Guide · Updated September 2026
Home solar installation cost: what drives the number
The short answer
A home solar installation in India costs roughly ₹58,000 per kW installed before subsidy — about ₹58,000 for 1 kW, ₹1,74,000 for 3 kW and ₹2,90,000 for 5 kW at 2026 benchmarks. The PM Surya Ghar subsidy of up to ₹78,000 is credited to your bank account after commissioning, so your net cost is lower than the figure you sign for.
The one number worth knowing
At the 2026 benchmark of about ₹58,000 per kW installed, price scales close to linearly with size. That single figure lets you sanity-check any quote in seconds: multiply it by the kW you were offered and compare. A quote 20% above it is not automatically wrong, but it owes you a specific reason — better structure, longer cable run, premium inverter, or a genuine site complication.
What the quote must include
Panels, inverter, mounting structure, DC and AC cabling, earthing and lightning arrester, the net meter and its application, transport, and installation labour. Ask for it itemised by line — panel brand and wattage, inverter brand and model, GI or MS structure — because a lump-sum figure hides which of those is being quietly substituted.
What it usually does not include
Batteries, civil work if the roof needs a platform or a shed, DISCOM charges such as a security deposit or meter fee, and any annual maintenance contract. None of these is inherently wrong; they are simply not part of the per-kW benchmark, so a quote that omits them is not cheaper — only less complete.
What the subsidy actually subtracts
PM Surya Ghar pays ₹30,000 per kW up to 2 kW plus ₹18,000 for the third kW, capped at ₹78,000 for residential systems. On a 3 kW system that is ₹78,000 off the gross price, so ₹1,74,000 becomes about ₹96,000. It arrives in your bank account after commissioning: you fund the gross amount first and claim afterwards.
Cost by system size
The right system is the one that matches your consumption, so size first and price second. The 1 kW, 3 kW, 5 kW and 10 kW guides on this site carry the full arithmetic for each size — gross cost, subsidy, net cost and monthly generation — rather than one headline number that fits nobody.
Why two neighbours get different quotes
Metro labour and logistics cost more than smaller towns. A metal-sheet roof needs a different structure than an RCC slab. A long cable run from a far corner to the meter is real money. A sanctioned-load upgrade adds a step before anything is installed. Two identical houses on paper can differ by a meaningful margin for entirely legitimate reasons.
The three places people overpay
Oversizing past annual consumption, so the surplus exports cheap instead of offsetting retail units. Paying a premium panel price on a roof where the real constraint is shading rather than panel efficiency. And buying a battery when the grid already banks your daytime surplus and returns it at night. Each is a real product — just not one that pays for itself in the average Indian home.
Run your own numbers
Guides give you the rules; the calculator gives you your numbers. One input — your monthly bill.
Open the calculatorFAQ
What is the cost per kW for home solar in India?
About ₹58,000 per kW installed at 2026 benchmarks, before subsidy. Tier-1 metro quotes run higher; smaller towns often come in lower.
Is the subsidy deducted from the price upfront?
No. You pay the gross amount and the subsidy is credited to your bank account after the DISCOM commissions the system. An installer offering to adjust it in the quote is usually inflating the gross price to absorb it.
What is the cheapest way to get home solar?
Buy the smallest system that covers your annual consumption, from a portal-registered vendor, with an itemised quote — and skip batteries and add-on maintenance contracts if you are on a grid connection.
Does the cost include the net meter?
It should be listed explicitly. The net meter and its DISCOM application are part of a complete quote; if they are missing you will pay for them separately later.