Normal range$2.12-$3.20/watt2026 Florida average, before incentives
Production baseline~1,450 kWh/kW/yrTypical Florida figure, south-facing roof
Required disclosureF.S. 520.23A separate signed statement, up to 32 items
Quotes to get2 to 3Enough to see what's typical

The short answer

Solar quotes are hard to compare because they rarely use the same numbers. One quote is for 7.2 kW, another for 8.4 kW. One shows a monthly payment, another a cash price. The fix is to convert everything to the same two figures: price per watt, and expected annual production per kW. Once quotes are on the same terms, the real differences, equipment, warranty, what's included, show up.

Florida also gives you a legal backstop. Any residential solar sale or lease has to include a separate disclosure statement covering the cost, the incentives assumed, and the savings assumptions. If a quote's numbers don't match that document, ask the installer to explain the mismatch.

Compare price per watt, not total price

Divide each quote's total price by its system size in watts. An 8,400-watt (8.4 kW) system quoted at $23,000 works out to about $2.74 a watt. A 7,200-watt (7.2 kW) system quoted at $18,500 works out to about $2.57 a watt. The second number is the lower rate, even though its total price is also lower, which is what makes price per watt more useful than comparing totals directly.

2026 Florida averages run roughly $2.12 to $3.20 per watt installed, before incentives, across system sizes and installers. A quote near the middle of that range isn't a red flag by itself. One well outside it, in either direction, is worth a direct question: a high price might mean premium equipment or a complex roof, and a very low price might mean lower-tier panels, a smaller inverter warranty, or corners cut on installation.

Check the production estimate

Every quote should come with an estimate of how much electricity the system will produce in a year. In Florida, a well-sited system, facing south with no shade, typically produces somewhere close to 1,450 kWh per kilowatt per year, with some regional variation. Southeast and South Florida run a little higher; a roof that faces east or west, or has shade part of the day, runs lower. Our production guide has the figures by region and orientation.

To sanity-check a quote's number, multiply the proposed system size in kW by that baseline and see how close the installer's estimate lands. A number well above the baseline for a south-facing, unshaded roof deserves a question about how it was calculated: what tilt, orientation and shading did they assume, and can they show the modeling tool behind it? Reputable installers commonly use NREL's PVWatts, a free public tool, or an equivalent, and should be able to explain their inputs.

Comparing two solar proposals side by side, highlighting a line on one page
Line up the same numbers across every quote: price per watt, production per kW, and what's included.

What the quote has to disclose

Florida Statute 520.23 requires every residential solar sale or lease to come with a separate written disclosure statement, printed in at least 12-point type and separately acknowledged from the main contract. Depending on the deal, it covers up to 32 items. The ones worth reading line by line on every quote you compare:

  • The installer's name and state contractor license number. Verify it yourself at myfloridalicense.com rather than trusting what's printed on the quote.
  • Whether you're buying or leasing, in plain language, not just implied by the payment structure.
  • The total cost, including fees, and the full payment schedule if financed or leased.
  • Every state or federal tax incentive the seller relied on in setting the price. In 2026, that list should not include the expired 30 percent federal residential credit.
  • The assumptions behind the savings estimate, including a statement that future utility rates are estimates, not guarantees.

This document is your best tool for comparing quotes on equal terms, because Florida law requires the same categories of information from every seller. Our guide to checking a solar company covers the license check and other red flags in more depth.

Equipment, warranty and the fine print

Once price per watt and production are on the same terms, what's left is the part that varies between installers:

  • Panel and inverter brand and tier. Ask what specific models are quoted, not just a general description.
  • Warranty length and what it covers. Product warranties, performance warranties and workmanship warranties are three different things and often three different lengths.
  • Mounting and roof attachment details. Our hurricanes guide covers what a properly engineered mounting job looks like, and it's a fair question to ask any installer directly.
  • Monitoring, maintenance and who to call if something goes wrong after the sale.
  • Financing versus cash terms, since a loan or lease changes the real cost even when the system itself is identical. Our financing guide compares the options.

