As of 2026, the average cost of residential solar panels in the U. This typically translates to about $2. 50 per watt of installed capacity (more on price per watt below). The solar panel cost per square meter, including all labor and system components, is approximately $6,000. The price typically ranges from $100 to $300 per square meter, depending on various factors such as quality, type of technology, and installation. How much you pay for your new solar panels depends mainly on the number of kWh you want to generate with them. If you prefer to look at the 11 square foot, one panel will occupy an average of 18 square foot. Soft costs involve labor, permitting, engineering, transportation, and sales margins.