What a solar system costs in France in 2026
How much an installed system costs by size, what VAT changes, and how the price on your quote moves the payback time.
No public body in France publishes the average price of a home solar system in 2026: the figures in circulation come from comparison sites and installers. The benchmarks we use were gathered from 11 real quotes between September 2025 and February 2026 by a private comparison site: about €6,000 including VAT and fitting for 3 kWp, or €2 per watt-peak, €10,000 for 6 kWp and €15,000 for 9 kWp. They are estimates, to be replaced with your own quote in the calculator. The price per watt-peak falls as size grows, because fitting, grid connection and paperwork cost roughly the same whatever the number of panels. Since 5 June 2026, no premium reduces that amount any more; however, a system of 9 kWp or less can qualify for 5.5 % VAT if the equipment meets environmental criteria. In Paris, 3 kWp at the benchmark price pays back in 18.0 years for a household using 4,500 kWh.
What does a system of this size cost?
Installed price incl. VAT (estimate)
€6,000
| Per watt-peak | 2.00 €/Wc |
| Year-1 gain (Paris, 4,500 kWh) | €329 |
| Self-consumption premium | Abolished since 5 June 2026 |
Quote benchmarks from September 2025 to February 2026, not an official price: your quote comes first.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Price benchmarks by system size
The table interpolates between the three published benchmarks (3, 6 and 9 kWp) and extends them below 3 kWp. It also shows what those prices mean in gain and payback for a typical Paris household, at today’s feed-in tariff and Tarif Bleu.
| Size | Estimated installed price | Per watt-peak | Year-1 gain (Paris) | Pays back in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kWc | €4,650 | 2.33 € | €282 | 16.4 yrs |
| 3 kWc | €6,000 | 2 € | €329 | 18.0 yrs |
| 4.5 kWc | €8,000 | 1.78 € | €380 | over 20 years |
| 6 kWc | €10,000 | 1.67 € | €417 | over 20 years |
| 7.5 kWc | €12,500 | 1.67 € | €452 | over 20 years |
| 9 kWc | €15,000 | 1.67 € | €481 | over 20 years |
Above 6 kWp the price per watt-peak keeps falling, but the year-1 gain grows slowly: the household in the example does not use the extra kWh, which go to the grid at 1.1 c€. That is what lengthens payback for large systems, as the 6 kWp and 9 kWp pages explain.
Price is your first lever
With the premium gone and exports earning little, every hundred euros saved on the quote shows up almost entirely in the payback time. Try it in the calculator: replace the €6,000 estimate with your quote and the payback is recalculated immediately.
How many years until your panels pay for themselves?
Pays for itself in
18.0 years
| Output per year | 3,395 kWh |
| Gain in year 1 | €329 |
| Installed price (estimate) | €6,000 |
| Net over 20 years | +€665 |
Département median, roof at 30° due south, surplus sold at 1.1 c€/kWh.
What VAT changes
Since 1 October 2025, supplying and fitting panels on a home, for 9 kWp or less, can be invoiced at 5.5 % VAT (order of 8 September 2025). The criteria cover the modules’ carbon footprint, their heavy-metal content and the presence of an energy-management system. If the equipment does not meet them, the reduced rate does not apply and the bill rises accordingly. The grants and VAT page has a quick eligibility check.
Kits versus installed systems
A DIY kit costs far less, but it is not the same product: lower output, and fitting and paperwork are up to you. Solar kits and plug-in panels have their own pages, with average prices found in early 2026. Before signing for an installed system, also check which formalities the quote covers.