When a quote doesn't add up

  • A system size that's much bigger than the others. Ask what usage they assumed. A quote that silently includes an electric pool heater or EV charging you don't have will oversize the system and the price. See our guides on sizing to a high bill and solar for pool homes.
  • A production estimate well above the Florida baseline for a normal roof, with no clear explanation of the assumptions behind it.
  • No separate disclosure statement, or reluctance to provide one. This is required by Florida law, not optional paperwork.
  • Pressure to sign the same day, especially for a deal presented as expiring immediately. You have a legal right to cancel a contract signed at your home within three business days regardless.

None of these automatically mean a company is dishonest, an unusual answer with a clear explanation is fine, but they're worth asking about before you sign anything.

How it works

Your estimate in three steps

  1. Enter your billYour ZIP code, your utility and last month's bill.
  2. See your estimateA yearly savings range based on your utility's rates and Florida sun.
  3. Choose what's nextAsk for a quote call if you want real pricing, or just keep the number.

See what solar could save you

It takes about a minute. You don't need a site visit, a commitment or a sales call to see your number.

Check my savings →

Common questions

How many solar quotes should I get in Florida?

At least two or three. That's enough to see whether a price is typical without spending weeks on it. If two quotes for a similar system are close in price per watt and production estimate, and a third is far out of line in either direction, that's useful information either way.

What's a normal price per watt for solar in Florida right now?

Roughly $2.12 to $3.20 per watt installed, before any incentives, based on 2026 Florida averages. That's a range, not a target, because it depends on equipment, roof complexity and system size. A quote well outside that range is worth asking about, whether it's higher or suspiciously lower.

How do I compare quotes that show different system sizes?

Divide the total price by the system size in watts to get a price per watt for each quote, then compare that number instead of the total. A 6 kW system and an 8 kW system will naturally have different total prices; price per watt strips that out so you're comparing the actual rate.

How do I know if a production estimate is realistic?

Check it against a Florida baseline of roughly 1,450 kWh per kW per year, adjusted for your specific roof. A south-facing roof with no shade should land close to that baseline or a bit above it; an east- or west-facing roof, or one with shade part of the day, should be lower. A production number well above that baseline for a normal roof deserves a direct question about how it was calculated.

What does Florida law require a solar contract to disclose?

Florida Statute 520.23 requires a separate written disclosure statement, in at least 12-point type and separately acknowledged, covering up to 32 items. The ones worth reading line by line: the installer's license number, whether you're buying or leasing, the total cost with a payment schedule, every tax incentive the seller relied on in setting the price, and the assumptions behind any savings estimate. If a company won't give you this document, that's a reason to walk away, covered on our guide to checking a solar company.

Should I choose the cheapest solar quote?

Not automatically. A lower price per watt can mean a leaner install, or it can mean lower-tier equipment, a smaller crew, or corners cut on the mounting hardware that matters in a hurricane. Compare equipment brand and warranty length alongside price per watt, and use the disclosure statement to see what each price includes before deciding on price alone.

Do I need to get quotes from local installers only?

Not necessarily, but check the contractor license either way. Florida requires a state contractor license, starting with CVC or EC, to install solar on a home, and you can verify it yourself at myfloridalicense.com regardless of where the company is based. A large regional or national installer and a small local one can both be legitimate; the license check matters more than the company's size.

What if two quotes disagree a lot on my system size?

Ask why. A bigger recommended system usually means the installer assumed more usage than you have, sometimes including loads like an electric pool heater or EV charging you don't have. Our guide on sizing solar to a high electric bill and our guide on solar for pool homes both cover how assumptions like that can inflate a quote.

This page is general information, not a review of any specific quote or company. Sources: Florida Statute 520.23 · NREL PVWatts Calculator · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation license search · current Florida installed-cost data from multiple solar industry sources, reviewed September 2026.

Next guideHow to check a solar company in Florida →