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How much do solar panels cost in BC in 2026?

Installed rooftop solar in BC runs about $2.50 to $3.30 per watt before rebates in 2026, going by published Canadian cost guides. That puts a 6 kW system at $15,000 to $19,800 and a 10 kW system at $25,000 to $33,000.

Last checked November 12, 2026. Rates and program rules change, so confirm them with the source before you sign.

What does a system cost by size?

The table multiplies each system size by $2.50 and $3.30 per watt, then takes off the BC Hydro rebate of $1,000 per kW up to $5,000. Yearly output uses our Metro Vancouver figure of 1,050 kWh per kW for an unshaded south-facing roof.

System size	Price before rebate	BC Hydro rebate	Price after rebate	Yearly output
4 kW	$10,000 to $13,200	$4,000	$6,000 to $9,200	4,200 kWh
6 kW	$15,000 to $19,800	$5,000	$10,000 to $14,800	6,300 kWh
8 kW	$20,000 to $26,400	$5,000	$15,000 to $21,400	8,400 kWh
10 kW	$25,000 to $33,000	$5,000	$20,000 to $28,000	10,500 kWh

For scale, BC Hydro describes a typical residential system as 7 kW with 16 panels, and an average household as using about 10,000 kWh a year. A 7 kW system in this range costs $17,500 to $23,100 before the rebate.

The rebate column applies to BC Hydro customers and to City of New Westminster residential customers. FortisBC customers pay the price before rebate.

Where does the price range come from?

From published guides. They are secondary sources, and we say so. Green Building Canada's BC guide gives $2.50 to $3.30 per watt for roof-mounted panels. Its national guide lists BC at $2.60 to $3.27 and Canada as a whole at $2.40 to $3.50.

BC Hydro tells rebate applicants to get at least three quotes and compare them with its BC cost averages. We have not been able to read those averages as published figures, so this page doesn't quote them. Once we can, they will replace the range here.

A range from guides is a yardstick. It can't tell you what your roof should cost. It can tell you when a quote needs explaining.

How do you work out price per watt on your own quote?

Divide the total price before any rebate by the system size in watts. A kW is 1,000 watts.

Quote	Working	Price per watt
7 kW for $20,300	$20,300 divided by 7,000	$2.90
8.8 kW for $31,900	$31,900 divided by 8,800	$3.63

The first sits mid-range. The second, taken from our sample report, is $2,860 above the top of the range for its size. Use the price before the rebate. If a quote shows only the after-rebate figure, add the rebate back before you divide.

Price per watt is the first of six checks in How to read a solar quote in BC.

Why would a quote be above the range?

There are fair reasons. A steep or complicated roof takes more labour. An older house may need an electrical panel upgrade. Premium panels or inverters cost more. A battery adds to the price, and it should appear as its own line so the solar price can be compared by itself.

Smaller systems also tend to cost more per watt. Green Building Canada notes that permits, wiring and labour are fixed costs spread over the system size, and puts building and electrical permits at $150 to $500 depending on the municipality.

What matters is that the quote names its reason. If it doesn't, ask what on your job puts the price above $3.30 a watt.

Is a very low price a good sign?

It deserves the same question in reverse. In our reviews, a quote well under $2.10 per watt gets asked what it leaves out. An itemized list shows what is and isn't included. That threshold is our own rule of thumb.

What does the rebate take off, and when?

The BC Hydro rebate is $1,000 per kW up to $5,000, capped at half the installed cost. The cap is reached at 5 kW, so the rebate is a bigger share of a small system. It is 40% of a 4 kW system priced at $10,000, and 20% of a 10 kW system priced at $25,000.

BC Hydro pays the rebate within 60 days of interconnection approval, which comes after the system is installed and the final invoice is paid. Budget for the full price up front. Approval has to come before you buy equipment, and funding is first come, first served.

What does financing add?

The price per watt is a cash price. A financed quote can cost far more over its term. In our sample report, a $31,900 system financed at 9.99% over 15 years carries about $29,769 in interest.

Two programs that older guides mention have changed. The federal Canada Greener Homes Loan is closed to new applications. And since August 1, 2026, a seller in BC can't arrange credit as part of a direct sales contract.

What do you get back for the price?

Cost is half of the question. The other half is what the system earns under BC Hydro's current rate, where surplus power in a billing period is paid at 10 cents per kWh. On our model, a 7 kW system quoted at $20,300 returns about $915 in its first year for a Metro Vancouver home with electric heat. Is solar worth it in BC in 2026? works through the payback.

Common questions

How much does a 7 kW solar system cost in BC?

At the published range of $2.50 to $3.30 per watt, a 7 kW system costs $17,500 to $23,100 installed, before rebates. After the $5,000 BC Hydro rebate that is $12,500 to $18,100.

What is the average cost per watt for solar in BC in 2026?

Published guides give a range in place of a single average: about $2.50 to $3.30 per watt installed, before rebates. One national guide lists BC at $2.60 to $3.27 per watt.

Is the BC Hydro rebate taken off the price I pay the installer?

Not automatically. BC Hydro pays the rebate to the property owner within 60 days of interconnection approval, after the system is installed and the final invoice is paid. Plan to pay the full quoted price first.

Do FortisBC customers pay the same price for solar?

The published range of $2.50 to $3.30 per watt is for BC as a whole. The BC Hydro rebate is not available to FortisBC customers, so they pay the price before rebate.

Want your own quote checked?

The free calculator runs the rough numbers in your browser from four figures on your quote and your hydro bill. The sample report shows what a written review looks like.

Try the free calculator See a sample report

Solar Second Look is a document review. We check a quote against published prices and program rules. This guide is general information and does not replace legal, financial or engineering advice. For questions about a contract, contact Consumer Protection BC.