The cost of solar panels in Cincinnati, OH (2024)

Updated Dec 3, 2024

  • You'll pay an average of $13,528 to install a 5 kilowatt solar panel system in Cincinnati, OH, before incentives.

  • The federal investment tax credit (ITC) lowers that price by 30% of all your solar equipment and installation costs.

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Written by: Emily Walker

As of December 2024, the average solar panel system costs $2.71/W including installation in Cincinnati, OH. For a 5 kW installation, this comes out to about $13,528 before incentives, though prices range from $11,499 to $15,557. After the federal tax credit, the average price drops by 30%.

Average price of a 5 kW solar panel installation in Cincinnati, OH

Good Price
$11,499 or less
Market Average
$13,528
High Price
$15,557 or more

You'll probably pay even less than what we show here. It doesn't include the federal ITC or Cincinnati, OH state incentives, which will lower this price by at least a few thousand dollars.

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.

While a 5 kW system will only cost you $13,528 in Cincinnati, OH, doubling the system size effectively doubles the price, so you'll pay about twice that for a 10 kW system. The higher the price tag, though, the more you'll get back as a credit towards your federal tax bill.

Average solar cost by system size in Cincinnati, OH

System Size
System Cost
System Cost (after ITC)
3 kW$8,117$5,682
4 kW$10,823$7,576
5 kW$13,528$9,470
6 kW$16,234$11,364
7 kW$18,940$13,258
8 kW$21,646$15,152
9 kW$24,351$17,046
10 kW$27,057$18,940

Are solar panels worth it in Cincinnati, OH?

Solar panels are worth it in most areas, including Cincinnati, OH. 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. 

If you pay for your system with cash, you'll save about $52,970 over 25 years (the warranty term of most solar panels) on electricity costs with a 5 kW system in Cincinnati, OH. We generate this estimate based on real solar quote data from our Marketplace. It considers your system's cost, the federal tax credit, and inflation rates.

If you don't have access to net metering, these estimates don't account for utility net billing rates.

Payback Period
8.65 Years
25-Year Savings
$52,970
Cost-per-Watt
$2.71

If you can't shell out $13,528 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.

Find out what solar panels cost in your area in 2024
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The numbers we're showing are averages. The price you'll pay for solar depends on many factors unique to you and your home:

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

  • Gold Path Solar
    Dublin, OH
    Established 2022
    Elite Installer
    We don’t tell you what you need with a one-size-fits-all, canned solution. We help you navigate your renewable en...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    84 Reviews

    We don’t tell you what you need with a one-size-fits-all, canned solution. We help you navigate your renewable en...
  • TGE Solar
    Cincinnati, OH
    Established 2020
    Elite Installer
    With extensive experience amongst the team with several national and regional solar installers, there grew a poin...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    12 Reviews

    With extensive experience amongst the team with several national and regional solar installers, there grew a poin...
  • Blue Raven Solar
    Columbus, OH
    Established 2014
    Elite Installer
    At Blue Raven Solar, we are dedicated to helping homeowners harness the power of the sun to reduce their energy c...
    Elite Installer
    Screened & Verified

    At Blue Raven Solar, we are dedicated to helping homeowners harness the power of the sun to reduce their energy c...
  • Coldstream Solar
    Milford, OH
    Established 2017
    Advanced Installer
    Hi, I am Greg and I handle sales, design, and engineering for Coldstream Solar. I have been in the residential s...
    Advanced Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    17 Reviews

    Hi, I am Greg and I handle sales, design, and engineering for Coldstream Solar. I have been in the residential s...
  • Zeo Energy Corp
    Cincinnati, OH
    Established 2005
    Approved Installer
    Zeo Energy has the simple goal of providing independence to individuals through low cost solar solutions all acro...
    Approved Installer
    Screened & Verified
    5.0 /5.0
    5 Reviews

    Zeo Energy has the simple goal of providing independence to individuals through low cost solar solutions all acro...

Solar is a major purchase, but you can get the price tag to come down a bit by being an educated shopper. Taking advantage of incentives and rebates and shopping around for quotes can bring down your cost of solar in Cincinnati, OH.

Take advantage of federal and local solar incentives

As long as your federal tax bill is high enough, you can take advantage of the federal tax credit in Cincinnati, OH. This incentive allows you to apply 30% of your solar installation and equipment costs toward your federal tax bill. If the amount exceeds your tax bill, you can roll over the remaining credit to the following year. Many states also offer great local incentives and rebates.

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.

Why shop with EnergySage?

Save time & money

Request free quotes from vetted installers in minutes

Unbiased support

Our expert Energy Advisors will help you make the right decision

Trusted, local installers

We pre-screen and monitor all of our partners

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