Tesla Powerwall costs $11,500 each
Tesla Powerwall costs $11,500 to $32,500 including installation for a one- to four- battery setup. But you’ll also need to consider additional costs, like hardware, new electrical systems, and solar panels. If you purchase multiple Tesla Powerwalls, you’ll pay less per unit. You can also save up to 30% on the cost of installing a Tesla Powerwall thanks to the Residential Clean Energy Credit, which is a federal solar tax credit.
You can harness the power of the sun, save on energy costs, and reduce your home's carbon footprint with a solar battery, like the Tesla Powerwall. Just keep in mind that as of 2022, Tesla doesn’t sell individual Powerwalls. You’ll either need to buy an entire Tesla solar power system or find a Tesla-certified installer to provide the individual product to work with your existing solar setup.
| Lowest Cost | Average Cost | Highest Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $8,500 | $11,500 | $32,500 |
Tesla Powerwall Cost Breakdown
Take a look at the cost breakdown for these solar battery installations.
| Component | 1 – 2 Powerwalls | 3 – 4 Powerwalls |
|---|---|---|
| Powerwall Battery | $11,500 – $18,500 | $25,500 – $32,500 |
| Gateway | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| Total Cost | $13,300 – $20,300 | $27,300 – $34,300 |
Gateway
A backup Gateway from Tesla costs $1,800. The Tesla Gateway controls the home energy system’s connection to the grid, monitors energy use, detects outages, and transitions your home to backup power as needed.
Installation Cost
If you purchase a Powerwall from Tesla with its complete solar system, the installation is included in the $11,500 cost of the Powerwall. However, since Tesla doesn’t sell individual Powerwalls, you will need to find a certified installer to purchase a Powerwall. When purchasing from a third party, you are subject to whatever that company charges for installation, which usually starts around $3,000 plus about $8,500 for the Powerwall itself, not including hardware.
Solar and Powerwall Tax Credit
If you purchase solar and one or multiple Powerwalls, you may be eligible for the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to save up to 30%, as long as the system is installed by the end of 2034. According to Tesla, systems installed in 2022 to 2032 can get the 30% tax credit, while systems installed in 2023 are eligible for a 26% tax credit. Systems installed in 2034 may receive a 22% tax credit.
Why are these timelines important? Well, since Tesla transitioned to selling Tesla Powerwalls only with solar systems, there has been a longer wait time for installation—sometimes as long as a year. If you’re planning to take full advantage of the federal solar tax credit, it’s essential to have the products installed by 2032.
Tesla Powerwall Cost by Size
While a standard single battery costs $11,500, the more batteries you buy, the less you pay per unit, and the bigger the discount you receive. The average home can manage with one Powerwall, but this will likely only give power backup for one day and won't be able to run larger appliances like an AC unit for long.
| Number of Powerwalls | Price per Powerwall | Total Cost (Including Discount) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Powerwall | $11,500 | $11,500 |
| 2 Powerwalls | $9,250 | $18,500 |
| 3 Powerwalls | $8,500 | $25,500 |
| 4 Powerwalls | $8,125 | $32,500 |
| 5 Powerwalls | $8,100 | $40,500 |
| 6 Powerwalls | $8,083 | $48,500 |
| 7 Powerwalls | $8,071 | $56,500 |
| 8 Powerwalls | $8,063 | $64,500 |
| 9 Powerwalls | $8,056 | $72,500 |
| 10 Powerwalls | $8,050 | $80,500 |
Tesla Battery Specs
Before you buy a Tesla Powerwall, you probably want to know how it will work in your home. From making sure it will meet your home’s energy demands to knowing how efficient the Powerwall is, here are the important battery specs to note before buying.
Chemistry
Like most solar batteries, the Tesla Powerwall is a lithium-ion battery with lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li-NMC) chemistry.
Output
The Tesla Powerwall 2 output includes 5.8 kW of continuous power or 10 kW of peak power. The continuous power is how much the solar battery can release over a period of time and will help you determine how many appliances you can run at once on the battery power. The peak power refers to the highest amount of energy the solar battery can supply in a short time period.
Battery Depth of Discharge
Tesla Powerwall has a 100% depth of discharge (DoD), which is the amount of battery discharged compared to the battery capacity. Most solar batteries have a limited DoD of 80% to 100%, which can help the battery extend its lifespan.
Efficiency
The Tesla Powerwall has a round-trip efficiency of 90%, which is slightly more than the average round-trip efficiency, 80%, of a common solar battery. Round-trip efficiency refers to the amount of energy that is stored and then retrieved later. The higher the efficiency number, the less energy the solar battery needs for itself to run (AKA giving you more bang for your buck).
Compatibility
This product is widely compatible with many existing brand-name solar power systems and solar inverters, so you don’t have to purchase an entire solar system from Tesla if you already have panels in good working condition.
Warranty
Tesla Powerwall has a 10-year comprehensive warranty to cover claims relating to the Powerwall, solar inverter, and roof mounting and leaks. The company also offers a 25-year panel performance warranty for its solar panels.
