The cost of solar panels in Maryland (2026)

Your electric bill doesn't care about your budget. It just keeps climbing. That's the bad news. The good news? Solar panels can lock in decades of predictable energy costs in Maryland while your neighbors watch their utility bills rise.

As of September 2026, the average solar panel system costs $2.60/W including installation in Maryland. For a 13.41 kW system (the average system size in Maryland), this comes out to about $34,839 before any available incentives, though prices range from $29,613 to $40,065. That may sound like a lot, but most homeowners see solid returns on their solar investment over the system's 25-30 year lifetime.

These numbers also don't include any potentially available Maryland or local incentives, which can help lower costs.

Here's the typical price range of a 13.41 kW system in Maryland:

Average price of a solar panel installation in Maryland

Your solar panel cost depends on your system's size

It may seem obvious, but larger solar panel systems cost more money. We use cost per watt ($/W) so you can easily compare quotes, controlling for slight variations in system size.

If you want a smaller system than the Maryland average, it won't cost quite as much.

For example, a 5 kW system will only cost you $12,986 in Maryland. Doubling the system size effectively doubles the price, so you'll pay about twice that for a 10 kW system.

Average solar cost by system size in Maryland

Are solar panels worth it in Maryland?

Solar panels are worth it in most areas, including Maryland. Certain factors, including the cost of electricity, incentives, climate, and the angle at which the sun hits your roof impact how quickly you break even on your investment relative to other areas around the U.S. 

Homeowners in Maryland are expected to save an average of $75,185 over 25 years (the warranty term of most solar panels) on electricity costs, after accounting for the upfront cost of an average-sized solar panel system. We generate this estimate based on recent, real solar quote data from our Marketplace, factoring in system costs, electricity prices, available incentives, and inflation rates.

If you can't shell out $12,986 in cash to pay for solar, don't sweat it. You can choose to finance your system with a loan instead. Some companies even offer $0-down loans so you can start saving on day one if your loan payments are less than your current electric bills. Just keep in mind that your long-term savings will be lower with a loan due to interest rates.

Or, for homeowners who prefer not to own their system or want to keep capital flexible, solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) often provide immediate savings with no money upfront. They're not offered everywhere, though, so it's worth double checking that providers offer these types of agreements systems in your area.

The numbers we're showing are averages. The price you'll pay for solar depends on many factors unique to you and your home:

There’s more than one way to go solar. Whether you want to own your system outright, finance it, or pay nothing upfront and let a provider own it, here’s how the options compare for a typical Maryland home.

Think of it like a home: rent, rent-to-own, or own

You can pay for solar the same three ways you’d pay for a place to live. Each one lowers your electric bill—they differ in who owns the panels and how you pay.

Why renting and rent-to-own is now more competitive

The federal tax credit for solar buyers expired at the end of 2025. But companies that offer lease or rent-to-own solar systems can still claim a version of it, and many pass those savings on to you. That's part of why the numbers for renting and rent-to-own options are more favorable than they've been in years past.

All figures below estimate a 13.41kW system—about the average size for a Maryland home.

Figures are estimates based on geo-specific averages and EnergySage quote data—not a quote. Your actual cost and savings depend on your home, roof, energy use, and the offers you receive.

If you're looking for solar companies in MD, here are some popular suggestions:

Solar is a major purchase, but you can often get the price tag to come down by being an educated shopper. Taking advantage of incentives and shopping around for quotes can help lower your cost of solar in Maryland.

Search for incentives

While the federal tax credit is no longer available for systems purchased with cash or a loan, many states offer great local incentives and rebates that can further reduce your costs—so it's worth seeing what's available to you.

You can also still benefit from the tax credit indirectly if you sign a lease or PPA as long as your provider passes along those savings.

Get quotes from multiple installers

Comparing multiple solar quotes can save you money through competition and transparency. Each additional quote you receive for solar will help you find the right solar panel system at the right price.

This is where EnergySage can help. With funding from the Department of Energy’s SunShot Prize, EnergySage opened the country’s first (and now the largest) marketplace for home solar panel installations. We gather custom solar quotes from local installers on your behalf and put them in an easy-to-compare format. When you compare quotes for solar panels on the EnergySage Marketplace, you can expect to see prices up to 20% lower than if you work with a single solar company.

Solar panels aren't cheap. But neither is paying your utility company every month for the next 30 years. The difference? One of those bills eventually stops. The other one keeps climbing.

Getting solar quotes in doesn't cost you anything, but skipping this step could cost you thousands over your system's lifetime. Start comparing offers from Maryland installers today—your future self (and your wallet) will thank you.