The cost of solar panels in Michigan (2025)

Updated May 6, 2025

  • You'll pay an average of $15,549 to install a 5 kilowatt solar panel system in Michigan, before incentives.

  • The federal investment tax credit (ITC) lowers that price by 30% of all your solar equipment and installation costs.

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Written by:Emily Walker

As of May 2025, the average solar panel system costs $3.11/W including installation in Michigan. For a 5 kW installation, this comes out to about $15,549 before incentives, though prices range from $13,217 to $17,881. After the federal tax credit, the average price drops by 30%.

Average price of a 5 kW solar panel installation in Michigan

Good Price
$13,217 or less
Market Average
$15,549
High Price
$17,881 or more

You'll probably pay even less than what we show here. It doesn't include the federal ITC or Michigan state incentives, which will lower this price by at least a few thousand dollars.

Your solar panel cost depends on your system's size

It may seem obvious but larger solar panel systems cost more money. We use cost per watt ($/W) so you can easily compare quotes, controlling for slight variations in system size.

While a 5 kW system will only cost you $15,549 in Michigan, doubling the system size effectively doubles the price, so you'll pay about twice that for a 10 kW system. The higher the price tag, though, the more you'll get back as a credit towards your federal tax bill.

Average solar cost by system size in Michigan

System Size
System Cost
System Cost (after ITC)
3 kW$9,329$6,531
4 kW$12,439$8,707
5 kW$15,549$10,884
6 kW$18,659$13,061
7 kW$21,769$15,238
8 kW$24,878$17,415
9 kW$27,988$19,592
10 kW$31,098$21,769

Are solar panels worth it in Michigan?

Solar panels are worth it in most areas, including Michigan. Certain factors, including the cost of electricity, incentives, climate, and the angle at which the sun hits your roof impact how quickly you break even on your investment relative to other areas around the U.S. 

If you pay for your system with cash, you'll save about $30,367 over 25 years (the warranty term of most solar panels) on electricity costs with a 5 kW system in Michigan. We generate this estimate based on real solar quote data from our Marketplace. It considers your system's cost, the federal tax credit, and inflation rates.

If you don't have access to net metering, these estimates don't account for utility net billing rates.

Payback Period
12.55 Years
25-Year Savings
$30,367
Cost-per-Watt
$3.11

If you can't shell out $15,549 in cash to pay for solar, don't sweat it. You can choose to finance your system with a loan instead. Some companies even offer $0-down loans so you can start saving on day one if your loan payments are less than your current electric bills. Just keep in mind that your long-term savings will be lower with a loan due to interest rates.

Find out what solar panels cost in your area in 2025
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The numbers we're showing are averages. The price you'll pay for solar depends on many factors unique to you and your home:

If you're looking for solar companies in MI, here are some popular suggestions:

  • Strawberry Solar
    Detroit, MI
    Established 2010
    Elite Installer
    Strawberry Solar is headquartered in Detroit, serving the lower peninsula of Michigan. We are staffed with expert... 
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    4.9 /5.0
    59 Reviews

    Strawberry Solar is headquartered in Detroit, serving the lower peninsula of Michigan. We are staffed with expert... 
  • Palmetto Solar
    Newaygo, MI
    Established 2009
    Elite Installer
    Palmetto is leading the world into a clean energy future by making it easy for homeowners across the United State... 
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    4.4 /5.0
    147 Reviews

    Palmetto is leading the world into a clean energy future by making it easy for homeowners across the United State... 
  • North Coast Solar
    Davison, MI
    Established 2019
    Approved Installer
    We pride ourselves on providing the truth about how solar will benefit or not benefit our fellow Michiganders. It... 
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    35 Reviews

    We pride ourselves on providing the truth about how solar will benefit or not benefit our fellow Michiganders. It... 
  • Absolute Solar
    Lansing, MI
    Established 2016
    Approved Installer
    We are committed to Michigan’s clean energy future. With one of our solar systems, you can drastically lower your... 
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    8 Reviews

    We are committed to Michigan’s clean energy future. With one of our solar systems, you can drastically lower your... 
  • Tiger Solar
    Comstock Park, MI
    Established 2004
    Approved Installer
    We love to educate, empower and help our customers find the best clean energy solution. Our branches are managed ... 
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    15 Reviews

    We love to educate, empower and help our customers find the best clean energy solution. Our branches are managed ... 

Solar is a major purchase, but you can get the price tag to come down a bit by being an educated shopper. Taking advantage of incentives and rebates and shopping around for quotes can bring down your cost of solar in Michigan.

Take advantage of federal and local solar incentives

As long as your federal tax bill is high enough, you can take advantage of the federal tax credit in Michigan. This incentive allows you to apply 30% of your solar installation and equipment costs toward your federal tax bill. If the amount exceeds your tax bill, you can roll over the remaining credit to the following year. Many states also offer great local incentives and rebates.

Get quotes from multiple installers

Comparing multiple solar quotes can save you money through competition and transparency. Each additional quote you receive for solar will help you find the right solar panel system at the right price.

This is where EnergySage can help. With funding from the Department of Energy’s SunShot Prize, EnergySage opened the country’s first (and now the largest) marketplace for home solar panel installations. We gather custom solar quotes from local installers on your behalf and put them in an easy-to-compare format. When you compare quotes for solar panels on the EnergySage Marketplace, you can expect to see prices up to 20% lower than if you work with a single solar company.

See what solar costs in MI cities and towns

Choose a city below to see the solar costs in that area.

As of May 2025, the average solar panel cost in Michigan is $3.11/W. If you install a 5 kW system it will cost you between $13,217 to $17,881, with an average cost of $15,549.

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