A real cost breakdown for a typical 6kW system in Seattle, using local rate and sun-hour data rather than a state-wide average.
Seattle has one of the lower electricity rates in the country at approximately $0.12/kWh, and a below-average solar resource, which some systems offset by sizing larger at 3.7 peak sun hours a day — notably different from a simple Washington state-wide average in some cases, since metro-level microclimates and local utility rates can diverge from state figures. Combined with a metro-level installed-cost estimate of $3.00/watt, a standard 6kW residential system runs approximately $15,700 before any incentives.
| Line item | Estimated cost | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment (panels, inverter, racking) | $9,900 | 63% |
| Labor / installation | $5,400 | 34% |
| Permitting & inspection | $400 | 3% |
| Total (before incentives) | $15,700 | 100% |
A 6kW system in Seattle costs 10% less than the 50-state average of $17,372, and the electricity rate it offsets is 26% lower than the $0.16/kWh average across those states. At $778 in estimated annual value from 6,482 kWh of yearly production, this system pays back in roughly 20 years — a longer payback period than the national average.
A typical 6kW residential solar system in Seattle costs approximately $15,700 installed in 2026, based on a metro-level estimate of $2.62/watt.
At Seattle's average rate of $0.12/kWh, a 6kW system pays back in roughly 20 years — a longer payback period than the national average.