How much does solar cost for a 1,000 sq ft house?
Solar for a 1,000 sq ft house usually costs about $12,500 to $27,900 before incentives in 2026, for a 5 to 9 kW system, depending on how much sun you get. Small systems cost more per watt than big ones, because permits and sales costs are about the same for any size of system.
Size and cost by city
EIA data shows houses of 1,000 to 1,499 sq ft use about 9,408 kWh of electricity a year. Homes under 1,000 sq ft use closer to 6,800 kWh, but that group includes apartments as well as small houses. Here's what it takes to cover 9,408 kWh:
| City | kWh/kW/yr | Size | Installed cost (before incentives) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 1,755 | 5.4 kW | $12,500 – $17,500 |
| Dallas, TX | 1,506 | 6.2 kW | $14,400 – $20,100 |
| Atlanta, GA | 1,420 | 6.6 kW | $15,300 – $21,400 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,296 | 7.3 kW | $16,900 – $23,700 |
| Seattle, WA | 1,088 | 8.6 kW | $19,900 – $27,900 |
Why small systems cost more per watt
Some costs barely change with system size. NLR's 2025 cost model includes about $2,152 for permitting and $3,472 for customer acquisition (sales and marketing) on every residential system. Spread that $5,624 across the system's watts:
- On a 5 kW system, it adds about $1.12 per watt.
- On a 10 kW system, it adds about $0.56 per watt.
That's why quotes for small homes often come in at the top of the per-watt range. If you're comparing quotes, ask each installer for the price per watt, not just the total. Our Solar Energy Nerds cost guide covers what else to compare. If you're wondering whether a bigger system makes sense, see whether 10 kW is enough to run a house.
Facts verified
- Electricity use by home size: EIA, 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, Table CE2.1 (32.1 million Btu per household for 1,000–1,499 sq ft and 23.2 for under 1,000 sq ft, converted at 3,412 Btu/kWh). The survey covers all housing units, including apartments.
- Output per kW: NLR PVWatts v8, run November 8, 2026 (south-facing, 20° tilt, 14% losses).
- Installed cost, permitting and customer-acquisition figures: NLR Q1 2025 PV System Cost Benchmark, residential model file (2024 dollars). The per-watt math is our own calculation.
- Assumption: the system covers 100% of average use. Costs are national benchmarks, not quotes.
More solar cost questions
- How much do solar panels cost for a 2,000 sq ft house?
- How much do solar panels cost for a 1,500 sq ft house?
- Is 10kW enough to run a house?
- What is the 33% rule in solar panels?
- Is it cheaper to buy your own solar panels?
- How much do solar panels cost without installation?
- How much do solar panels cost per month?