How Much Do Solar Shingles Cost for Your Roof? [2026 Data]

In 2026, the national average cost for solar shingles is $35,000, with most homeowners paying between $21,000 and $50,000. This breaks down to between $21 and $25 per square foot, or $2,100 to $2,500 per roofing square for solar shingles. Your total could reach $75,000 if you choose to cover your entire roof rather than installing solar shingles in smaller sections.

Solar Shingle Cost by Roof Size: What Does a Larger Roof Add?

The size of the area you cover with solar shingles is the single biggest driver of your total project cost, with materials running $21 to $25 per square foot of coverage. Some homeowners integrate solar shingles into small sections of an otherwise standard roof to keep costs down, while others cover the entire roof to maximize long-term electricity savings.

Costs by coverage area vary significantly, so the table below breaks down estimated costs by square footage:

Solar Shingle Pro Costs: What Do Installers Charge?

Labor typically accounts for around 60% of your total solar shingle project cost, averaging about $21,000 and ranging from $13 to $15 per square foot (or $1,300 to $1,500 per roofing square, covering 100 square feet). A steep roof will push labor costs higher, since installers need additional safety equipment and more time to complete the work safely.

Solar Shingle Electrician Costs: What Are Their Rates?

Electricians cost $50 to $130 per hour, and a standard solar shingle connection typically takes about two hours, bringing the total to $100 to $260. Most municipalities require a licensed electrician to connect your solar shingles to your home's electrical system.

Solar Shingle Costs by State: Where Are They Highest?

Solar shingle costs vary significantly depending on where you live, with higher costs of living in major cities and suburban areas driving up what professionals charge. The table below shows how costs differ by state:

Solar Shingle Cost Factors: What Determines the Price?

Several additional variables can meaningfully shift your final solar shingle project cost, so understanding them helps you build a more accurate budget.

Energy Demands

Sizing your solar shingle system to match your home's monthly electricity consumption is the most reliable way to ensure you generate enough power to offset your energy costs. For example, 500 kWh costs $35,000. A professional can give you a customized estimate based on your specific conditions.

Sunlight availability, sun intensity, and shading on your property can all affect real-world output, so the table below provides estimated costs by monthly energy demand as a starting point:

Performance

Energy output, measured by efficiency rating, is a key factor to evaluate when sizing your solar shingle installation, with most products averaging between 12% and 15% efficiency. Higher-rated shingles typically cost more upfront but generate more electricity, which can translate to greater long-term savings on your electric bills.

Brand

Brand choice can dramatically affect your per-square-foot cost, with premium options like Tesla running as much as $60 per square foot compared to more affordable brands like GAF or CertainTeed, which start as low as $21 per square foot. That price gap can represent two to three times the cost, so comparing brands carefully is worth the effort before committing to a product.

Structural Reinforcement

Solar shingles are significantly heavier than standard roofing materials, and that added load may require a structural inspection and reinforcement before installation, which can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. The cost depends on your roof's size and the scope of work needed.

While a bundle of asphalt shingles weighs between 45 and 80 pounds, a bundle of solar shingles weighs between 400 and 450 pounds.

Old Roof Removal

Most roofing contractors charge $1,000 to $5,000 to remove and haul away old roofing material before a solar shingle installation. Doing the tear-off yourself can reduce that cost, but you will still likely owe a few hundred dollars in dumping fees, plus any rental costs for a dumpster or truck.

Permits

A building permit for a roof replacement typically costs $100 to $500 depending on your municipality, and connecting your solar shingles to the grid adds an electrical permit that runs $50 to $300 in most cases. Many roofing companies bundle permit costs into their total project price, including the electrical permit, so confirm what is covered when you collect quotes.

Why You Should Hire a Roofing Pro for Solar Shingles

Installing solar shingles requires a local roofing expert with plenty of experience and connections with the right vendors, setting this project firmly outside of the do-it-yourself sphere. 

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a roofing professional

When you’re considering a solar shingles project, here’s why you’ll need to start by hiring a professional:

• Solar shingles aren’t available in a DIY kit. Instead, you’ll need to find contractors with connections to the proper suppliers who are certified to correctly install them. 

• Solar shingles can be more delicate than normal shingles, and require an experienced professional to properly install and connect them.

• You will need a professional to safely and properly connect the solar shingles to a battery or other storage option, then connect that battery to your home systems, following the latest building and electrical codes. 

• Solar shingle professionals can provide necessary contracts and warranties for the solar operation, as well as start the permitting process.

• Working on steep rooftops is a safety hazard and best left to the professionals. 

If you want to DIY a roof project

You cannot DIY a solar shingle project, even if you’re confident in your roofing abilities. This installation must be carried about by specialized, certified roofing pros. But there are a few tasks you can do to prepare.

• Arrange for an inspection early, not just for an estimate but to examine your roof’s condition for signs of damage or additional issues.

• Before the pros arrive, make sure your roof and gutters are cleaned of debris. Arrange for a roof cleaning service, if necessary.

• Research your home’s amp service and general electrical needs, as well as if you’ll need to charge an electric vehicle. 

Solar Shingle Replacement vs. Repair

On a per-square-foot basis, you’ll pay about the same amount for solar shingle replacement as you would for repair, so replacement is the best option if some of the shingles sustain damage or aren’t performing as expected. However, since repairs often only involve replacing individual shingles or small sections, it will likely be more cost-effective to pay for a repair, provided the rest of your roof still has some useful life remaining.

How to Save Money on the Costs of Solar Shingles

Solar shingles are some of the most expensive roofing materials you can install on your home, with installations reaching as high as $75,000 in some cases. However, there are some things you can do to keep your project as affordable as possible.

• Integrate into regular shingles if possible. Covering small sections of your roof with solar shingles and the rest with another material, like asphalt shingles, is a good way to keep your total roof replacement cost down. Solar shingles cost about five times as much as standard asphalt shingles, so integrate small areas into a standard roof to save.

• Take advantage of incentives. Solar incentives are often available to help bring down the effective cost of installing solar shingles. The federal investment tax credit (ITC) alone can provide a credit that can offset up to 30% of the installation cost. Check the Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for local incentives, too.

• Size your system appropriately. A solar shingle system that is sized properly for your home by a professional will maximize the long-term savings you’ll see on your electric bills. Those savings can offset some or all of your installation costs.

• Hire a pro. Hiring a professional to install solar shingles will reduce the risk of property damage and fire, as well as keep your roof warranties intact, likely saving you money over time.

Does a Solar Shingle Roof Increase Home Value?

Installing a solar shingle roof often increases your home value because buyers will take the long-term utility bill savings into account when determining what they’re willing to pay. However, the appearance of solar shingles is polarizing, so some buyers may not want a home with a solar roof, leading them to pay less. The actual ROI you’ll see depends on your location, how much of your electric bill you can offset, and the tastes of the buyers in your area.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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