The cost of solar panels in Richmond, VA (2024)

Updated Feb 11, 2025

  • You'll pay an average of $13,883 to install a 5 kilowatt solar panel system in Richmond, VA, 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 February 2025, the average solar panel system costs $2.78/W including installation in Richmond, VA. For a 5 kW installation, this comes out to about $13,883 before incentives, though prices range from $11,801 to $15,965. After the federal tax credit, the average price drops by 30%.

Average price of a 5 kW solar panel installation in Richmond, VA

Good Price
$11,801 or less
Market Average
$13,883
High Price
$15,965 or more

You'll probably pay even less than what we show here. It doesn't include the federal ITC or Richmond, VA 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 $13,883 in Richmond, VA, 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 Richmond, VA

System Size
System Cost
System Cost (after ITC)
3 kW$8,330$5,831
4 kW$11,107$7,775
5 kW$13,883$9,718
6 kW$16,660$11,662
7 kW$19,437$13,606
8 kW$22,213$15,549
9 kW$24,990$17,493
10 kW$27,766$19,437

Are solar panels worth it in Richmond, VA?

Solar panels are worth it in most areas, including Richmond, VA. 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 $49,122 over 25 years (the warranty term of most solar panels) on electricity costs with a 5 kW system in Richmond, VA. 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.

Payback Period
8.88 Years
25-Year Savings
$49,122
Cost-per-Watt
$2.78

If you can't shell out $13,883 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.

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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 VA, here are some popular suggestions:

  • Solar SME, Inc.
    McLean, VA
    Established 2011
    Elite+ Installer
    SolarSME offers unbeatable value with competitive pricing, flexible financing options, and industry-leading warra...
    Elite+ Installer
    Screened & Verified

    SolarSME offers unbeatable value with competitive pricing, flexible financing options, and industry-leading warra...
  • Cosmo Solaris
    Richmond, VA
    Established 2018
    Elite Installer
    Why Choose Cosmo Solaris?

    Transparency:
    We pride ourselves on transparency, offering free site inspections and on-s...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified

    Why Choose Cosmo Solaris?

    Transparency:
    We pride ourselves on transparency, offering free site inspections and on-s...
  • Southern Exposure Solar
    Ashland, VA
    Established 2019
    Elite Installer
    Gain 25 year protection for your roof penetrations, solar panels, microinverters, and service on those components...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    50 Reviews

    Gain 25 year protection for your roof penetrations, solar panels, microinverters, and service on those components...
  • Nedes LLC
    Arlington, VA
    Established 2016
    Elite Installer
    Expert Guidance: Our team of solar consultants will guide you through every step of the process, from initial con...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    67 Reviews

    Expert Guidance: Our team of solar consultants will guide you through every step of the process, from initial con...
  • Palmetto Solar
    Henrico, VA
    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

    Palmetto is leading the world into a clean energy future by making it easy for homeowners across the United State...

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 Richmond, VA.

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 Richmond, VA. 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.

Why shop with EnergySage?

Save time & money

Request free quotes from vetted installers in minutes

Unbiased support

Our expert Energy Advisors will help you make the right decision

Trusted, local installers

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