How Much Does Plug-In Solar Cost?

In short: Plug-in solar costs far less than rooftop solar: typically a few hundred dollars for a small kit, rather than the tens of thousands a rooftop system can run, with nothing to finance and no installer to pay. Because Bright Saver is a nonprofit, our members buy the exact same kits at cost, with no markup, for a $29 a year membership. That combination makes it one of the most affordable ways to start generating your own power.

If you are pricing out home solar, plug-in solar will almost certainly be the most affordable option you find. There is no roof work, no professional installation, and nothing to finance, so the cost is close to the price of the hardware itself. This guide breaks down what a kit actually costs, why it is so much cheaper than rooftop, and how buying at cost changes the math. For the bigger picture on how these systems work, see our complete guide to plug-in solar.

What a plug-in solar kit actually costs

A plug-in solar kit is a short list of parts: one or more solar panels, a small inverter that converts the power for your home, and the mounting hardware and cable to connect it. A single small panel runs a few hundred dollars, and a two-panel setup costs more while still landing far below a traditional rooftop system. Because pricing changes over time, the current numbers live on our Balcony Solar kit page rather than in this article.

There is usually no installer to pay, no financing, and in many places no permit fee, so what you see is close to what you spend.

Why plug-in solar costs so much less than rooftop

Rooftop solar is a great option for homeowners with a suitable roof, and its higher price reflects what it is: a large, permanently installed system that can offset most of a home’s electricity, designed and installed by professionals and connected to the grid through a formal process. Plug-in solar is a smaller, simpler product, and its lower cost comes from what it does not require.

• No professional installation. You set up a DIY plug-in kit yourself in an afternoon, so there is no labor bill.

• No roof work. Nothing is bolted to or penetrates your roof, so there is no structural work and no roofing cost.

• No long interconnection process. A small plug-in system does not need the extended utility approval a full rooftop system does, especially if you live in a state where Bright Saver has fought to pass legislation to remove red tape.

• A smaller system. You are buying one or two panels, not a whole roof’s worth, so the hardware itself costs a fraction as much.

The Bright Saver difference: kits at cost

Here is where the math changes. Most companies selling plug-in solar add a retail markup on top of the hardware. Bright Saver is a nonprofit, so we sell our members the exact same kits at cost, with no markup at all. The only thing you pay beyond the hardware is a $29 a year membership, which funds our work and the policy campaigns making plug-in solar easier in more states.

In practice, that means a member can pay noticeably less for the same equipment than they would buying it retail elsewhere. You can see current at-cost pricing on our Balcony Solar kit page.

What you will not pay for

Part of what makes plug-in solar affordable is the long list of costs that simply do not apply.

• No installer. Setup is a do-it-yourself job, so there is no installation labor to pay for.

• No financing or interest. Kits are affordable enough to buy outright, so there is no loan or lease and no interest.

• No long-term contract. You own the hardware. There is no lease, no power purchase agreement, and nothing that signs you into years of payments.

• No roof repairs. Because nothing attaches to your roof, there are no penetrations to seal and no roofing costs down the line.

So does it pay off?

For most people with a sunny spot, yes, and in a high-rate state the math is better than almost anywhere else you could put the same money.

A kit is a one-time cost of a few hundred dollars, and it then trims your electric bill every month for decades, because the panels last around 20 years. In a high-rate state like California or New York, a kit bought at cost typically pays for itself in about two years. On something that keeps paying for the better part of two decades after that, a two-year payback works out to a return on your money on the order of 50% a year. That return is effectively tax-free, because you are lowering a bill rather than earning taxable income, it does not swing with the stock market, and it improves as electricity rates climb, which in California they have by more than 40% in the past five years.

Your exact payback depends on how much sun your spot gets, how high your electricity rate is, and how much of the power you use during the day. You can estimate your own payback and return with our savings calculator.

There is also a bigger payoff than the money: because Bright Saver is a nonprofit selling at cost, your purchase and your $29 membership help fund the work of making clean energy affordable and give you a tangible way to act on climate change.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a plug-in solar kit cost?

A single small panel runs a few hundred dollars, and a two-panel setup costs more while still landing far below a traditional rooftop system. Because pricing changes over time, you can see current numbers on our Balcony Solar kit page.

Why is plug-in solar cheaper than rooftop solar?

It is a smaller, simpler product. There is no professional installation, no roof work, and no long utility interconnection, and you are buying one or two panels rather than a whole roof’s worth. Rooftop costs more because it is a much larger, professionally installed system that can power most of a home.

Are there installation or permit costs?

Usually not. You set up a plug-in kit yourself, so there is no installation labor, and many places do not require a permit for a small plug-in system. Rules do vary by state, so check yours on our legislation tracker.

Do I need financing to buy plug-in solar?

Not necessary at all. Bright Saver kits are affordable enough to buy outright, so there is no loan, no lease, and no interest necessary. That is a key difference from a large rooftop system, where financing is common. Bright Saver is working to add financing to our systems, to make it even more affordable and help put cash in members' pockets from day 1.

Does buying at cost really save money?

Yes. Most sellers add a retail markup, but as a nonprofit we sell our members the same hardware at cost for a $29 a year membership, so you pay less for the same equipment. See current pricing on our Balcony Solar kit page.

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Bright Saver is the first and only nonprofit in the United States dedicated to plug-in solar, also known as balcony solar, built on a simple premise: no American should have to choose between saving money and fighting climate change. We sell our members these small plug-in systems at cost, the kind anyone can set up on a balcony, patio, or other small space, and we have already helped pass laws in 10 states that make it cheaper for people to power their own homes.

Ready to start? Join for $29 a year and get your kit at cost.