How much does solar cost in NSW?
The honest answer is that a headline price tells you almost nothing until you know what's on your roof. Here's what actually moves the number — so you can read a quote properly instead of guessing.
Two houses on the same street can get quotes thousands of dollars apart for the same size system, and both can be fair. The difference is rarely the panels. It's the work.
What actually drives the price
| Factor | Why it changes the cost |
|---|---|
| Roof type | Tile takes longer than tin and carries breakage risk. Klip-lok needs specific clamps. Slate and asbestos change the job entirely. |
| Storeys | Double-storey means more access equipment, more height-safety work, and slower going. This is a real cost, not a markup. |
| Cable run | The distance from the array to the switchboard. A long run means more cable, more labour, and sometimes a larger cable size. |
| Switchboard | Older boards often need an upgrade before solar can connect. It's one of the most common surprise line items. |
| Single vs three phase | Affects which inverters you can use and how much you're allowed to export. |
| Roof planes | An array split across several orientations needs more rail, sometimes more optimisers, and more labour. |
| Equipment tier | Panels and inverters span a wide quality range. The warranty and who honours it matters more than the sticker. |
Why we don't publish a single price
Any site that quotes one number for "6.6kW installed" is quoting a house they've never seen. Until someone knows your roof type, your switchboard and your cable run, a headline figure is marketing, not a price. That's why our estimate starts from your actual address — and why we send a technician to look before any installer quotes.
Before or after the rebate?
The federal small-scale technology certificate (STC) discount is usually assigned to the installer and applied as an upfront reduction, so most advertised prices are already after it. Some aren't. When you compare two quotes, the first question is whether both numbers are on the same side of that line — otherwise you're comparing nothing.
Battery incentives work differently again and are tiered by capacity, so a bigger battery does not scale the incentive proportionally.
How to compare quotes without getting lost
- Same design, or it isn't a comparison. Different panel counts and inverter sizes make price differences meaningless.
- Check what's excluded. Switchboard upgrades, height-safety, and long cable runs are the usual exclusions that reappear later as variations.
- Ask who installs it. Many retailers subcontract. Ask for the accredited installer's name — and check it.
- Ask what evidence you get. Photos of the fixings and terminations before they're covered are the only proof the hidden work was done properly.
- Read the warranty's owner. A 25-year warranty is only as good as the entity honouring it.
Start with your actual roof
Get an instant estimate from your address, then a free on-roof assessment. Vetted installers price the same design, and you choose. Every install is photographed and compliance-checked.
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