Tesla Powerwall vs. Other Popular Solar Battery Brands
While Tesla Powerwalls may seem expensive, when compared against other brands, you can see that, in general, they offer greater storage capacity and continuous power output to comparable alternative products.
Tesla Powerwall vs. Generac PWRcell
| Price Factors | Tesla Powerwall | Generac PWRcell |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,500 | $10,000+ |
| Storage Capacity | 13.5 kWh | 9+ kWh |
| Continuous Power | 5.6 kW | 3.4+ kW |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
| Size | 45.3 x 29.6 x 5.75 inches | 22 x 10 x 68 inches |
| Weight | 251.3 pounds | 287+ pounds |
| Monitoring | Tesla app | PWRview app |
Tesla Powerwall vs. Enphase Encharge 10
| Price Factors | Tesla Powerwall | Enphase Encharge 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,500 | $18,000+ |
| Storage Capacity | 13.5 kWh | 10.08 kWh |
| Continuous Power | 5.6 kW | 3.84 kW |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
| Size | 45.3 x 29.6 x 5.75 inches | 42.13 x 26.14 x 12.56 inches |
| Weight | 251.3 pounds | 341 pounds |
| Monitoring | Tesla app | Enlighten Manager and MyEnlighten app |
Total Price of a Tesla Powerwall Setup
The true costs of a Tesla Powerwall setup are substantially higher than the cost of the batteries and their installation alone. That's because, as of 2022, Tesla Powerwalls are only available to purchase as part of a Tesla solar system. This significantly increases cost, whether you opt for a panel system or a solar roof system.
Take a look at the costs for a typical home in Florida, with a roof size of 2,200 square feet. Remember that local incentives and rebates vary significantly, so the price you'll pay for a similarly sized system will depend on your location.
Panel System
A small Tesla solar panel system with 4.80 kW panels and one Powerwall will set you back about $23,550 before incentives and rebates. After discounts have been applied, you can expect to pay $16,500 or less, depending on your location. This provides an estimated energy offset of 55%, assuming low to moderate household energy use. And it provides enough energy storage forone day of power backup, but it won't be enough to power large 240V appliances for long periods.
For the same size home where energy use is higher or you want more power backup or off-grid capabilities, you can purchase a Tesla solar system with 19.20kW panels and four Powerwalls. This will set you back $80,700 before discounts and, depending on your location, $56,500 or less after those rebates and incentives are applied.
A system of this size provides a 200% energy offset for a mid to heavy-energy-use household, so even after filling the batteries, you may be able to sell excess power back to the local utility provider to further maximize your savings. This solar system size will also provide enough stored energy for a 12-day whole home backup, even if running multiple large appliances.
Roof System
A small solar roof system costs $60,000 before incentives and $42,000 or less after. For a property of this size, that system would include one Powerwall and an 8.67Kw solar shingle roof for a 100% (or more) energy offset. This would give you up to three days of whole home power backup, but you'd struggle to run large appliances for long periods.
A bigger system with more storage would cost $80,000 before discounts and $60,000 or less after. This includes four Powerwall units and an 8.67Kw solar shingle roof. It would provide a 100% or more energy offset and a 12-day whole home backup, including the ability to confidently run large appliances.
Potential Savings of a Tesla Powerwall
There are other ways to reduce the cost of installing the solar panel system. Where you live determines how much you can save. For example, in California, you'd be likely to receive a rebate of up to 15% to 20% of the cost per Powerwall as part of the Self Generation Incentive Program, or SGIP. Plus, under the “Equity” and “Equity Resiliency” programs, vulnerable and low-income homeowners would be eligible for a discount of $850 to $1,000 per kWh, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.
In other states, however, you may not be so lucky, so make sure you talk to your local solar installer who should know all there is to know about solar installation incentives in your area.
As far as savings on utility costs, a typical homeowner can save between $200 and $400 in electricity savings per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
A single Powerall is not enough to power a home round the clock. Asingle unit provides around 13.5 kWh per day, while the average American family consumes roughly 30 kWh per day. But yes, theoretically, if you installed enough Powerwalls, you could continuously power your whole home.
One Powerwall is able to power an average-sized home's emergency circuits, lights, and outlets. However, in order to power large appliances, you should buy two or three Powerwalls.
A Tesla Powerwall comes with a standard 10-year warranty that guarantees the unit will provide at least 80% power during this period. After this time, a Powerwall may continue to operate, even if at a reduced capacity for another 10 to 15 years.
Yes, Tesla Powerwalls are worth the money, as you can recoup your investment within 6 to 8 years. Plus, they provide peace of mind because you'll have power during a power outage and, depending on the system you install, you can become energy-independent.
When combined with a substantial solar system, if you have enough Powerwalls, then yes, theoretically, you could go off-grid and be totally energy independent. But remember, you'd need enough Powerwalls to power your whole home continuously, even during extended periods of limited sunlight.
You can’t install a Tesla Powerwall yourself. While Tesla does have a publicly accessible installation manual online, the company only allows installation by a certified electrician.
