Home› Solar Cost by Roof Type

Solar Cost by Roof Type 2026

Your roofing material adds a small surcharge to your solar installation — mounting hardware and labor vary by roof type.

$16,800 installed cost for a 6 kW system, before tax credit

Get a personalized solar estimate

Free · No signup · 2 minutes

Calculate Now →

Pricing Breakdown

Based on our calculator's $2.80/watt installed rate — installed cost for a 6 kW system, before tax credit.

Option	Cost	Notes
Asphalt Shingle (Most Common)	$16,800	No mounting surcharge
Metal	$17,300	+$500 — standing-seam clamps often mount without roof penetrations
Flat	$17,600	+$800 — needs ballasted or tilted racking to angle panels
Tile	$18,300	+$1,500 — specialized flashing needed to avoid cracking tiles

What to Know

✓Asphalt shingle roofs — the most common residential roof type — have no solar mounting surcharge
✓Metal roofs add $500: standing-seam panels often mount without any roof penetrations, which can make installation faster
✓Flat roofs add $800 for ballasted or tilted racking systems needed to angle panels toward the sun
✓Tile roofs add $1,500, the highest surcharge, due to specialized flashing required to avoid cracking tiles during installation

Solar Cost by State

Installed price per watt is the same nationwide — state variance comes from electricity rates and sun hours changing your recommended system size.

California$7,056–$8,624

Texas$9,702–$11,858

Florida$9,349–$11,427

New York$8,291–$10,133

Arizona$8,644–$10,564

Nevada$10,055–$12,289

Washington$20,639–$25,225

Massachusetts$7,056–$8,624

North Carolina$12,524–$15,308

FAQs

Does roof type affect solar installation cost?

Yes, but modestly — it adds $0–$1,500 to your total system cost depending on material. For a 6 kW system, that's the difference between $16,800 (asphalt) and $18,300 (tile).

Why do tile roofs cost more for solar?

Tile roofs require specialized flashing and extra care during installation to avoid cracking tiles, which adds $1,500 to a typical system.

Do metal roofs really cost less to install solar on?

Metal roofs add just $500 — since standing-seam panels can sometimes be clamped on without penetrating the roof at all.

What if I have a flat roof?

Flat roofs need ballasted or tilted racking to angle panels toward the sun for better production, which adds $800 to your system cost.

Ready to get an accurate estimate?

Use our free calculator for a personalized solar estimate in under 2 minutes.

Get My Free Estimate →