Does Solar Increase Home Value? The 2026 Appraisal Data
Solar homes sell for about 4.1% more, per Zillow data — roughly $9,200 on a median US home. Here is the real data on solar home value and how to protect it when selling.
The data is clear
Zillow found solar homes sell for ~4.1% more — about $9,200 on a median US home. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found buyers pay a premium of about $4 per watt of installed solar. A 6 kW system adds roughly $24,000 to resale value in active markets.
Owned systems add value; leases complicate sales
Owned solar consistently adds value. Leased/PPA systems can complicate a sale because the buyer must assume the lease — some sellers must pay off the lease or offer concessions. If you may sell within 5–10 years, ownership is the safer bet.
What appraisers look for
Appraisers value solar based on age, size, ownership, and local comps. Keep documentation: system size, install date, production data, and warranty paperwork. A clean owned system with 25-year warranty is a selling point, not a liability.
FAQ
How much does solar increase home value?
About 4.1% per Zillow — roughly $9,200 on a median US home. LBNL data shows ~$4 per installed watt in premiums.
Do leased solar panels hurt a home sale?
They can — buyers must assume the lease, which complicates financing. Owned systems are the clear value-add.
How do I maximize solar resale value?
Own the system, keep all paperwork (warranty, production data, install specs), and price it against local solar-home comps.
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Sources
- U.S. EIA — electricity rates by state, eia.gov/electricity/monthly
- NREL PVWatts v8 — solar production by location, pvwatts.nrel.gov
- DSIRE — state incentives and net metering, dsireusa.org
- See how every figure on this page is calculated — PVFig methodology.
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