Solar installation quotation that wins on detail
Solar buyers line up competing offers and check the kit, not just the price. Show fifteen 440 W panels, the 5 kW inverter and installation, then take a deposit to order.
- Panels, inverter, racking and isolators set out by size
- Expiry date and deposit added before sending
- Edit on a laptop or phone at no cost
What a solar quote template should include
Write a solar installation quotation that a homeowner can check against the system design: panel count and wattage, inverter size, racking and balance of system, licensed installation labor and any upgrades. The sample prices a 6.6 kW rooftop system with fifteen 440 W panels and a 5 kW inverter. Open it in the free quote maker, change the kit to suit, and send it as a PDF with a deposit and expiry date.
Solar buyers compare offers on system size, components and price per watt, so your quote has to show all three plainly. List each major component by brand, model and rating, then the installation, approvals and connection steps that turn a pallet of equipment into a working system.
- System size in kWThe DC size (panel count times panel wattage) and the inverter AC rating, for example 6.6 kW of panels on a 5 kW inverter.
- Panels by model and wattageBrand, model, wattage and quantity, with the product and performance warranty periods taken from the manufacturer’s datasheet.
- Inverter or microinvertersString inverter size, or the microinverter count, plus any optimizers and the monitoring that comes with them.
- Racking and balance of systemRails, mounts, roof flashings, cabling, conduit, isolators or disconnects, and the roof type the mounts are rated for.
- Installation by licensed tradesWho does the electrical work and under which license number. The AC connection is normally licensed electrical work.
- Permits and interconnectionBuilding or electrical permits, the utility interconnection application and any meter change. Say who submits each one and that approval timing rests with the utility.
- Production estimateAn estimated annual output in kWh from your design software, labeled clearly as an estimate that depends on weather and shading.
- Roof and site exclusionsRoof repairs, tree trimming, main panel upgrades and trenching for ground mounts, unless priced on the quote.
- Deposit and payment stagesA deposit to order equipment and a balance due on completion or on utility approval, written as amounts, not just percentages.
Sample solar panel quotation: 6.6 kW rooftop system
The sample is a residential 6.6 kW rooftop install. Equipment lists fifteen 440 W panels and a 5 kW inverter, a materials set covers racking, cabling and isolators, and one labor line prices the installation by a licensed electrician. A battery ready upgrade is optional, so the $7,480 subtotal leaves it out, and a 10% deposit applies. These figures show the layout and are not market prices.
| Item | Group | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panels, 440 W | Equipment | 15 each | $210.00 | $3,150.00 |
| Inverter, 5 kW | Equipment | 1 each | $1,450.00 | $1,450.00 |
| Racking, cabling and isolators | Materials | 1 set | $980.00 | $980.00 |
| Installation Licensed electrician | Labor | 1 job | $1,900.00 | $1,900.00 |
| Battery ready upgrade | Optional extras (optional) | 1 job | $650.00 | ($650.00) |
| Subtotal before tax | $7,480.00 | |||
| Optional extras, not in the total | $650.00 | |||
5 lines are filled in, from solar panels, 440 w to battery ready upgrade. Put in your own solar installation rates, then download the PDF.
How installers price a solar installation
Most installers build the price from the bill of materials plus labor and overhead, then sanity check it as a price per watt against their target. Per watt figures make systems of different sizes easy to compare, but the document itself should still list the components and the labor.
- Cost build upPanels, inverter, racking, cabling and permits at cost plus markup, plus crew hours and electrician time. Accurate, and it shows exactly where your margin sits on each job.
- Price per wattTotal price divided by DC watts. Useful as a check and a sales comparison: in the sample, $7,480 over 6,600 W works out at about $1.13 per watt.
- PackagesFixed packages such as 6.6 kW or 10 kW with set components. Fast to send, with extra lines for site specific items like a tile roof or a second array.
- Adders for site conditionsTile or metal roofs, steep pitch, two story access, long cable runs and panel upgrades priced as their own lines rather than a vague contingency.
Equipment can be most of the price, so watch your margin on it closely. The markup calculator shows the margin behind any markup, and how to price a job covers overhead and profit for crews.
Worked example: sizing and pricing a 6.6 kW system
- Size the array15 panels x 440 W = 6,600 W, or 6.6 kW DC. On a 5 kW inverter, the DC to AC ratio is 6.6 / 5 = 1.32.
- Price the equipment15 x $210 = $3,150 for panels, plus $1,450 for the inverter: $4,600.
- Add balance of system and laborRacking, cabling and isolators $980 and installation $1,900 make $2,880. With the equipment, the subtotal is $7,480.
- Check price per watt$7,480 / 6,600 W = about $1.13 per watt before tax, a figure to hold against your own target.
- Deposit and balanceA 10% deposit is $748, leaving $6,732 on completion. With the $650 battery ready upgrade, the total becomes $8,130 and the deposit $813.
Roof type, shading, a main panel upgrade or a long run to the meter will change the labor and materials lines. Keep incentives out of the price and list them separately, since they depend on approval.
What the solar quotation includes and excludes
Usually included
- System design and panel layout drawing
- Permit applications
- Utility interconnection paperwork
- Mounting with flashed roof attachments
- Commissioning and monitoring app setup
Excluded unless priced
- Roof repairs or reroofing before install
- Main electrical panel or service upgrade
- Tree trimming or removal for shade
- Trenching for ground mounted arrays
- Fees charged by the utility
- Battery storage unless listed
Solar quotation mistakes installers make
- Quoting before checking the main panel rating, then finding the busbar cannot take the backfed breaker.
- Naming the panel brand but not the model and wattage, so the customer cannot compare your system with another offer.
- Presenting payback or bill savings as fact instead of an estimate with stated assumptions.
- Ignoring roof age, then paying to remove and refit the array when the roof needs replacing a few years later.
- Not saying who handles the utility interconnection or that approval times are outside your control.
- Pricing a tile or metal roof at the same labor rate as asphalt shingles.
Solar quote template questions
What should a solar quote include?
System size in kW, panel and inverter models with quantities, racking and balance of system, installation labor and license details, permits, interconnection, any optional battery or upgrade, exclusions, warranty periods, a deposit and a valid until date. A production estimate helps if it is labeled as an estimate. Roof work can go on a separate roofing estimate.
How do solar installers price a job?
Most build the price from equipment cost, labor and overhead, then compare the result as a price per watt. Site factors like roof type, pitch and electrical upgrades are added as separate lines. Read how to calculate labor cost to set crew rates that cover wages and time off the roof.
How much deposit do solar companies take?
Practice varies. A deposit large enough to order equipment, with the balance at completion or connection, is a common structure. Check your state’s consumer rules, which may limit up front payments on home improvement contracts, and see our guide to deposits.
Should I include incentives in a solar quotation?
Show the price before incentives, then list any incentive separately with a note that it depends on eligibility and approval. That keeps your price clear if a program changes and avoids promising savings you do not control.
How long should a solar quote be valid?
Fourteen to thirty days is common, because panel and inverter prices and incentive programs change. The quote maker prints a valid until date and flags any quote in its last three days, so you know when to follow up or reprice.
Do I need a separate quote for a battery?
Not always. Add the battery, or a battery ready upgrade, as an optional line, so the customer sees the price and can tick it without a second document. The sample shows the battery ready upgrade this way. More layouts are in our quote templates library.
