✓Asphalt shingle roofs — the most common residential roof type — have no solar mounting surcharge
- ✓Metal roofs add $500: standing-seam panels often mount without any roof penetrations, which can make installation faster
- ✓Flat roofs add $800 for ballasted or tilted racking systems needed to angle panels toward the sun
- ✓Tile roofs add $1,500, the highest surcharge, due to specialized flashing required to avoid cracking tiles during installation
Solar Cost by State
Installed price per watt is the same nationwide — state variance comes from electricity rates and sun hours changing your recommended system size.
California$10,080–$12,320
Texas$13,860–$16,940
Florida$13,356–$16,324
New York$11,844–$14,476
Arizona$12,348–$15,092
Nevada$14,364–$17,556
Washington$29,484–$36,036
Massachusetts$10,080–$12,320
North Carolina$17,892–$21,868
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